5-Day French Language Challenge: Learn French In 5 Days

Full disclosure: I took two years of introductory French in high school (about 12 years ago). Additionally, I took two semesters if introductory Latin in college. While I retained some of the random vocabulary and conjugation rules, most of it has been lost on me due to lack of consistent practice. I visited France two years ago and was shocked at my inability to speak even a little of the language! My reading was better, but my speaking needed help. This small book came at the right time, and in the right way! The book is set-up just as the title describes: separated into FIVE DAYS of lessons, each with information and associated "homework". All of the "homework" is very doable and simple, while still effective. The book gives its lessons in laymen's terms, while also giving language-based terms, too (like "the infinitive form", etc.) which is a nice change from studying a language formally in a class. I'm used to being told first "the infinitive form", and then what it is, but this books switches that-up, and even such a small switch makes it easier to comprehend. Similarly, throughout the book and each day/lesson, there are many more easily-understood examples of such language-based terminology and functions that allow the reader to see parts of language they may not have before (i.e. feminine and masculine nouns, different verb tenses, etc.) In our native language, we rarely learn these intricate parts as we learn to speak as children (could you tell me what past-perfect tense is in English?) so when I am learning a new language, it has been difficult for me to transfer these types of terms to the new language until I understand them in my native language, English, first. This book is only five short lessons, but I feel it does this integration/correlation thing pretty well. Day One gives basic vocabulary and introduction of intricacies of the French language, like pronunciation. Day Two gives an introduction into sentences and sentence structure, like how verbs are conjugated and what masculine/feminine nouns are and how to identify them. Day Three gives more complex scenarios, like asking questions and turning verbs negative. It also gives more vocabulary. Day Four combines everything AND switches the vocabulary from French/English to English/French (I found this part very helpful in testing my memory). Day Five gives a lot more basic vocabulary that would be necessary in essential conversation ("What time is it?", etc.) and furthers the challenge by asking students to go and practice their French skills daily. Throughout the lessons, vocabulary isn't GIVEN, necessarily: students must look up definitions. This is nice, because it avoids some possible rote memory and is more active. Additionally, the book gives easy hints about how to go about learning the "weird" parts of a language, like pronunciation. Also, hints on integration into daily life are easy and fun. At the end, I was happily surprised at how much I'd learned. Because I've taken French before, I can't say for sure what I'd have learned if it was my first introduction to the language. However, if it IS your first introduction, I know it will be great for at least the basics, on which you'll be able to build to learn yourself! All-in-all, the book is a helpful way to learn how to learn French/any language.