A lazybones’s guide to learning French

If you want to learn French but are terrified by the prospect of having to sit down for an hour every evening conjugating verbs and learning unpronounceable words, this guide is for you.

Learning French can be hard, dull and unrewarding, but it doesn’t have to be so. There are many enjoyable ways to learn French that don't feel like you're making much effort. I’m going to assume here that you want to do as little homework as possible, and that you know you’re not going to become fluent overnight.

If you’re a true lazybones, and intend to remain so, you’re probably not going to become really fluent for a long time, but this guide can help you get within a year to an intermediate level where you’ll be able to converse and understand a lot of what you hear in French.

Learning on your own. There are many French language courses that can help you learn with little effort. The best are the ones on audio cd and cd-rom . Courses on audio cd will allow to learn anywhere, without having to stop what you’re doing. You can use them while commuting, cleaning, cooking, gardening, etc. French courses on cd-rom will feel more like a game than hard work. That’s why they’re so popular. Another good option is to get French language courses for children. Many adults use them. Aim at spending no less than twenty minutes with your course five time a week.

Learning in a class. Even if you don’t do the homework or revise your lessons, you can learn a lot by just going to French language courses, especially if you go at least twice a week for no less than an hour. If you combine this with a French course on audio cd or cd-rom, you’ll learn much faster.

Learning with a private tutor. If you meet up with a good private tutor two or three times a week for an hour, and use a French course on cd or cd-rom for no less than twenty minutes a day, you’ll be amazed by how fast you can learn.

Learning in France. Ideally, to make the most of your course, you should learn some French before you leave, even if it’s just some numbers, greetings, essential vocabulary and a few basic questions. There are plenty of French courses in France on offer. You can find general, intensive, individual, mini-group and specialized courses; and also French courses combined with activities such as cooking, wine tasting and culture.

10 famous quotes by Voltaire

François-Marie Arouet, Voltaire, was a French writer, satirist, playwright, essayist and philosopher born in 1694. His thinking influenced the American and French revolutions.

He was an outspoken supporter of social reform, and wrote in favor of freedom of religion and civil liberties. He spoke against tyranny, religion intolerance and persecution.

His main works are: Oedipe(which he wrote in prison), Candide, Zaire, The Death of Caesar, Lettres philosophiques sur les Anglais, The Maid of Orleans, and Dictionnaire philosophique, among others. He died in Paris in 1778.

His legacy to humanity is invaluable. These ten quotes illustrate his free spirit, wit and passion.

Behind every successful man stands a surprised mother-in-law.

Do well and you will have no need for ancestors.

Better is the enemy of good.

Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.

Men hate the individual whom they call avaricious only because nothing can be gained from him.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.

As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities.

Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do.

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.