French Immersion Class: Fun, Frustration, and Results

[Gale]

I was going to suggest Amelie too... what a fun movie! i loved it!

Anyways, i think immersion is probably the best way to go about it. I took spanish for two years and i hated it. My spanish teacher the second year was the blonde white girl and it we barely used any spanish in class, and when we did, it sounded so horrible. I'm a wee bit mexican, and I'm used to hearing spanish a lot, even though i don't speak it well, and it was so annoying the way the class was taught. I decided to take french after that, and it was so much better. (i wasn't allowed to take french at first cause my parents were all... but you're mexican!) But my french teacher was actually french, and she talked to us that way all the time. She was hilarious too... she'd ask a question, and we'd sit and try to think about it and respond, and if we were having trouble she'd start trying to pantomine stuff before she used english, and it was really funny.

My favorite way of learning spanish is either listening to my grandma get angry, or watching the game shows on the spanish chanel... both things are VERY amusing!

We also have a really nice program here at school, where you live in a dorm and you aren't allowed to speak any english. You get a credit for living there each semester, and it gives you the chance to immerse yourself in a language. I think its a great idea, and i think i may do it when i have to take a forgien language again.

 

[Kalimaa23]

As much as I hate to be serious, I just thought of something that never occurred to me before. Given how closely situated European countries are, do you all get spill-over from each other's TV and radio? QUOTE]

Mm, let's see. On my TV I get, wuth your basic cable acces that everyone has :

About 6 or 7 Dutch speaking Belgian channels
About the same number of French speaking Belgian channels
5ish French channels.
2 German Channels
3 Dutch Channels
1 Italian Channel
1 Spanish Channel
1 Greek Channel
1 Portugese Channel
1 Turkish Channel
1 Morrocan Channel
3 British Channels
3ish US channels

And some other stuff as well. So if you want to learn a language by watching tv here, it's quite easy.

 

[Moonbear]

I was going to suggest Amelie too... what a fun movie! i loved it!

Amelie made me motion sick! Geez, just hold one camera steady, please! It was a fun story, but horrible filming. Everyone with me had the same problem (and they are much more into those "artsy fartsy" films than I am, so are more accustomed to trying to read subtitles and watching the action at the same time, which I first thought was the reason it made me motion sick).

 

[Informal Logic]

I like Monique's idea about the TV programs. But since I can't get French TV, who can recommend some French movies for me to watch?

La Cage Aux Folles - But I don't know how easy it would be to get this movie...

 

[Danger]

About 6 or 7 Dutch speaking Belgian channels
About the same number of French speaking Belgian channels
5ish French channels.
2 German Channels
3 Dutch Channels
1 Italian Channel
1 Spanish Channel
1 Greek Channel
1 Portugese Channel
1 Turkish Channel
1 Morrocan Channel
3 British Channels
3ish US channels

Good grief, man! Do you have superconducting remotes?

 

[Kalimaa23]

Amelie made me motion sick! Geez, just hold one camera steady, please! It was a fun story, but horrible filming. Everyone with me had the same problem (and they are much more into those "artsy fartsy" films than I am, so are more accustomed to trying to read subtitles and watching the action at the same time, which I first thought was the reason it made me motion sick).

Strange, I consider this to be one of the film's charms. Maybe because I didn't need to follow subtitles at the same time ;)

Other good French films... hmm... Not for anyone I admit, but I was pleasantly surprised by Une Liason Pornographic. It's not as dirty as it sounds, it's basically based on the great acting performances of the two main characters.

 

[Monique]

Un long dimanche de fiançailles http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0344510/ I wanted to see it myself but somehow haven't yet.

 

[Kalimaa23]

Ooh, right! I remember seeing a long trailer for that on TV, and getting goose-bumps. Looks like a great movie. Is it out on dvd yet?

 

[franznietzsche]

Amelie made me motion sick! Geez, just hold one camera steady, please! It was a fun story, but horrible filming. Everyone with me had the same problem (and they are much more into those "artsy fartsy" films than I am, so are more accustomed to trying to read subtitles and watching the action at the same time, which I first thought was the reason it made me motion sick).

I far prefer subtitles to dubbing. Especially in asian films. If you've ever tried to watch Crouch Tiger, HIdden Dragon when the sound is dubbed with english, it sucks. I've never been able to watch it, because hearing caucasian accents from chinese actors makes my head want to explode. I'd MUCH prefer subtitles.

