A quick update!

I haven't posted anything in a while because I'm taking some time to go through the software I have discovered and to make the most out of them..

Livemocha is still dominating most of my CALL but I am trying to vary it as much as possible!!

A plustard....

Radio France Internationale

What an excellent website for language learners! http://www.rfi.fr/lffr/pages/001/page_59.asp

I was trying to find a site where I could listen to the French news in French when I came across this great site.

There are sections on sport, culture, science, music and many more! So I think all interests are covered..

I think that the most helpful section for a language learner is the 'French Language Section.'

This section has a great variety of resources to help learn French. It offers sheets for classroom learning, listening exercises, and specific vocabulary and phrases for different news themes, e.g. the environment.

I really liked the section which has an alphabetical list of phrases which occur in the news. When you enter this section and choose a phrase, it brings you to a news extract with this phrase in it. It also gives you the choice of listening to the extract or downloading the tape script.

I think its important to hear native speakers of a language using the language as it should be, i.e. spoken at regular pace and not slower for language learners and using authentic vocabulary and phrases.

I think it would be a good exercise to listen to one piece of news everyday on this site as then you would subconsciously pick up the natural language :)

More CALL! Perfecting pronunciation..

I think to pronounce your TL better you need to hear native speakers, I'm finding these videos helpful...

For Consonants : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJVxe4inqyg

For Vowels : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UftN73gl8sg

For the dreaded French R : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b920AesqDs&feature=fvw

And some tongue twisters, just for fun!! : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1S_g8YTzPs&feature=related

Improving your French, Understanding and Pronunciation, by using Vlogs.

Yet again I'm surprised by the great material available online to help with Language Learning. This site in particular http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/ provides excellent vlogs to practice listening to native speakers and for improving your own pronunciation.

There are a series of vlogs for each language level, beginner-advanced, which guide you through real life usage of the French language. What makes this site stand out for me is the tutor, a native French speaker, who makes learning seem easier by breaking down to the most essential phrases.

I have subscribed to this vlog and am going to try catch up on all the available material as I know I will benefit from it.

By discovering all this new material, learning French and attaining a higher level, has become so much more achievable for me. I really feel like it has made my learning more interesting, fun and enjoyable. I feel like I'm moving from a feeling of despair about my ability to learn French to one of hope and genuine love again.

I feel like I'm having a fresh start, a born-again French student! I just hope I get through all the material and make the most of it.

Update on my Online Learning Class...

Recently I started an online French course on LiveMocha. It is free to register and you complete it in your own time and at your own pace.

So far, I love it, but it's HIGHLY addictive!! I am really enjoying it though.

This software has great structure, you start at level one and as you complete exercises you progress. Each stage has a theme, e.g. Directions, and the theme is taught through vocab, comprehension, aural, oral and a variety of games. You can even submit a written and oral piece to be corrected and get feedback. The site is mostly presented through French but you have the option of seeing translations of the phrases if you click on the links. I like this as you are training your eye and your mind to read and think through French, but if you get really stuck you can check the English.

Visually this site is charming as it has a neutral brown/blue backround and no flashy pop-ups. It makes use of real life visuals to explain new vocab, which I find great for helping to remember new things.

As you go through the course you earn points and a percentage scale shows you your progress. I find this highly motivating as I love to see my own progress, and I'm sure others do too! The site also matches you up with a language partner who you can IM in the TL if you want. I have'nt tried this yet but I will soon.

I really think this site would be excellent for secondary school students as it would fit flexibly around their study, it's very enjoyable and it's a great learning aid! I would definitely have used it for my LC if I had of known about it.

I also think it's great for Uni students who want to practise and improve their French, especially pronunciation.

This site definitely gets a huge thumbs up, I couldn't recommend it enough!