- Most people think that in order to Speak Fluent French, you
need to spend hours and hours studying, learning tons of vocabulary,
conjugating hundreds of French Verbs...
I thought so too, because this is the commonly used method
in most schools and training centres everywhere.
But after graduating from university and starting to teach
French, I discovered that there
is a better, more effective, quicker method to learn to Speak
Fluent French, and it does not involve any of the laborious
methods itemized above.
In fact, when it comes to learning French, or any language for
that matter, less really is better!
I have been teaching French for more than two decades
and have worked with thousands of students. I have
diagnosed the problems experienced by those who just can't seem
to put two words together in French, in spite of years of study
in the Canadian school system and adult education organizations
across Canada.
You are fortunate... it is not too late for you to learn to
Speak Fluent French.
I'm going to show you why conventional methods for
learning to Speak French do not work and show you step by step
what you must do if you want to Speak Fluent French.
"Regular" language teaching methods are
not effective, and in some cases are causing more harm than
good by teaching bad habits that will be difficult to overcome.
The truth is that many language teachers do not know what it
takes to help someone learn French because they have not discovered
the technique of the language, one of the fundamental keys to
being successful in learning any language. They try this method
and that method and hope that eventually one of them will work.
The entire Language Training Industry has a vested interest
in drawing out the language training process so they can increase
revenues for their programs. One language training school that
I am aware of, charges over $11,000 for a 6 month program and
when students finish the program they still can’t speak
fluent French!
Slowly, I began to notice something different about
my students when I started changing the way that I taught French.
They started showing more confidence in their ability to Speak
French, they started taking more risks in speaking, even if
they made some mistakes, and before I knew it, we were carrying
on conversations about a variety of topics, all in Fluent French!
I dismissed it as a fluke at first, but then I started to see
a pattern emerge.
I began to notice that those who were successful in Speaking
Fluent French had some characteristics in common.
First, they did what I asked them to do without questioning
the reason behind my methods.
Second, they started Speaking French during the very
first lesson that we had together, even if they had only limited
vocabulary and French structures to use.
Third, they were not afraid to look silly if they made
mistakes when they spoke French – they felt the fear and
did it anyway!
I started taking notes about my observations and what I had
done that was different when students showed quick progress
in their lessons with me.
I asked myself... why?
How did such simple changes in my teaching methods make such
a big difference in the results of one of my students in particular,
Warren, and the time it took for him to achieve them?
Let me explain.
In traditional programs, it takes an average of 360
hours for students to speak French in very simple sentences.
If someone is taking courses full-time for an average of 30
hours per week, it will take 10 weeks before they achieve this
goal.
One of my students, Warren, achieved this level of
fluency in only 30 hours by doing the simple things that I asked
him to do!
I came to realize that I and most other language teachers had
been teaching our students bad habits that were actually preventing
them from speaking French.
I now realized that I had discovered the Secret to
Speaking Fluent French!
These are the 3 things that I did
that contributed to Warren's success...
- I gave him reference points from his own
language.
- Traditional language training programs are usually based
on a “sink or swim” method.
- The teacher usually starts the first lesson by speaking
to students in the new language that they want to learn,
without giving them any explanation about what they are
going to learn or how they are going to learn it.
- The teacher will try to get students to repeat vocabulary,
sentences or grammar structures that they don’t understand,
without giving them any frame of reference from their own
mother tongue.
- I know, because early in my career, I did exactly
the same thing! That is how I was taught to teach
French as a second language. “Repeat after me,”
I would say and when students looked at me with that puzzled
gaze, I just asked them again to do the same thing over
and over again.
- I didn’t know any better! I thought
I was doing the right thing, making every effort to help
my students learn French. And amazingly, sometimes it worked
and my students were able to develop some proficiency in
the language.
- But we worked hard! It was often a long, laborious process,
with students making very slow progress. It usually took
months of work before students were able to carry on a decent
conversation on a variety of topics in French.
- It was different with Warren.
- Instead of jumping in and speaking French to Warren, during
our first lesson, I decided to explain the differences between
French and English, and compared such things as the Rhythm,
Intonation and Pronunciation of the two languages.
- I also gave him some lessons in English grammar and verb
tenses so that he could see how his own language was put
together. I thought this might help him to better understand
the same elements in French.
- Showed him the technique of the French
language.
- Every language has its own technique.
- Let me ask you this: What is the basic technique
for speaking English?
- Could you name two or three things that are crucial
to speaking English well?
- It’s amusing when I talk to
teachers about the technique because most of them don’t
know what the technique is. They tell me that they knew
what it was after I tell them, and MOST IMPORTANT, they
never think it is important enough to tell students because
“it is obvious” (unfortunately, only to them).
