Tips for learning French

There are resources at the Library. Audio CDs will probably help the most to get used to spoken language again. I try watching French movies. I'm not sure whether that discourages me more than it helps? Now I think French people go out of their way to speak slowly and clearly when they interact with me; I seem to understand them much better than movies.

The best way to learn a language, in my opinion, is to speak it. Are there any conversation classes at your local college? Any online type conversation classes?

What is your timeline to learn the language?

Thanks to both of you. Library is a good idea. I've also checked out Netflix.

I have time. We're planning a long trip in the summer of 2019.

When I was attending college in Paris many years ago, my French teacher used French comic books to help we beginners learn French. I thought it was very effective; sentences were not all that complicated & you learned basic verb conjugation.

Someone recommended "Slow News"

Pick an online course either for free from your library or look at Berlitz.

The most important part is that I can at least understand most spoken
French.

Understand that perfectly. Start listening at little bit each day to French news stations online. Here is France 24 Live. I find watching the news so as to see the news topics as the reporters speak about them really helps me better improve my understanding.

not sure where you live but they have these Alliance Francaise all over the country
https://afusa.org/

All good ideas, thank you very much everyone.

I love Coffee Break French. (or should I say, J'aime Coffee Break French. J'ai apprende parler du francais! Un peu!) Free 15 minute podcast. If you are just brushing up, you could skip to lesson 20 and go on from there. It's just the best. I've used many others, but this is the one that really helped me become much better in actually communicating, rather than just learning phrases. Coffee Break French You can get it via itunes. I often use it in conjunction with a duo lingo, phrase books, and a traditional "learn French" book...when I really get serious about getting better.

I load audio CDs into my car audio system and listen to them over and over while driving. It beats the news.

Bryan,
I like to listen to the Pimsleur Language Program CD's which I borrow from my local library.
I, like you, understand most spoken French (took it in high school long ago) but after reviewing my French I was able to communicate whenever I needed to.

Enjoy reviewing your French!

You might want to take a look at Bien-Dire Inital. It's a magazine that is geared for beginner-intermediate language learners. It has contemporary articles on news, culture, etc... it come with a CD to listen to as you read along.

My mom learned English ( she was French) by watching kids' programming like Sesame street :)

Have fun learning!

I want to second the recommendation of the podcast “Coffee Break French” above. That, combined with both the Duolingo and Memrise apps, took me a long way.

I like Memrise better than Duolingo, but I'd never heard of Coffee Break French. Thank's to the OP for posting this question, and thanks for all the great suggestions!!

I'd vote for Alliance Francaise, myself. It's an integrated course - and a lot of it is conversation.
Look for it in your town, and not waste any time. You have a lot of time to study.

The best option would be to check your local colleges for night school courses or whatever. Since you already have some background in French, that would be a good method as you'd be able to get feedback on pronunciation and grammar.

Some of the online or other courses may also work well for you. I've found that Pimsleur was the best method for me with Italian, but there are only four levels. They also have a French course, which you may be able to find at your local Library. You could also have a look at Babel, DuoLingo or other online courses.

My experience is that if you hesitate over words or speak slowly, most people switch to English. That happened to me more times than I can count last time I was in Paris . . . even after more than a week. Some spoke English immediately - just hearing my accent ☺

Chani - this is true (usually)! But I feel you must at least try.

One time we were in Chateau Neuf de Pape and we walked into one of the wine shops. We asked, in French, if she spoke English. She promptly said, "Non!" So my daughter and I launched into our French....it wasn't long before she was conversing in English. In fact, we ended up having a great conversation about the education system in France (she was not a fan).

All of theses suggestions are great! As a language teacher, I'll just add--it doesn't really matter what you do, but exposure is the key. The more often you study/hear/read French, the more you will retain it. There's actually a whole interesting science behind how your brain processes in different languages--basically, every time you are exposed to a language, it helps your brain rewire the pathways required to help you think and communicate in that language. It's like a muscle you need to work! Try to have some sort of language practice daily, even if only for a few minutes. It will go a long way to helping you recover your lost language skills (they're still there--you've just got to remember how to use them!).

Oh, and also the site "tex's French grammar" is great (http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/) It's a language course designed by the University of Texas at Austin, but they've made it open source. There are grammar lessons with practice exercises you can do, and all sorts of videos to watch. It's a great resource and free!

I'd recommend Assimil. Inexpensive if your local library doesn't have them to borrow, and recommended by a linguist. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5021582

If you have the time for a semester or two, you'd benefit from college courses.
If you have the time for Alliance Francaise, so much the better.
You'd have the time to speak to more French people, with different accents.
And you'd benefit from having the TV on with sub-titles, if possible. Listen all the time, it gets into your head.

Don't learn too much, this could happen to you ! ;)

https://www.thelocal.fr/20180306/how-french-totally-messes-up-your-english?

In addition to all the other great ideas on this thread, there are French movies. These have the advantage (on DVD) of removable subtitles, so you can turn them on when and if you need assistance. I find contemporary comedies the best for learning modern French as it might actually be spoken, as distinct from the artificial diction and speed of language tapes (or, sometimes, older movies).

Second Duolingo suggestions as it is free, but only as a refresher. I can't believe the format is effective for those new to a language.

I am a French teacher. French is something that is best learned first in a classroom (the rules of grammar, conjugating, etc) to build your foundation. The only way to become fluent is to spend time in a French speaking country.

France has many, many FLE (Français langue étrangère) schools and many good ones at that.
My top 3 suggestions are:
1 - Institut de Touraine in Tours, France
2- L'Institut Catholique in Paris, France
3- L'Alliance Française de Normandie - Rouen, France

If you're an adult learner, like many above suggested. see where your nearest Alliance Française is located. They are an excellent resource (notice, I do not recommend their FLE courses in Paris - they have a poor reputation and are overcrowded).
Also go to your nearest university and ask if you can AUDIT a course. When I taught university I always had two or three adult learners auditing and often they added an excellent element to the class.
French in Action, cited above, is an excellent addition to learning but I do NOT recommend duolingo or Rosetta Stone.

Bonne chance!

You might look into Lingq.com.

I’d like to suggest a tutor. I found one online. As I got more proficient we mostly just conversed, but she also gave me practice cds and homework. We started at where I was from my old high school French class memories and moved forward from there. Alliance francais is also very good

I'd like to second those here who suggest that the only truly effective way to learn a language is total immersion.

Now I do agree that studying and listening to tapes and the online resources are all great and do help alot for sure. And I have done that to teach myself such languages as Thai, Bahasa Indonesia,and others.

When I was in the Peace Coprs in the mid 70's they had me learning 3, yes 3 languages at the same time in country...I thought my head would explode...but I still remember much of it. And those courses were aimed squarely at instant communication.

There was none of what you find in so many language texts and courses, whether on a tape or a phrasebook, where they are trying to teach you to say..."Have the porter Take my luggage up to my room". No What the traveler needs desperately is what we used to call Polite Conversation. The traveler needs first and foremost Food, the bathroom, shelter, and transportation and occasionally help. To me I look for courses that center on those things and leave the conversations about feeding your roommates parrot while he is away for a different time and place.

"...but I do NOT recommend duolingo or Rosetta Stone." Very true! To relearn, keep alive my French, I review my grammar books, text books I used in the past plus study guides on learning French. I agree with Alexander/Macon that the grammatical foundation has to be established, get the verb forms, tenses, and spelling, etc , etc right.