Hi all, although I did my Higher French at school (25 years ago!!) I thought it would be a good idea to brush up a bit before we go - does anyone have any recommendations of a good phrase book?
Thanks
Tracey
------------- Tracey & Steven
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I have one from BBC Active called 'Get by in French' which I quite like, plus a Rough Guide phrase book. Both are small enough to put in a pocket.I also have an Eye Witness visual phrase book which is useful.
Why not have a look on Amazon and see what is popular?
I expect there are MP3s and DVDs galore as well.
Finding someone to practice with out loud is REALLY helpful too.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
I really like the Penguin French Phrase Book - good variety of topics covered (driving, directions, cycling, travel,hotels, camping, youth hostelling, meeting people, restaurants, menus, shopping, post office, sightseeing, entertainment,sports & games, beach, countryside, travelling with children, business, doctor's, dentist's, problems & accidents, time & dates,numbers, weights & measures) and there's the usual grammar section and pronunciation is given for each phrase.
The book measures 11cm wide, 13cm high and 2cm deep so very portable. If you look on Amazon, you can 'see inside' and get a feel for whether it's the type of thing you're looking for.
Are you going to the Camping de la Plage near Carnac? If it's that one, we went there 2 years ago and had a wonderful time - hope you enjoy it.
I'd go with the app idea, but there are some really useful phase 'cards', which have phrases and vocabulary for quick revision. These are often sold in the ferry terminal shop (can't remember who produces them)
Altavista babelfish translater is superb.
CD's are always a good option,as you can learn as you travel
I usually do a refresh about a month before we go.......I change the language on my phone to French, you soon get the basics.
Much depends on where you go, but if you want to be polite it is always good to use the basic courtesy.
Whatever you do don't speak loudly and slowly this will just make them people patronised.
You won't go hungry anyways as you just walk in andtake it off the shelf.
A few basic essentials if you are camping are:
Un emplacement ce soir s'il vous plait - A pitch for tonight please.
Un tent - one tent
Deux adult - 2 adults
Un biere sil vous plait - a beer please!!!
Pain pour ce matin - bread in the morning ;)
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
Believe me , if it's warm you'll want beer not Vin Rouge. I only ever drink lager/ beer in France, I always find it too warm to quaf red wine, it makes me feel sickly.
To get the correct pronunciation, listen to one of the French radio stations, if you can tolerate the Euro pop......it really is bad.
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
We bought a book which came with CDs that we used at home and in the car just after arriving in France to help train our ears! I found the CDs very useful as you get the correct pronunciation. The one we bought I think was by Collins but was a 8? week course however we only did a few sections.
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
My best phrase book is a 15 year old French girl who is a pupil at the school where my daughter is a teacher.
When I cycle toured in Normandy I wrote down all the possible questions I could think of (relating to bikes & camping etc) and she wrote down the same but in French.
At least I was half way there...They knew what i was after.
After that it was my broken French and sign language and of course talking loud and slow in English ha ha ha
Oh and in case you wonder, YES the school did enter the girl into French A levels and guess what? an A*
------------- Snowmen fall to earth in kit form........
Every day is a gift..That's why it's called the present.
Yeah right...try tha phrase on a burley French man in a PMU bar.
Listening to the radio while travelling is an excellent way to pick up French words, although they seem to like our music, not surprising whne then repertoire goes no further than Europpo and sounds like a Eurovision entry. Faure and Bizet would have been upset , when they wrote such fine music.
It woudl be good to note a useful words from the French vocabulary though. We were locked out of our car, and neede a wire coat hanger, not a pharsae you would expect to need...it was like charades trying to explain myself
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Good French Phrase Book
......it really is bad. 