- To me, the technique is one of the main keys to
the language. If you don’t grasp the concept, you
will usually experience difficulties and never acquire the
speaking habits of a native speaker.
- I encouraged Warren to allow himself the
freedom to make mistakes and to Speak French at every opportunity
even with his limited vocabulary and grammar structures.
- I told him that “darn good” was good enough
and that he did not have to say things perfectly to be able
to Speak French.
- This gave him the confidence to start speaking from the
very first lesson.
- You see, as adults, we are afraid of making mistakes.
Unlike children, who “just do it” in complete
faith, we think that we have to get everything right before
attempting to do something new. That applies to many things
– taking dance lessons, starting a new hobby….
We get frustrated when we make mistakes. We think we will
look foolish so we hesitate to step out and show how much
or how little we know.
- I realized that this was one of the
biggest stumbling blocks for most of my students! They didn’t
want to “look silly” when they spoke French.
So, I had to give them permission right from the start to
make mistakes, try something new, and not feel as if they
had to do it perfectly! Amazingly, giving them permission
to fail helped them to succeed!
- "Yes, I as a knowledgeable
French language teacher, had contributed to students’ lack
of success in Speaking Fluent French… but all of that was
about to change."
Once I realized what I had been doing wrong, and I observed Warren’s
success using my new approach, I knew that I was onto a winning
formula.
I started testing my theory with every new student that I could.
I kept adding new elements to my approach.
I studied accelerated learning techniques that I heard about
in the past but never gave much thought to, wondering if, by incorporating
them into my program, they could help my students get even better
results and cut down on the learning time.
I did some serious analysis…..
WHAT happened?
I began to analyze what I had done differently each time that
one of my students reached the desired level of fluency, especially
those working for the Canadian Federal Public Service, where their
ability or inability to speak French might mean that their job
was on the line. They needed to achieve specific levels of fluency
within limited time periods or they might lose their jobs.
I spent thousands of hours exploring ways to speed up
the learning process and ensure that my students were successful
in their attempts to achieve their level of proficiency and learn
to Speak French from their very first lesson with me.
My book was first published in 2001, after about a year of this
analysis and changes to my teaching methods. It summarized all
that I had learned about what it takes to be successful in learning
to Speak Fluent French.
The book is called "French K.I.S.S.
– The Fun and Easy Way to Learn French."
I began using my "newer" style of teaching in working
with new students. My students benefited tremendously from all
this research.
In fact French K.I.S.S. – The
Fun and Easy Way to Learn French was a BIG HIT with my
students.
But there was still something missing. The information contained
in the book was very helpful in enabling my students to Speak
French more fluently, but it was lacking the dynamics of classroom
interaction. I needed to find a way to substitute my presence
so that students would develop a “natural instinct”
for speaking without hesitation.
It was back to the drawing board for me….
After more trial and error, and spending thousands of dollars
on software programs, looking for the right mix that would give
me the results that I knew my students needed, I finally found
it!
I was able to develop INTERACTIVE LESSONS using
basic PowerPoint files that enabled me to create exercises that
mimicked classroom interaction. If I could not be present in body,
I could at least be present in voice!
That is how I came to develop my Lessons on CD ROM.
This was the missing element that I had been looking for. With
this technology, I was able to re-create the classroom “feel”
for my students. Without actually being present, sitting next
to them, I could walk my students through a series of exercises
that would help them to develop a natural “instinct”
for Speaking Fluent French. It worked!
Once I started using these new exercises with my students,
there was no turning back! The feedback I received was so positive
and my students were achieving such tremendous success that I
knew I had finally found the
SECRET TO SPEAKING FLUENT FRENCH!
It was all uphill from there!
It felt great to get all of that praise - the feedback on the
new lessons was fabulous.
My email was literally flooding over with questions and comments
from people who heard about my method and my program. I was feeling
pretty good about my program. I had helped so many students.
I was in awe at the response from my students, subscribers to
my newsletter and others who were interested in learning to Speak
Fluent French. I received tons of emails, phone calls and feedback
telling me how much my new approach had helped and how much it
was appreciated. I couldn’t believe that so many people
told me what an impact my program had on them.
I could have sat back on my laurels and stopped doing anything
new, content with my new found success.
You made my decision
for me – I owed it to you to keep working and keep developing
new techniques and strategies to make my program even better.
I continued to fine tune my program, developing new exercises,
finding new ways to help my students learn French faster, make
it easier for them, take away the stress normally associated with
learning a new language.
I started incorporating AUDIO MP3 lessons so
they could take their lessons with them when they commuted between
office and home, while they were walking their dog or doing their
exercises in the gym.
