The UPS guy brought my much-anticipated new Rosetta Stone Francais today. I have resolved to achieve an entry-level proficiency in the language this year. My first step will be with Rosetta Stone, which I have used and enjoyed before. After that I will seek ways to interact with other learners and native speakers, perhaps a week or two of immersion learning is in my future as well . . . My old version of RS, the Italian language, did not have all the bells and whistles of this newest method that combines self-learning exercises with online games and ways to interact with other language learners around the world. I tried the online version of lesson 1 and was pleased to see that not everything has changed--the new "garcon" is the same kid as my Italian "bambino." It'll be nice to revisit these familiar characters as I plug away at a language I studied many years ago, and hope it will all spring back into the forefront of my mind.
I will have a first opportunity to practice a little live Francais when I travel to Brussels for Ale and Flora's wedding in just two weeks. By then I should be able to order a cup of coffee and read some signs--I hope!
