(no subject)

[fadeaccompli]

Let me state up front that I realize even considering this is consumate madness, given I'm taking Ancient Greek and Latin right now, and only some of the graduate programs I mean to apply to even care about this sort of thing. But.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could go about teaching myself to read (and maybe write) French? I'm interested in reading academic writing, poetry, and general literature, in about that order. I'm not particularly interested in speaking it, or understanding it when it's spoken, but will accept that most courses think I should, so long as they're not primarily focused on "How to introduce yourself, ask for directions, and order food in a restaurant" types of teaching.

Help?

(I would also accept suggestions for German and Italian resources of the same sort, but for various reasons French seems like the best place to start.)

Comments

[hawkwing_lb]

I recommend a good dictionary, a basic grammar - Collins does a good pocket one - and lots of children's books.

Try here for the children's books.

Try here for ebooks free for the Kindle.

A basic taught introductory course is probably not a bad idea to get a hang of how the language works in practice - something like a two- or three-week intensive summer school, if you can swing it.

[fadeaccompli]

Hm. I'm a little wary of trying to tackle a basic grammar without it actually being arranged as a teaching guide, but given it is one of the hash of derived from Latin languages, probably I'd have better luck with it there than if I tried to do the same with, say, German. Was this the one you had in mind?

[hawkwing_lb]

Yep, she's the one. I have the Italian and German ones. Clear, concise references: no clutter.

[anne]

Oh oh oh I HAVE TAUGHT THIS VERY CLASS. AT UT EVEN. You want 610 for the one-semester reading intensive, 310K/L (IIRC) for the 3hr version full of lazy-ass undergrads. Or just go poach the text. Stack (in the real cover) is EXECRABLE. French For Reading is really pretty good; it's what I used for the grad reading-skills class I taught at The Bad Place.

[fadeaccompli]

That sounds awesome! ...that also sounds like it would totally melt my brain if I took it as a class. I mean, I would learn much more, but once it's a class, I don't have the option of going "Actually, perhaps I am not up for this right now, and should try again later."

(Nor do I really have the option of just taking it at a moderate pace because academics and I have passionate affairs of intense love and hate; I do not really do academics in a leisurely manner.)

...I wonder if they offer it this summer.

[anne]

oh thumbtyping. Stack has a teal cover.

I don't think 610 is a summer course...but they might have a grad version by now. Can't hurt to ask?

[fadeaccompli]

"teal cover" does make more sense. And it's always worth asking!