I was "blown away" at the response.
I received OVERWHELMING support for what I was doing.
A long process
As I said earlier, I received a TON of emails from readers of
my newsletter and purchasers of French K.I.S.S. –
The fun and easy way to learn French program.
You have given me many suggestions on how to improve upon the
program to be able to Speak Fluent French with
confidence.
So I threw myself into improving the French K.I.S.S. program.
It has taken me over 6 years to squeeze more than 25 years worth
of language training & experience with students into my program.
It has been an exhausting process. The work for this course first
began in 2001... and completing it has become an obsession and
a passion.
Since last year, I have been working virtually every day to cram
every strategy and technique into this course. I was up at 5:00
a.m. and sometimes earlier, pretty much every morning, including
weekends, developing exercises that would make it possible to
learn to Speak Fluent French faster and with
less effort than with any other program available anywhere!
The results have been worth it!
I now have several options available for those who want to Speak
Fluent French.
Here they are at last:
-
Get on the Fast Track to Fluent French!
If you are a busy person and do not feel that you have a
lot of time to devote to learning French, this program is
for you! The absolute essentials that you need to speak French
– the bare bones of the language! The elements you must
absolutely know to speak French!
Speak French in 112 Days
is available on CD for self-study and covers everything you
will need to become fluent in French, by doing daily exercises
over a period of 112 days.
The program has been developed in such a way as to provide
you with the time to assimilate what you need to learn on
a daily basis and is especially suitable for those with a
busy lifestyle or those who need to learn French quickly because
they have to pass a government language test or they are going
to a French speaking region in the very near future.
If you have no time to lose, this is the program for you!
It is a must have...
Order Speak French in 112 days for only $112.00 plus
$8.95 shipping and handling.
-
Instant Access Online!
Discover the secret to speaking French like a native speaker.
Read the French K.I.S.S. E-book and discover
the “missing lesson” that most French teachers
forget to cover with their students. These students will never
speak fluent French and it’s not their fault! Find out
WHY when you read the French K.I.S.S. E-book.
Learn all the basics you need to speak fluent French.
Find out what makes for a good student and why anyone can
learn French.
This book is the foundation on which I built my entire program.
I wrote the book first and then developed my complete program
based on the principles and strategies that I learned by working
with hundreds of students. Now, you, too, can benefit from
their experience without having to go through the trial and
error period!
- Learn the inside secrets of the French technique
- Speak correctly with your very first lesson
- Master French verbs without having to memorize all 12,000
of them
- Learn the trick for identifying masculine and feminine
nouns
- Learn proper rhythm, intonation and pronunciation
- More vocabulary is NOT what you need – find out
why
- Discover Accelerated Learning Techniques to get FAST results
-
This again is my original program, with the added benefit of
in-classroom sessions held once a month.
Classes run from September to June each year, with a 3-hour
classroom session held one Saturday each month. These sessions
are followed by individual practice at your own pace, in your
home or office, using the exercises on CD (described in the
10 Month Program) for the remainder of the month, until the
next classroom session. These sessions have been offered since
2004, with very positive feedback from the participants.
I will be your personal coach, giving you individual feedback
on your progress, on the challenges that you need to overcome
and directing you on the next steps you must take if you want
to become fluent in French.
These classroom sessions are fun, interactive and dynamic.
You will not be bored - I guarantee it!
Send an email to french@french-kiss.ca
if you would like to be notified of the start date for the next
series of lessons starting in September 2008. Classes fill up
quickly so register early if you don’t want to be disappointed!
If there are a number of people in your workplace interested
in following the French K.I.S.S. program, these group sessions
can also be arranged at your work site.
-
I offer individual lessons to many students, especially employees
of the Canadian Federal Government. This often involves preparing
candidates to successfully pass the government language proficiency
tests at various levels. I have developed a strategy to help
students achieve their individual goals and pass the government
test – I have many testimonials
to confirm their success.
If you are interested in individual training, please send an
email to french@french-kiss.ca
and I will confirm whether or not my training schedule will
allow me to work with you.
-
Each summer, we offer week-long immersion courses for beginner,
intermediate and advanced students.
Courses are normally held during the last 3 weeks of August
and cover the essentials of the French language in a highly
interactive, fun environment. At the end of the week-long intensive
program, intermediate and advanced students who work for the
federal government are given specific strategies to prepare
them to take the government language test at the B or C level.
If you are interested in receiving notification of the dates
for the summer immersion courses, please send an email to: french@french-kiss.ca
Courses fill up quickly each year and space is very limited.
To avoid disappointment, register early once you receive the
course dates.