| There is one obvious advantage that a learn French | | | | You might think what I've given you is a bit of fairly |
| MP3 has over a book, and that is that you can actually | | | | easy to learn French and not a great example. One |
| hear the way the language sounds. It's not the only | | | | clearly has an "h" in it so it will sound different. Not so, |
| advantage, but it's clearly a big one! | | | | because the French don't pronounce the "h". In fact the |
| It's not so long ago that a lot of us remember struggling | | | | two sound very, very similar. |
| with dull old French books and equally dull teachers! | | | | The important point here is that it has taken me two |
| Reading a french phrase is one thing, trying to guess | | | | paragraphs to explain that to you - and you still don't |
| what it sounds like is quite another. Without be able to | | | | really know what it sounds like! With a learn French |
| hear a real French person saying the words, you will | | | | MP3 you would know in an instant. |
| never get the proper nuance. If you want to learn | | | | The other valuable thing with French MP3s is that they |
| enough French for a quick shopping trip to Paris, this | | | | are portable. You can find places that offer free |
| probably isn't a problem. If you want to learn fluent | | | | French lessons online where you can download the |
| French, it most certainly is. | | | | files to your computer or to your portable player. You |
| In English there are many words that sound similar. As | | | | then have French lessons you can take with you |
| native speakers of the language we understand | | | | wherever you go. Put it on to play and even if you're |
| immediately the difference between "wood" and | | | | not really concentrating on it, some of it sinks in. |
| "would". Largely we do it by understanding the | | | | Eventually, if learning fluent French is your aim, you'll |
| complete phrase. We do it in a split second. It's not so | | | | have to invest in better lessons than the free ones. If |
| easy with another language though. When you are | | | | you go for one of the French downloads which are |
| trying to speak French fluently would you know the | | | | now popular - and very good value for money - you'll |
| difference between "en haut" - which can mean | | | | not only get more advanced French MP3 files, you'll |
| "upstairs" or "above" - and "en eau" - which means "of | | | | also get interactivity, making it faster and easier to |
| water". | | | | learn your new language. |