Teach Yourself French

TEACH YOURSELF FRENCH - Comprehensive Study Notes

Introductory Information

  • Title: Teach Yourself French
  • Authored by: Sir John Adams, MA, LL.D. and Norman Scarlyn Wilson, M.A.
  • First Published April 1938, Revised Edition 1970.
  • Publication Details: Teach Yourself Books, St. Paul's House Warwick Lane, London EC4; Published in the U.S.A. by David McKay Company Inc, New York, NY 10017.
  • ISBN: 340 05783 1

Preface

  • Reflects on past language learning material, emphasizing human elements.
  • States that the book is not aimed at bright students but those with no prior acquaintance with French.
  • Aims for practical outcomes: reading novels, writing understandable French, navigating France accurately.

Introduction: How to Use the Book

  • The book is structured to allow students to learn French through usage rather than through formal grammar first.
  • Sections divided into Instruction (Part I) and Exercises/Key (Part II).
  • Exercises are correlated with information in the Key.
  • Students should work through exercises sequentially and revise regularly.

Study Structure

  1. Part I: Focuses on instruction with grammar points and practical examples.
  2. Part II: Contains exercises, their keys, and vocabulary lists.

French Pronunciation

  • Pronunciation is crucial; not solely readable.
  • Accents affecting pronunciation: acute (é), grave (è), circumflex (ê).
  • Categorizes French vowels and consonants with their sounds.
    • Vowels: examples of sounds
    • a has two sounds: a as in 'fat' and â as in 'father'.
    • e has several sounds: mute, é, è, etc.
    • i has variations in length.
    • u has no direct equivalent in English.

Grammatical Elements

Personal Pronouns
  • Subject pronouns:
    • je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles.
  • Object pronouns:
    • me, te, le, la, nous, vous, les, lui.
Verbs and Infinitive Forms
  • Most verbs are learned in their infinitive/adjective forms depending on their context.
  • Regular & irregular conjugation rules discussed through examples and exercises.
    • Examples of verb categories: 1st Conjugation (er), 2nd Conjugation (ir), 3rd Conjugation (re)
Indefinite Pronouns
  • autrui = others,
  • chacun (m.) = each one,
  • personne = nobody.
  • quelqu'un = somebody.

Vocabulary Sections

  • Contains commonly used words along with their descriptions, grouped thematically:
    • Terms related to greetings, food, dresses, actions, ways of communication, weather, etc.
    • Examples:
    • homme = man,
    • femme = woman,
    • nuit = night,
    • jour = day,
    • compound terms such as une dizaine and une douzaine represent approximate quantities.

Exercises and Practice

  • Each section includes exercises for comprehension, writing, translation, and spoken practice.
  • Encourages interaction with feedback via key sections.
  • Exercises often relate to thematic content from preceding chapters, ensuring repetition.

Cultural Notes

  • Discussions regarding social customs, history related to France, and insights into daily life and traditions in France.
  • Encouragement of using authentic materials like French newspapers and literature post-study to further knowledge.

Final Notes

  • Emphasis on immersive practice, such as conversations and expanded reading, to enhance fluency.
  • Reflections on adaptability of language use in different contexts: casual, professional, and formal.

Conclusion

  • Intended as both a learning guide and a practical reference tool for students of French seeking conversational abilities and reading proficiency.