 

[Math Is Hard]

I am definitely going to rent Amelie this weekend. I have seen that one before and thought it was very cute. oh, I see that Audrey Tautou is also in Un long dimanche de fiançailles. I will try to see that when it comes out on DVD.

Wasn't Gerard Depardieu in a movie version of Asterix a few years back? I would like to see that one. He is one of my favorite actors.

 

[iansmith]

Wasn't Gerard Depardieu in a movie version of Asterix a few years back? I would like to see that one. He is one of my favorite actors.

They have two Asterix movies. Asterix et Obelix contre Ceasar (2000) and Mission Celopatre (2002).

The movies were not that good. Most people I know agreed. The cartoons movie are much better.

One of the rare french movie that I like was The Dinner Game. this movie was hilarious.

This is a description

Once a week, on Wednesday nights, Pierre Brochant (Thierry Lhermitte) and his circle of snobby friends host an "idiot dinner." Each participant is supposed to invite a guest--the biggest idiot he can find. The object is a sort of idiocy one-up-man-ship as the hosts spend the evening encouraging the guests to talk about themselves and their obscure hobbies (one guest, for example, has a boomerang collection). The "idiot guests", of course, have no idea why they're invited, and they are delighted to find an interested audience. These guests then unwittingly provide the entertainment for the hosts, and the hosts' collective sense of superiority is re-enforced.

You can also watch some original movies that are not remake in US such as Les visiteurs (1 & 2; The visitors), Taxi (1, 2 and 3), and La totale (True lies).

I just remember one movie that had good critique it is called "La riviere pourpre". It is a type of thriller.

You also have the "Le Pacte des Loups" (Brotherhood of the Wolf). It is based on the The Beast of Gevaudin story.

 

[Danger]

I far prefer subtitles to dubbing. Especially in asian films.

The best dubbed Asian movie ever was "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" by Woody Allen. Of course, the dialogue was written to match the actors' movements.

 

[Moonbear]

I far prefer subtitles to dubbing. Especially in asian films. If you've ever tried to watch Crouch Tiger, HIdden Dragon when the sound is dubbed with english, it sucks. I've never been able to watch it, because hearing caucasian accents from chinese actors makes my head want to explode. I'd MUCH prefer subtitles.

Oh, I wasn't complaining about subtitles. I agree, given the choices of subtitles vs dubbing, I prefer subtitles. I also really hate when, on TV (such as in a news report of a speech given in another country), they have a translator talking over the original language so you can't hear either properly. I wish they would just do subtitles. If I know a bit of the other language, I prefer to listen to the original speech than a bad translation. I just didn't like the shakey filming of Amelie. Some people seem to consider it artistic I think, but I found it annoying and amateurish and distracting from the story.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Merci beaucoup, Ian! Those are great recommendations. I have to see The Dinner Game. Sounds very funny. I was thinking that the premise reminds me a little of a dramatic movie I once saw (an American film) called Dogfight.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101748/

1963, the night before the 18 years old "Birdlace" Eddie and his friends are shipped to Vietnam. They play a dirty game called 'Dogfight': all of them seek a woman for a party, and who finds the most ugly one, wins a prize. Eddie finds the lonesome pacifist Rose working in a coffee shop. She's happy to accompany him - but then she sees through the game. However by this time he already learned to like her, so he follows her home. Will he manage to win her heart despite their differences?

I was very impressed with this film. Great story. It stars Lily Taylor and I am pretty much wowed by everything she does.

 

[SOS2008]

To get off the topic, has anyone heard of immersion conversion? I guess it's a new hot tub game. Just kiddin'

We covered many books in French--Madame Bovary, Le Petit Prince, Pere Goriot, Les Miserables, etc., and most have been made into movies--but I don't know how difficult to get in French.

 

[iansmith]

Merci beaucoup, Ian! Those are great recommendations. I have to see The Dinner Game. Sounds very funny. I was thinking that the premise reminds me a little of a dramatic movie I once saw (an American film) called Dogfight.

Same kind of premise but different story development. In the dinner game, the dinner never happens. The guys is left at home with the idiot and the idiot just "ruins" his life.

There will be an american remake: Dinner for Schmucks
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427152/

 

[Danger]

I like Monique's idea about the TV programs. But since I can't get French TV, who can recommend some French movies for me to watch?

