French in 10 minutes a day

Alphabet, Pronunciation Guide 3 Days of the Week, Greetings 22 Important Little Words 26 Months, Seasons, Temperatures 28 Family, Home, Religion 31 More Sticky Labels 35 Upstairs, Downst

$17.95 $11.69 SUBCAT 14 441537

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[Complete language learning kit

i^ontains sticky labels, flash cards,

nenu guide & take-along Pocket Paf

Alphabet, Pronunciation Guide 3

Days of the Week, Greetings 22 Important Little Words 26 Months, Seasons, Temperatures 28

Family, Home, Religion 31 More Sticky Labels 35

Upstairs, Downstairs 56 Post Office, Mail 63

Traffic Signs, Conversion Tables 67

nJ

by Kristine Kershul, M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

Consultants: Jan Fisher Brousseau

Susan Worthington

Hagar Shirman

Bilingual Books, Inc.

http://www.bilingualbooks.org

Second printing, November 1999 Copyright© 1998, 1992, 1988, 1981 Bilingual Books, Inc., Seattle, WA Fourth edition All rights reserved ISBN 0-944502-16-4

Can you say this?

Qu^est'Ce que c^est?

(say) (tewn) (fluhr)

C^est une fleur.

If you can say this, you can learn to speak French You will be able to easily order wine, lunch, theater tickets, pastry, or anything else you wish With your best French accent,

you simply ask "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" (kess) (kuh) (say) and, upon learning what it is,

you can order it with "Je voudrais ça," (zhuh) (voo-dray) (sah) Sounds easy, doesn't it?

The purpose of this book is to give you an immediate speaking ability in French French

is the leading language not only in France, but in parts of Switzerland, Belgium, Canada

and numerous countries in Africa too French is a language of beautiful sounds To help

you master these sounds, this book offers a unique and easy system of pronunciation

above each word which walks you through learning French.

If you are planning a trip or moving to where French is spoken, you will be leaps ahead of

everyone if you take just a few minutes a day to learn the easy key words that this book offers Start with Step 1 and don't skip around Each day work as far as you can com-

fortably go in those 10 minutes Don't overdo it Some days you might want to just

10 minutes studying the map on the previous page And yes, have fun learning your

new language.

As you work through the Steps, always use the special features which only this series

offers This book contains sticky labels and flash cards, free words, puzzles and quizzes.

When you have completed this book, cut out the menu guide and take it along on your

trip Do not forget your "Pocket Pal" " which is designed to be carried with you where on your travels and to provide essential backup in case you forget an important

every-word now and then.

differently Practice these sounds with the examples given which are mostly towns or areas in France

you might wish tovisit You can always refer back to these pages ifyou need to review.

Gironde (zhee-rohnd)

Avignon (ah-veen-yoh^'^O

always silent Honfleur (oW'^^-fluhr)

Colmar, Colmar, Colmsir

Letter Sound Example Sj^^V

(tvithyourlipsrounded)

ew/00 Tournus (toor-new)

Am boise (ahf'^^-bwahz) Caen (kah-ah^^'O

i?

Note that when many French words begin with a vowel they are joined together in their

pronunciation with the previous word This Maison is a key part of French pronunciation.

(voo) (ah-vay) (voo) (zah-vay)

VOUS + avez becomes vous avez

c'est une fleur becomes c'est une fleur

Sometimes the phonetics may seem to contradict your pronunciation guide Don't panic! The easiest and best possible phonetics have been chosen for each individual word Pronounce the

above all, enjoy yourself!

Key Question Words

money?" "Où is the lavatory?" "Où is a restaurant?" " Où do I catch a taxi?" "Où is a good

hotel?" "Où is my luggage?" — and the list will go on and on for the entire length of your visit.

In French, there are SEVEN KEY QUESTION WORDS to learn For example, the seven key

order it — and not after the surprise (or shock!) arrives Notice that only one letteris different

in the French words for "what" and "who." Don't confuse them! Take a few minutes to study and practice saying the seven key question words listed below Then cover the French with your

Now test yourself to see ifyou really can keep these mots straight in your mind Draw lines

Examine the following questions containing these mots Practice the sentences out loud et then

practice by copying the French in the blanks underneath each question.

(ay)

and

(kess) (key) (suh) (pahss)

Qu'est-ce qui se passe?

Whatis happening

Ckoh-mah'''') (tay) (lah)(sah-lahd)

Comment est la salade?

How is the salad

(key) (ess)

Who is it

Qui est-ce?

(kah^"") (luh)(tra'"') (ah-reev-teel)

Quand le train arrive-t-il?

When the train does it arrive

(kohm-bya'''') (ess)

Combien est-ce?

Howmuch is it

(oo) (ay) (luh)(tay-lay-fohn)

Ó est le téléphone?

