Teach Yourself French Study Notes

TEACH YOURSELF FRENCH STUDY NOTES

Book Overview

  • Title: Teach Yourself French

  • Authors: Based on the work by Sir John Adams, revised and enlarged by Norman Scarlyn Wilson, M.A.

  • Purpose: Self-instruction in French without previous knowledge required.

  • Structure: Comprises two parts: instructional content and exercises.

Preface and Purpose

  • The book aims for students without prior French knowledge, guiding them to functional literacy in reading, writing, and conversing in French.

  • It aims to make learning practical rather than focusing solely on grammar.

  • Emphasizes gaining conversational ability and familiarity with French culture.

Opening Structure of the Book

  • Introduction: Explains the methodology of study, comprehension through practice, and the organization of exercises and vocabulary.

  • Part I: Instruction and exercises.

  • Part II: Key to exercises and vocabulary.

Key Instructions for Using the Book

  1. Concurrent Learning: Alternate between Part I (instruction) and Part II (exercise keys) to reinforce understanding.

  2. Revisions: Revise material after every five lessons for better retention. Use the exercises to practice translating between French and English.

  3. Reflection on Mistakes: Aim to understand errors instead of relying solely on the key for answers.

  4. Utilization of Vocabulary: Minimizing the use of dictionaries will promote better language retention.

Vocabulary Insights

  • Vocabulary focuses on practical use in contexts relevant to daily life in France, including key expressions for traveling, dining, and socializing.

  • Essential vocabulary sections delineated for practical application in conversation and comprehension.

Grammar Overview

Pronouns and Verbs

  • Conjunctive Pronouns: Used directly with verbs (e.g., je, tu, il, elle).

  • Disjunctive Pronouns: Stand-alone forms for emphasis (e.g., moi, toi, lui).

  • Reflexive Verbs: Indicate actions returning to the subject (e.g., se laver).

  • Verbs with ÊTRE: Certain verbs, including reflexive verbs and some intransitive verbs, conjugate with être in compound tenses (e.g., il s'est coupé).

  • Conditional and Subjunctive Moods: Explored through specific constructions for expressing wishes, doubts, and hypothetical situations.

Common Errors and Usage

  • Agreement of past participles with preceding direct objects in compound tenses (e.g., Elle l'a aimée).

  • Negation Construction: Use of ne…pas, ne…jamais, etc., with the requirement for correct placement in sentences to indicate negation.

  • Impersonal Verbs: Often discussing weather, introducing tenses and moods applicable to common conversational phrases.

Common Adjectives and Their Placement

  • Adjectives can either precede or follow nouns, with placement affecting meaning:
       - Before Noun: Implies inherent quality.
       - After Noun: Denotes special characteristics or emphasis.

Interrogative Structures

  • Questions crafted using inversion, such as est-ce que (is it that) and placement of pronouns for specificity in subject questioning.

Cultural Context

  • The book includes explorations of French customs, social norms, and notable cultural aspects through a lens of real-life scenarios to facilitate contextual understanding.

Conclusion

  • The guide concludes with practical advice for further learning and immersion in the language through reading French literature, and engaging with native speakers.

  • Encouragement to utilize additional resources provided at the end of the book to enhance language proficiency and cultural knowledge.