Maybe try hooking up with some Canadian (especially Quebec) video distributers? They probably have mainstream North American movies dubbed into French.

 

[Moonbear]

I should also point out that I've gotten several DVDs (don't ask me which, I don't remember...rented, so nothing I can look up) that have been dubbed in multiple languages and you can choose the language you want. I wish I could remember which one it was that I watched in both French and English just because it was one of those rainy weekends and I didn't feel like going out to rent another movie. The only problem I have with dubbing INTO another language, is that when I'm listening to a language I don't know well, I read lips a bit to help distinguish sounds/words (not something I do on purpose, just something I noticed...if I'm watching someone face to face, I can understand a lot more than if I'm listening on a tape or talking to someone who isn't facing me).

 

[Danger]

My copies of Spider-Man 1 & 2 are in both, but that might just have been done for the Canuk market.

 

[SOS2008]

I should also point out that I've gotten several DVDs (don't ask me which, I don't remember...rented, so nothing I can look up) that have been dubbed in multiple languages and you can choose the language you want. I wish I could remember which one it was that I watched in both French and English just because it was one of those rainy weekends and I didn't feel like going out to rent another movie. The only problem I have with dubbing INTO another language, is that when I'm listening to a language I don't know well, I read lips a bit to help distinguish sounds/words (not something I do on purpose, just something I noticed...if I'm watching someone face to face, I can understand a lot more than if I'm listening on a tape or talking to someone who isn't facing me).

I forgot about the language selection--but I think if you select French it won't have subtitles--then you will have to read lips like Moonbear--but just remember to use your "internal monologue" when you do this.

ADD: I've just obtained a record of Moonbear's rentals - "Dallas Danny: Everthing's Bigger In Texas?"

 

[Moonbear]

ADD: I've just obtained a record of Moonbear's rentals - "Dallas Danny: Everthing's Bigger In Texas?"

Oh, believe me, when I applied for a position in TX, that was definitely a selling point to consider! Though, I think I'd stay away from the men in Dallas. Apparently, Debbie has already had all of them.

 

[SOS2008]

Oh, believe me, when I applied for a position in TX, that was definitely a selling point to consider! Though, I think I'd stay away from the men in Dallas. Apparently, Debbie has already had all of them.

Hmm, now I'm wondering what MIH's real name is...

 

[Math Is Hard]

Hmm, now I'm wondering what MIH's real name is...

Hey! I'll have you know I restricted myself exclusively to Houston and parts of San Antonio!

oh wait, there was that weekend in Ft. Worth..

 

[Math Is Hard]

J'ai besoin d'un VCR! or is it "une VCR"?

I went to my favorite little video store and they had plenty of French movies, including The Dinner Game, but almost all were on VHS! I only have a DVD player these days.

I was able to get one movie with Audrey Tautou, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" which I thought was going to be a sweet, light little romantic comedy.
Pas du tout! Audrey plays a deranged homicidal erotomaniac in this one. I didn't very much enjoy seeing her in that role.

 

[Gokul43201]

Do people watch Audrey Tatou movies for Audrey Tatou ?

 

[iansmith]

The proper term is "un magnétoscope" but in slang it is usually referred to as "un VHS" or "un video". The video player is "masculin".

VHS are quite inexpensive nowadays. I have seen some for less than 50$.

You can also plan to have a movie day in class and use the AV from the school.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Do people watch Audrey Tatou movies for Audrey Tatou ?

Gosh, I do. I think she's just adorable. She has such a sweet expressive face. But I'm afraid she's typecast in my head as Amélie, now. No wonder she decided to play a psycho-villian. She's probably desperate to distance herself from the Amélie character.

 

[Math Is Hard]

The proper term is "un magnétoscope" but in slang it is usually referred to as "un VHS" or "un video". The video player is "masculin".

VHS are quite inexpensive nowadays. I have seen some for less than 50$.

You can also plan to have a movie day in class and use the AV from the school.

un magnétoscope? I never would have guessed. I would not have supposed "un VHS" or "un video" either, since we are talking about the machine that plays the media. I may have to go out and buy one. My last one went kaput so I just threw it out and bought a DVD player instead of replacing the VCR.

We are actually going to have a movie day in class. I am not sure what we'll see. Hope we get to vote on it.

I was just thinking of another film I love that I might have to order on DVD if I can get it - "Camille Claudelle". I love that movie. Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu were really wonderful in that picture.