Learn French CD -- Become Fluent in 6 Weeks!

It doesn't matter what language you are trying to learn, they are all easier when you begin to familiarize yourself with that language's rhythm. That doesn't necessarily mean that you need to be a great dancer to speak another language, but I can assure you that once you begin to assimilate the lilt, rolling "r", passion, or sing-song-like tone of a language, you will certainly improve the way you speak. In many cases, it helps you to become more intuitive about vocabulary you don't know.

In the case of French, you may find yourself putting a French ending on English words only to find out you're right! But don't worry if you don't have a French speaking friend to help you along, here are a few ideas that help many people.

One way of getting down this rhythm is to begin listening to the spoken word as much as possible. In many areas of the world, cable and satellite television providers may offer channels such as TV5 Monde (France's official overseas channel) or French North African channels for as little as $10/mo. In the absence of this option, you may want to check your local public TV station's schedule. Many offer an hour per day of either French news, how-to speak French programming or an occasional French movie with English subtitles.

If TV is not an option, the internet has some options as well. Unfortunately, you must pay for many of the French-owned sites without any guarantee of quality. Just make sure that you search for the terms you want in French. An online dictionary such as the one found at reverso.net, can help you find the proper search terms.

And finally, don't forget the old invention called "radio"! As with TV, check with your public radio stations for their schedules. You can check these online. NPR is available in the US and PRI (Public Radio International) broadcasts RFI (Radio France International). Many public stations are also available as streaming audio on iTunes or your iPhone. If possible, find shows with interviews or songs that are easier to comprehend and are better examples of the spoken word than the rapid-speaking anchor people.

If you have somewhere that you like to go to listen to French, please leave a comment below.

1. Lessons should last about 20-30 minutes per day. Drill one simple concept for the day. Believe me, that's more than enough for most of us.

2. Word repetitions should be broken down syllable by syllable to help you understand the transition from one sound to another.

3. Don't just repeat, challenge yourself. One big quiz at the end of a lesson is really tough to get through. Good French programs ask you to review what you've learned from each section throughout the lesson.

4. The program should develop around real life situations and conversations. One program I bought featured random, disjointed phrases and a photo. Completely useless. Buyer beware.

5. Interaction with the program is key. Repeating definitely necessary, but you need to think on your toes without having to translate everything word for word. Practicing interaction with another person (or the computer) keeps your skills agile.

6. Culture is important to how the language is spoken and how you relate to people in the country you visit. It will show off your sensitive side to everyone you meet.

7. How many ways can you say 'Hello' in English? Rest assured that the French have at least as many ways to say 'Bonjour'. That's why you need to make sure that a program doesn't focus solely on saying things in one way, but familiarizes you with a wide vocabulary.

8. You know you are going to have questions along the way, that's why it's great if you can find a program that offers support service that can answer them for your right away.

If you're reading this, you have probably been looking pretty seriously at learning French for some time now. But perhaps you need a little help breaking down how to choose a program that will suit your needs. Here, I break down what each type of program has to offer.

- Learn French on CD

CDs have several plusses over the old audiocassette programs for learning French. Yes, they are both portable. Yet CDs offer improved clarity plus the ability to quickly select sections that you may not have fully understood the first time for review.

Compared to a classroom setting, the CD type program also allows you to learn with as much privacy as you want. You can do it in the car, at the gym or at home without the pressure of going too slow for others in the room. You also won't need to bite your tongue while that one person in the class takes ten minutes to remember how to say 'please' (s'il vous plaît).

The biggest drawback about these types of programs, is that they cost a lot of money to produce. Therefore, most of these programs run in excess of $300 (and they usually feature subsequent investments such as an advanced set of CDs).

Even though they are portable, CDs can get cumbersome to carry around and (obviously) require you to tote around an equally inconvenient piece of equipment even if you just want to listen as you take a walk or jog.

- Learn French Online

A more pocket- and budget-friendly option for most people is the downloadable mp3 version of a CD program. You get all the versatility and advantages of a CD program - just without the bulk and at about 2/3 the price. Need I say more?

Well, I will anyway.

The only potential problem with learning French online is that you might want to have an mp3 player or iPod for taking audio lessons on the road. Luckily the cost of a decent mp3 player is well under $100, so you still save a bundle over purchasing the CD program.

Good luck with your decision making!!