Welcome to Rocket French

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Here are some guidelines on how to get the most out of your Rocket French course: Rocket French is a beginner's course in three main components: 1) audio lessons, which you listen to; 2) textual lessons, which you read; and 3) learning games, which you play. But all three components have one thing in common: each one of them involves your own active participation. With the audio lessons in the Rocket French Interactive Audio Course, you will add your own voice to the conversations that are the focus of each lesson, both by repeating words to practice your pronunciation, and by saying the correct word or phrase when prompted by your host. These audio lessons come with supplementary written transcripts. With the textual lessons, which focus on the grammar of the French language and view it in its contemporary cultural context, you will walk through the various steps of how to change articles, adjectives, and verbs, how to build more and more complex sentences, and how to write in French. These text-based lessons are illustrated and contain embedded audio clips for new words and phrases. With the software-based learning games, you can test your memorization of French words, sounds, and verb changes through dynamic game-play and receive active feedback in real time. By including all of these components, the course caters to many different learning styles, and you are free to explore the course material in whatever way you'd like. But there are some GUIDELINES that you may want to follow when taking your first steps on the path to understanding and speaking conversational French: STEP ONE: Listen to the first three lessons of the Interactive Audio Course. This is the best way to acquaint yourself with the sound and rhythm of the language, as well as the native speakers Paul and Claire. ( or Eric, Anne and Lauren for More Rocket French) For the first time you listen to these first few lessons, we suggest doing so without the written transcripts, so that the focus remains on listening comprehension. STEP TWO: Go back and listen to the lessons again. This may sound like unwelcome advice, but you will find that you will often have to go back to go forward when learning any new language. The process is incremental, which means you will only be able to take in so much at any given time. But you will notice not only how much more of the material you recognize, but also how much quicker you pick things up the second time around. The second time you listen to the Interactive Audio lessons, you should be comfortable enough to refer to the written transcripts of the conversations. You'll find that your comprehension will skyrocket when you are able to see what the language looks like. Keep in mind, however, that even if you keep the transcript in front of you when you listen, you should always try to THINK of the meaning of what you hear BEFORE you read it (even if that means continually pausing the audio track to give yourself more time for the meaning to appear in your head). STEP THREE: When you have found that you can comfortably listen to the audio lessons, AND participate in them on cue without getting lost or overwhelmed, then it's time to explore the lessons that make up the Rocket French Grammar & Culture Series. These lessons dive deeper into the mechanics of the language, and also reward you with relevant explanations about where, how, why, and when to use the language skills that you have gained. In total, there are 45 lessons in the Grammar & Culture Series (the Rocket French grammar lessons), and these correspond closely (but not exactly) to the 31 lessons in the Interactive Audio Course. When you reach the stage where you are confident with the audio lessons, it may be a good time to set yourself a more regimented schedule of progress. For example, you may do one audio lesson plus one grammar lesson each day for a month, or every other day (getting through them in two months). However strict a path you want to follow, always remember the magic word: incremental. That is, if you decide to set one day aside to stuff your head with five lessons, it is very unlikely that you will retain most of what went into it! Also, even when you are well into the course, you can only make things easier when you go back and listen to the lessons over again. You'll hear your own French accent getting sharper each time. STEP FOUR: Get your game on with Rocket French's range of software-based learning games. Even though we've listed this as a possible step four on your fast-track to learning conversational French, you can use these learning games at any time, and especially when you feel like you want a break from sustained listening or reading with regard to the other course material. Because they are so entertaining and easy to use, the MegaFrench games make "motivation" an after-thought. No matter how "competitive" you think you are, you will find these games a welcome challenge, and gain great satisfaction when you see your score improve each time! We do suggest you follow one guideline in structuring your learning: Before playing the MegaVerbs game, it would be best to wait until you have completed the first third or so of the Grammar & Culture lessons. Here's why: there are three types of MegaFrench games: o MegaVocab o MegaAudio o MegaVerbs The first two will allow you to build your vocabulary (MegaVocab) and improve your recognition of spoken French (MegaAudio), and these two games do not require much if any background learning. The MegaVerbs game differs in that it involves the fundamentals of French verb changes. This will be covered in the Grammar & Culture lessons. STEP FIVE: A fifth step in the process of learning conversational French with your Rocket French learning package doesn't necessarily DIRECTLY involve any of the materials included IN the package! But it is still a most essential step: PRACTICE and SHARE what you've learned. We implore you to take what you've learned and practice it in the real world. Whether that means saying the date and time in French whenever you check it yourself, or teaching your dog commands in French, do whatever it takes! There is also a fantastic resource to share thoughts and get answers to any questions that may be stumping you: the Rocket French Leaner's FORUM. This is a virtual helpdesk where you not only get answers and advice from the Rocket French team but also from fellow learners who are often working with the same material you are. Even better, YOU can give answers and advice to them, and that's a great way to reinforce your own knowledge. This is in fact the place you are right now. All the best for your French learning and bonne chance! :D
Griffo