Where is the telephone

"Ó" will be your most used question mot Say each of the following French sentences aloud.

try, don't give up Just practice each sentence until you are able to do it easily Remember "qu'

is pronounced Hke "k" and "est-ce" is pronounced "ess."

6

where is the taxi

Ó est l'autobus?

where is bus

Ó est lg taxi?

(ay) (luh) (reh-stoh-rah'"')

Ó est le restaurant?

Oui, you can see similarities between anglais and français ifyou look closely You will be

yes English FVench

O l'admission (lahd-mee-syoh'''') admission «

aidez-moi! (ay-day^mwaJi) aid me! help me!

They are easy — enjoy them! Remember, in French, the letter "h" is silent.

Odds 'n Ends

(frah!">-say)

Le français has multiple mots for "the," "a," and "some," but they are very easy.

FVench (language) words

"'

(iuh) -'-m'"- w (lay)

'

(uh'^>) (eïvn) (dew) (duh)(lah) (duh)(I) (day)

I the the the the a a some some some some

(gar-soh"")

le garçon

the boy (gar-soh''^')

un homme

a man(day) (zohm)

"la fille " or "le fille." Soon you will automatically select the

In Step 2 you were introduced to the Seven Key

QuestionWords These seven words are the basics, the

most essential building blocks for learning French.

Throughout this book you will come across keys asking you to fill in the missing question word Use

this opportunity not only to fill in the blank on that

key, but to review all your question words Play with

8

B les Alpes (lay)(zahlp) the Alps

n américain (ah-may-ree-ka^^'O American

l'animal (lah-nee-mahl) animal

O l'appartement (lah-par-teh-maW''^) apartment

a

Look Around You

later on page 35 Peel off the first 11 labels et proceed around the pièce, labeling these items in

your home This will help to increase your French mot power easily Don't forget to say each

Continue on down the list above until you feel comfortable with these new mots.

a

la maison = the house

lebalcon (hahl-koW'^O balcony

leballon (bah-loh^''0 balloon, bigball

la banque (bah^^'k) bank

(bwaht) (oh) (let-ruh)

Peel off the next set of labels et wander through your maison learning these new mots It will

(shah) (fluhr) (oo) (shya'"')

be somewhat difficult to label le chat, les fleurs ou le chien, but be creative Practice by

cat flowers or dog(loh-toh) (vwah-lah) (loh-toh)

asking yourself, "Oil est l'auto?" and reply, "Voilà Tauto."

car there is

(may-zoh'"')

Où est la maison?

11

Un, Deux, Trois!

(wheat) (deez-wheat) (set) (deez-set)

between huit and dix- huit, sept and dix- sept, et so on.

eight eighteen seven seventeen

n la cathédrale (kah-tay-drahl) cathedral

G le cendrier (saW'^^-dree-ay) ashtray Q

n le centre (saW^'^-truh) center

n le champagne (shxûé'^'^fxjknyyvh) champagne

(ew-tee-lee-zay) (ah'"')

use numbers in French

le changement (shaW'^^-zhuh-mah^''^) change

O le chocolat (shoh-koh-lah) chocolate Q

G la communication (koh-mew-nee-kah-syoW''^) communication

13

Now see ifyou can translate the following thoughts into français Les réponses are provided

FVench answers

(pahzh)

upside down at the bottom of the page.

page

1 I would like seven postcards.

2 I would Uke nine stamps.

3 We would like four cups of tea.

4 We would like three bus tickets.

'^\{\ap sdssB:^ aj:)enb suoijpnoA snof^ '£

•a^sod-sajquii'ï jnau srejpnoA af 'z

6 Les Couleurs

colors

(koo-luhr) (soh'^O (ah<'")(frah"''s) (oh) (kay-bek)

Les couleurs sont the same en Prance et au Québec as they are in the United States — they just

colors are in in

(noh'''') (vee-oh-lay) (bluh)

have different noms You can easily recognize violet as violet and bleu as blue Let's learn the

will be able to order the color you want Once you've learned les couleurs, quiz yourself What

color are your shoes? Your eyes? Your hair? Your house?

D la compagnie (koh^^^-pakn-yee) company

G le/la concierge (koh'"^-see-airzh) doorkeeper

O la conversation (kok'''^-vair-sah-syoh^''0 conversation

O le cousin (koo-zd""^) cousin (male)

n la cousine (koo-zeen) cousin (female)

15

Peel off the next group of labels et proceed to label these couleurs in your maison Identify the

French Guiana Haiti

O la declaration (day-klah-rah-syoh'''0 declaration

le départ (day-par) departure

?

