The Alliance Française isn't really a government programme, but it does act as
if a literary, linguistic and cultural ambassador of the French nation.  In most
major centres the Alliance offers language and literature courses that are open
to all, and at all levels (taking you as far as French government
certifications: DALF and DELF).  Their standards are high - the French genuinely
treasure their linguistic heritage in a way that anglophones (usually) do not.

But if you want to learn French quickly, why not just move to a French-speaking
region and learn it by immersion?

If you have an Alliance Française nearby, it'll almost certainly be in your
local telephone directory.

Or try here:

        http://www.af.ca/ (Alliances in all of Canada)
        http://www.alliancefrancaise.com/ (Toronto Alliance)
        mailto:[log in to unmask]

Any chance that UWO would provide intro French courses?  They might even let you
audit them, free, if you don't want to be assessed.

Listening to French radio helps a lot, even if it's just in the background.  One
difficult task for anglophones is re-learning to recognise the sounds (as
infants, we can recognise them all, but as we grow up, we lose the capacity for
all languages except those around us).  Keeping the radio in the background
helps to make those sounds familiar again.

I don't see how to learn French quickly, however.  Unless you have a background
in Romance languages, expect a long time before you master the subtleties that
would otherwise betray your anglophonic origins.

----------------------------------------------------ô¿ô-
Alistair Kwan                                        -
[log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask]
--------------------------------------------------------

Belinda Chun wrote:
>
> Hello Everyone::
>
> I am currently living in Toronto,Ontario in Canada and was wondering if
> anyone could give me information/advice as to how I may learn to pick up
> French (to speak) quickly.  The reason why I am asking is because I wish to
> move to Montreal, Quebec or Ottawa, and many if not all of the commercial,
> private, government galleries/museums require that I speak french.  I have
> been advised by a Professor to find Alliance Francaise, which is a
> government program does anyone have information to this or know if it is
> open to everyone (i.e post undergrad, post master...)??
> I am again, interested in any advice or suggestions that I may be able to
> access to aid in learning french quickly!
> Thank you in advance to all of those that reply:D
> ~Belinda

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