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I learnt French (stopped just shy of B2) in 1.5 years. My learning pace was intensive (4-6 hours/week), but not as much as the author's. So I find the author's

I learnt French (stopped just shy of B2) in 1.5 years. My learning pace was intensive (4-6 hours/week), but not as much as the author's. So I find the author's statement credible. My advise to those who want to learn French - after getting the grammar basics, start practicing spoken French as soon as possible. I found two French teachers online and skyped with them 2-3 hours a week. Initially with a bit of English, then entirely in French. Also, a huge help was having a French TV channel always on. I listened to TV5Monde.

simlevesque 7y ago
Yeah, speaking french is hard. You speek with the front of your mouth whereas english is more about the back of your mouth. Totally different muscles.
- tmh88j 7y ago
  > Yeah, speaking french is hard. You speek with the front of your mouth whereas english is more about the back of your mouth. Can you provide some examples of French words that are formed in the front of the mouth that you find difficult to pronounce? English is my native language and I don't speak French, but some of my coworkers do and they occasionally teach me words and phrases. I find it to be the opposite of what you've described in that the most difficult words for me are formed at the back of the tongue/mouth, particularly words containing "r" like "quarante-trois" (the number 43). I remember that word because I was out to lunch with one of my French speaking coworkers and I asked him how to pronounce my order number in French. We both had a good laugh as I struggled to say it without sounding like I was choking. However, I studied Spanish from middle school through college, and I've noticed that English speakers tend to have difficulty with rolling their r's, which is done in the front of the mouth. Are there French words that have this type of pronunciation too? If so, I understand what you mean about the front of the mouth.

simlevesque 7y ago

Yeah, speaking french is hard. You speek with the front of your mouth whereas english is more about the back of your mouth. Totally different muscles.

tmh88j 7y ago
> Yeah, speaking french is hard. You speek with the front of your mouth whereas english is more about the back of your mouth. Can you provide some examples of French words that are formed in the front of the mouth that you find difficult to pronounce? English is my native language and I don't speak French, but some of my coworkers do and they occasionally teach me words and phrases. I find it to be the opposite of what you've described in that the most difficult words for me are formed at the back of the tongue/mouth, particularly words containing "r" like "quarante-trois" (the number 43). I remember that word because I was out to lunch with one of my French speaking coworkers and I asked him how to pronounce my order number in French. We both had a good laugh as I struggled to say it without sounding like I was choking. However, I studied Spanish from middle school through college, and I've noticed that English speakers tend to have difficulty with rolling their r's, which is done in the front of the mouth. Are there French words that have this type of pronunciation too? If so, I understand what you mean about the front of the mouth.