(what is that)

(7)wa/ii.) (oh) (let-ruh)

la boîte aux lettres

fsee/J (voo) (play)

s'il vous plaîl

(va'"0 (mair-see)

le vin merci

STICKY LABELS

This book has over 150 special sticky labels for you to use as

you learn new words When you are introduced to one of

these words, remove the corresponding label from these

pages Be sure to use each of these unique self-adhesive

whatever object they refer to And yes, they are removable! The sticky labels make learning to speak French much more fun and a lot easier than you ever expected For example,

when you look in the mirror and see the label, say

(mir-wahr)

• 99

"le miroir.'

mirror

Don't just say it once, say it again and again And once you

door without saying

a

(ray-free-zhay-rah-tuhr)

le réfrigérateur."

refrigerator

By using the sticky labels, you not only learn new words, but

friends and family learn along with you! The sooner you start,

18 the sooner you can use these labels at home or work.

money

Before starting this Step, go back and review Step 5 It is important that you can count to

(va'"') (lee-vruh) (nohm-bruh)

vingt without looking at le livre Let's learn the larger nombres now After practicing aloud

Here are deux important phrases to go with all these nombres Say them out loud over and over

- déjà vu (day-zhah)(vew) already seen

O la distance (dee-stah^''^8) distance

le docteur (dohk-tur) doctx)r

19

The unit of currency en France est le franc français, abbreviated "F" Let's learn the various

in is

kinds of monnaie et billets Always be sure to practice each mot out loud You might want to

D l'économie (lay-koh-noh-mee) economy

(We have72francs.)

To ask how much something costs en français, one asks — (kohin-bya'"0 (ess) (kuh) (sah) (koot)

Combien est-ce que ça cỏte?

Now you try it

(How much doesthatcost?)

Answer the following questions based on the numbers in parentheses.

(kohm-bya'"') (ess) (kuh) (sah) (koot)

7 Combien est-ce que ça cỏte? Ça cỏte

costs this it costs

(oh-zhoor-dwee) (duh-ma'''0 (ee-air)

Aujourd'hui, Demain et Hier

today tomorrow and yesterday

G la fatigue (fah-teeg) fatigue, tiredness

-je suis fatigué (zhuh)(swee)(fah-tee-gay) . I am tired

a la fête (fet) feast, festival ^

II est très important to know the days of the week et the various parts of the day as well as

(kel) (zhoor) (ess)

Quel jour est-ce aujourd'hui?

(kel) (ess) (duh-ma'"')

Quel jour est-ce demain?

Knowing the parts of le jour will help you to learn the various salutations françaises below.

Take the next quatre labels et stick them on the appropriate choses in your maison Make sure

four things house

(ah'->)

mirror pour "bonjour"? Ou your alarm clock for "bonne nuit"? Let's not forget,

Do you own a chat?

You êtes about one-fourth of your way through this livre et c'est a good time to quickly review

RÉPONSES TO THE CROSSWORD PUZZLE (MOTS CROISÉS) '"^WÊ

ÎJ3A 12 ^uaSjB 'OX bup 'XZ ;inu 01

aSnoj Qz ;s3p anb 33-;sa,nb 'q neapu -qs nca 'oz jnau-xip -6

xnap •82 lonbjnod -gx dsuodaj '9 3JOio3i;inui 'iz a^uBnbup -gx snq(yyn£,p %9ypi% -9

uaiquioa '9Z suoAB snou "f^x ipiui-sajdBj f :|U3uiui03 -qz asiBqa "X'X anbuauiy 'f

ipajpuaA zz auiuiaj 'XX sjnof 'x aj^Bnb 22 9m II sicjpnoAaf 'x

ssoaov

1 I wouldlike 11 tea 22 four 1 days 11 woman 22 Friday

2 with 12 20 23 and 2 postcard 12 a (masculine) 23 house

7 Saturday 17 clock 28 three 7 hi 17 room

8 bank 18 today 29 picture 8 who? 18 lamp

9 19 20 water 30 curtain 9 whatis it? 20 red

G le filtre (feel-truh) filter

- un café filtre (kah-fay)(feel-truh) filtered coffee -f

a \ann(fa'"0 end

D le fonctionnaire (foh''"-syoh-nair) functionary,civil servant

25

(dah'"') (sewr) (soo)

Dans, sur, sous .

learn, et they allow you to be precise avec a minimum of effort Instead of having to point six

times at a piece of yummy pastry you would like, you can explain precisely which one you want

D le foyer (fwah-yay) home, hearth

O franc/franche (jrah'''^)/(frah^''^sh) frank, honest

(ay-teel) (zhohn)

yellow

l'hơtel Où est l'homme?

Où est le téléphone?

