Great ideas! I need to try and watch more movies and TV.
Another that I really like is ChatGPT. With GPT 4-o on your phone you can hit the audio button and give a prompt such as "I am learning French and speak at a CFER B1 level. Pretend we are walking in a park in Paris in the spring. Lead me on a conversation so I can learn the vocabulary of things we'd commonly see. Please correct any grammar or pronunciation mistakes I make, make suggestions to improve my speech to sound more native and remember our conversations so we can continue in other settings in the future."
Hit enter and you are having a conversation with someone who seems (to me) to speak pretty good French. Change the setting to a restaurant, car repair, etc. for other vocab.
I haven't dipped my toes into ChatGPT yet. I'm too dismayed by the increasing numbers of students who are using it to do their homework for them. But I can see how it would be useful for language practice.
Great advice! Alas, I have been trying to learn Darija for a couple of years (Moroccan Arabic) and there aren't many resources. Instagram accounts help to hear words but it is funny that everyone has their own way of saying even the most basic words. Modern Standard Arabic really doesn't overlap very much with Darija. I'll try some of your tips.
You've probably already thought of this, but it looks like the closest relative is the Algerian Arabic dialect. Maybe you could look for materials from Algeria, like kids books or shows on Youtube? I may be able to find some things when I'm in France next for you too - there is a huge Algerian population.
Great suggestions and advice. It takes time to learn a new language—and persistence. My husband is a big fan of Duolingo. He does a 20 minute lesson in French every day. And I mean every day. In the end, I’m not sure the particular platform is as important as is regular, everyday study. The French phrase is so apt here: petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid.
Great ideas! I need to try and watch more movies and TV.
Another that I really like is ChatGPT. With GPT 4-o on your phone you can hit the audio button and give a prompt such as "I am learning French and speak at a CFER B1 level. Pretend we are walking in a park in Paris in the spring. Lead me on a conversation so I can learn the vocabulary of things we'd commonly see. Please correct any grammar or pronunciation mistakes I make, make suggestions to improve my speech to sound more native and remember our conversations so we can continue in other settings in the future."
Hit enter and you are having a conversation with someone who seems (to me) to speak pretty good French. Change the setting to a restaurant, car repair, etc. for other vocab.
I haven't dipped my toes into ChatGPT yet. I'm too dismayed by the increasing numbers of students who are using it to do their homework for them. But I can see how it would be useful for language practice.
Great advice! Alas, I have been trying to learn Darija for a couple of years (Moroccan Arabic) and there aren't many resources. Instagram accounts help to hear words but it is funny that everyone has their own way of saying even the most basic words. Modern Standard Arabic really doesn't overlap very much with Darija. I'll try some of your tips.
You've probably already thought of this, but it looks like the closest relative is the Algerian Arabic dialect. Maybe you could look for materials from Algeria, like kids books or shows on Youtube? I may be able to find some things when I'm in France next for you too - there is a huge Algerian population.
Great suggestions and advice. It takes time to learn a new language—and persistence. My husband is a big fan of Duolingo. He does a 20 minute lesson in French every day. And I mean every day. In the end, I’m not sure the particular platform is as important as is regular, everyday study. The French phrase is so apt here: petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid.