MOOC to learn French

[lillingworth]

Hey everyone!

Do any of you know where I can find a decent OOC/OCW for learning French? I need structure, a lecture, textbook, etc. I'm trying very hard to avoid 5-minute-a-day apps for learning a language. This won't be for credit but it will be for a language test. I'm looking for something more like a class, not rosetta stone. I learn best in a classroom setting, not casual conversation, at least for foundational language learning. 

I checked out a language school in Vancouver and 1 year of study cost $17,000USD. The french schools here in Tokyo are also $10,000+. 

I checked MIT but no lectures and I can't get the book shipped over here. 

Again, no rush, I have about two years, but I'd rather not wait until the last 6 months haha. 

Thanks!

[rachel83az]

Have you tried Modern States French? The intent is to get you to pass the CLEP test for French. I would guess that it ought to get you to upper A2/lower B1 level if you apply yourself.

This one might be better to start with: https://www.edx.org/course/on-ramp-to-ap...nd-culture

Finish those, you should be good to go with https://www.coursera.org/learn/etudier-en-france

[Tedium]

Here is a good list to start you out:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/french/mooc-french/

Some actually look pretty interesting. Ranges from MIT to the French government. I might give it a go myself.

EDIT: I see where you said MIT was no help. Maybe one of the French government/university courses would be better for you.

[LongRoad]

Have you tried Modern States French? The intent is to get you to pass the CLEP test for French. I would guess that it ought to get you to upper A2/lower B1 level if you apply yourself.

This one might be better to start with: https://www.edx.org/course/on-ramp-to-ap...nd-culture

Finish those, you should be good to go with https://www.coursera.org/learn/etudier-en-france

I second Rachel83az's suggestion. While I haven't used it for a language, it helped me pass the Business Law CLEP. Eventually, I'm going to do Modern State's for a language for my own edification. 

Also, as an adjunct to Modern States (or whatever you choose), may I suggest an Internet search of... Slow French News, I think. That's my plan when I start to take one of Modern State's language courses to augment it. I think it will be more engaging than listening to something about my la plume do ma tante.

[lillingworth]

Have you tried Modern States French? The intent is to get you to pass the CLEP test for French. I would guess that it ought to get you to upper A2/lower B1 level if you apply yourself.

This one might be better to start with: https://www.edx.org/course/on-ramp-to-ap...nd-culture

Finish those, you should be good to go with https://www.coursera.org/learn/etudier-en-france

The edx one is actually listed as advanced so that might be a bit tough. Looks like it requires French 1 and maybe French 2 before taking it.

But omg Modern States! I completely forgot about them haha. I even have an account over there. Thank you!

[rachel83az]

The edx one is actually listed as advanced so that might be a bit tough. Looks like it requires French 1 and maybe French 2 before taking it.

But omg Modern States! I completely forgot about them haha. I even have an account over there. Thank you!

The edX one is, indeed, more of an intermediate course. Once you finish the CLEP one, you should be qualified for the edX one; or at least very close to being qualified. I don't know what language test you're trying to take, but you almost certainly need to get B1/B2 level if you're planning on using your skills to interact with people.

[ARhead]

Check out these videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illApgaLgGA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiTsduRreug

[LongRoad]

Check out these videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illApgaLgGA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiTsduRreug

My word, may I take back my like? I've heard of folks going down the... whatever you call it when you start going on the Internet and keep going deeper and deeper. One of these two videos had a Nadine Baggott video on the side. I started watching one. And they're like potato chips. It's HOURS later, and I should have been in bed a 90 minutes ago. I'm afraid I'm addicted. They're a hoot.

[hsfamfun]

I majored in French in college and at one point after studying in France for a summer, was close to fluent.  Now, not so much, but I try to keep it fresh with self study.  Some of the things that I have done are download French audible books, some of them are free, watch newscasts in French on youtube and you can do an online search for them.

For fun, I also watch movies in French.  Many DVD's have that option, and occasionally streaming services will offer it.

I read books in French, too.  Mostly children's books, since I can get through them quickly. Those I get from the library or kindle.

I enjoyed the series, "Learn French in your Car" it was much more laid back and likeable than other language learning CD's.  I got it from Audible.

I also LOVE Duolingo.  It is free and you can  work at your own pace. https://www.duolingo.com/

These are things I do to keep it fresh, I learned in a traditional classroom setting.  However, I can see that these suggestions would increase your knowledge after you went through a basic course, like Modern States, or a course from a Community College.

Good Luck.

[lillingworth]

I majored in French in college and at one point after studying in France for a summer, was close to fluent.  Now, not so much, but I try to keep it fresh with self study.  Some of the things that I have done are download French audible books, some of them are free, watch newscasts in French on youtube and you can do an online search for them.

For fun, I also watch movies in French.  Many DVD's have that option, and occasionally streaming services will offer it.

I read books in French, too.  Mostly children's books, since I can get through them quickly. Those I get from the library or kindle.

I enjoyed the series, "Learn French in your Car" it was much more laid back and likeable than other language learning CD's.  I got it from Audible.

I also LOVE Duolingo.  It is free and you can  work at your own pace. https://www.duolingo.com/

These are things I do to keep it fresh, I learned in a traditional classroom setting.  However, I can see that these suggestions would increase your knowledge after you went through a basic course, like Modern States, or a course from a Community College.

Good Luck.

Thank you! 

Yea, for language learning, I really need to be in a classroom. I don't learn well through casual study. I've lived over here in Japan for 6 years and still can't put sentences together in Japanese. But I studied Spanish in HS at the turn of the century, and then Chinese in college a few years later and I STILL hold on to some of that. Classroom is best but I just can't do it right now. 

I'll be going for PR in Canada in a couple years and having a decent amount of French will help. After the Sophia campaign ends I'll be checking out Modern States.

As for some of the resources you use, I can't really do the same. Over here, I can only access audible.jp and the selection is different (and I can't navigate the site haha). Same with the libraries here. All Japanese. I'm not exactly in central Tokyo so I don't have much access to an expat community. No DVD player anymore (even in the computer) and the ones here are regionally coded. Everything in Japanese. 

Duolingo is definitely something I can use though, once I have a good foundation. I have a long commute to work by train so I can use it there. 

Thanks for all the suggestions!