(in front of)

O la géographie (zhay-oh-grah-fee) geography

D la glace (glahs) ice, ice cream g

la gomme (gohm) eraser

legourmand (goor-mah^"') gourmand, glutton

27

(zhah'^'-vee-ay) (fay-vree-ay) (marss)

Janvier, Février, Mars

January February March

You have learned the days of la semaine, so now c'est le moment to learn les mois de l'année

week it is months of the year

(kel) (tah'"') (fay4eel) (oh-zhoor-dwee)

When someone asks, " Quel temps fait-il aujourd'hui?" you have a variety of answers Let's

what (the)weatherdoes itmake today

(oh"") (sep-tah"''m-bruh) (ah-vreel) (zhwa"'^) (noh-vah'^^m-bruh)

Trente jours ont septembre, avril, juin et novembre .

have

28

le gourmet (goor-may) gourmet, epicurean

le guide (geed) guide

'kel) (tah'"') (fay-teel) (oh-zhoor-dwee)

Quel temps fait-il aujourd'hui?.

pleut aussi en avril.

(fay) (dew) (vah'^O

fait du vent en mai.

Quel temps fait-il en avril? Il pigut gn avril. Il pigut gn avril.

Quel temps fait-il en mai?.

Quel temps fait-il en aỏt?.

l'importance (la'''^-por-tah^''^s) importance 1

- une chose importante (shohz)(af'^-por-tah^'^t). an important thing

inacceptable (een-ahk-sep-tah-bluh) unacceptable

29

(say) (tewn) (bun) (ee-day)

At this point, c'est une bonne idée to familiarize

good(tah'^^'-pay-rah-tewr) (uh-roh-pay-yen)

temperatures European

(tair-moh-meh-truh)

(tah'^'-pay-rah-teivr) (uh-rohp)

températures en Europe are calculated on the

basis of Centigrade (not Fahrenheit).

98.6 °F - 32 = 66.6 x 0.55 = 37 °C

To convert °C to °F, multiply by 1.8 and ađ 32.

37 °C X 1.8 = 66.6 + 32 = 98.6 °F

What is normal body temperature in Celsius?

30

n impossible (ấ'^-poh-see-bluh) impossible

G l'information (lá^'^-for-mah-syoW''^) information

(fâ"')

Foyer, Faim et Foi!

home hunger faith

(vee) (frah''''-sez) (fah-mee-yuh)

to understand some of the basics of la vie française et la famille françaisẹ Study the family

life French family

rinscription (lá^^'-skreep-syoh'^'O inscription

intéressant (ấ''-tay-ray-sah^''0 interesting

l'Italie (lee-tak-lee) Italy

Let's learn how to identify la famille by nom Study the following exemples carefully.

family examples

(voo) (zah-puh-lay-voo)

Comment vous appelez-vous?

whatisyourname/howareyoucalled

Comment s'appelle le père?

how is called father

(feess) (fee-yuh) (frair) (suhr)

children brother sister

(Howareyoucalled?/Whatisyour name?) (My nameis )

32

O la jaquette (zhah-ket) woman's jacket

-japonais (zhah-poh-nay) Japanese J

G lejournal (zhoor-nahl) newspaper

La Cuisine

kitchen(ray-free-zhay-rah-tuhr)

j

n le kilomètre (kee-loh-meh-truh) kilometer Vr

O le kiosque (kee-ohsk) kiosk

33

Le thé est dans le placard.

le lac (lack) lake

la langue (lah'^'^-gwuh) language

la leçon (luh-soW'^^) lesson

1

(shoh-suhr) (teh-nees)les chaussures de tennis

Je voudrais apprendre le français.

Je m'appelle

PLUS

.

This book includes a number of other innovative features

unique to the ''10 minutes a day®^' series At the back of

this book, you will find twelve pages of flash cards Cut

them out and flip through them at least once a day.

On pages 116, 117 and 118 you will find a beverage guide

and a menu guide Don't wait until your trip to use them.

Clip out the menu guide and use it tonight at the dinner

table Take them both with you the next time you dine at

When you are ready to leave, cut out your Pocket Pal TM

and keep it with you at all times! By using the special

features in this book, you will be speaking French before

you know it.

Amusez-vous et bonne chance!

enjoyyourself good luck

La Religion

religion

(ruh-lee-zhoh'"') (noo) (zah-voh'"')(ee-see) (ah-may-reek)

En France, there is not the wide variety of religions that nous avons ici en Amérique.

Note that to make an adjective feminine en français, all you generally need to do is add an "e."

This will sometimes vary the pronunciation slightly.

(ess) (kuh) (sah)(koof)

est-ce que ça cỏte?

(howmuch) _^ji/ (how much) does this cost

37

Je suis dans l'hôtel.

Je suis dans la maison.

(nuh)(swee) (pah) (mew-zewl-mah'"')

Je ne suis pas musulman. .

O le magasin (mah-gah-zấ^O store

G lemagazine (mah-gah-zeen) magazine

G le marchand (mar-shaW''^) merchant

m