What do I mean by “travel French”? A basic level of French that will enable you to communicate simple questions and needs (where is the metro?, how much is this?, etc.) but also start you off on the right foot for learning French more comprehensively. The language of a country is obviously a major part of its culture. While you may not be able to learn a whole new language every time you set foot in a foreign country, it doesn’t take too much effort to prepare yourself with the minimum “tourist” vocabulary. The following books should help:
- Larousse Pocket Dictionary: French/English is not so small that you can put it in your pocket, but it will fit in your backpack or purse. Larousse is the French equivalent to Webster’s and is pretty thorough in keeping it short but sweet. Pocket dictionaries often fall short by editing out too many words.
- French: Lonely Planet Phrasebook should be bought before you get on the plane. It has a quick break down of French sounds and all phrases are written out phonetically to help you work on your pronunciation.
- Pimsleur Conversational French is learnt by audio, with no guiding reference book. I’m a big fan of Pimsleur, as is the FBI apparently. The lack of a reference book is perfect if you want to learn French while driving on your commute or generally listening to your iPod or other media player. Listen to the lessons daily for a few weeks before you travel to France, and you should have absorbed some of it naturally.
- Bescherelle Complete Guide to Conjugating is a must for anyone who is serious about learning more than travel French. All French students carry this book around (the French version obviously) throughout their education, which indicates how useful it is. Mastering the art of French conjugation may seem like an never ending struggle, but it is possible to get the hang of it. I recommend getting this book even if you’re just starting out because it’s easier if you get the hang of conjugating early. You don’t want to end up only being able to speak in the present tense.
- French Phrases for Dummies is a good alternative to carrying a pocket size dictionary. If you have to choose between a phrase book and a dictionary for your bag or pack, I would choose the latter book for short trips and the former for more long-term travel.