Griffo

Salut! I have two questions i need help with: 1) During STEP ONE of the learning path, what is a sufficient level I should have learned? how do I know when im ready to continue? Should I know and fully understand everything as though I was fluent? This is for lesson 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 as indicated during the learning path "STEP ONE". I feel the lessons are so long that by the time ive finished 1.3 I only remember some parts of the lessons from 1.1. Even though when I finished 1.1 I could say and speak everything withought the recording. then when i get back to lesson 1.2 the problem repeats. 2) I feel that when i test my new langauge skills with a real interaction, that when it comes to speaking with real people, everything just disapears. And i find myself standing there for a few seconds thinking of what to say - nothing comes out - only minor things, why is that? How can i over come this, what is the best way to maintain real interaction? Merci, Griffo
kitty

kitty

Salut Natalie! I purchased my Rocket French today and am really excited to begin on the weekend when I can relax at home and work through all the goodies! I was reading through your learning tips and was wondering where the transcripts for the Interactive Audios are. Must one print directly from the site or are PDF's available? Thank you, Hayley Stellenbosch, South Africa :D
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Hi Hayley, welcome to the forum. You can either view the transcripts online, or if you prefer you can also download a all the transcripts in one pdf. Let me know how you get on and if you have any questions. I hope you have a great French learning weekend. Catch you soon.
kitty

kitty

Merci Natalie, I can't seem to find the link for the pdf download - I've downloaded all the links from Lesson 0.0 to 8.2 but they are all sound files. I must be having a "blonde moment" :? ! Please let me know under which tab I find them. Merci et bonne week-end! Hayley PS Would this pdf also include the bonus audio transcripts?
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Hi Hayley, when you login to the members area you can see all the audio lessons, the grammar and the bonuses. Right underneath the link to all the bonuses there is a link called "Transcripts". Please click on that and download the transcript pdf. The transcript includes all the audio lessons from the Interactive Audio Course. The bonus lessons are not included. Please let me know how you get on.
kitty

kitty

Merci Natalie! I can't believe I missed the "Transcript" link! :roll: So, thank you for patience! Hayley
BerylT

BerylT

Hi Nathalie, I can't find the bonus lessons which I paid for last week on my computer, can you please help me. Florence
BerylT

BerylT

Hi Nathalie, I made a mistake, it wasn't the bonus lessons I was looking for, it was the More Rocket French Interactive Audio Course, can you tell me where to find it please. Florence
Marie-Claire-Riviere

Marie-Claire-Riviere

Salut, when you first login to the new French Learning Lounge you have three options. Click on the yellow box labeled "Your course". In order to access the different chapters of your Rocket French course click on the blue tabs. In each chapter you will find 4-5 Interactive Audio lessons as well as the corresponding Grammar and Culture lessons. You can also click on the star shaped button when you first login and look at the "Take a Tour" video which will give you an overview where to find the components of the course. I hope that helps. Claire

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