Is Rocket French really the best?

Has anyone else tried Rocket French? It has really good reviews, particularly in terms of value for money. 

I myself find it a very good program, but it would be good to know of any contrary views. 

Do you agree with PC Mag that it is better than any other language learning software?



Read 10 Reasons Why You'll Love Rocket French at at http://ebestlanguagelearningsoftware.com/rocket-french/

Montreal and the French Language, Globally and Nationally

Do you know which is the 2nd largest French speaking city in the world after Paris? Montreal , Canada!

However, the city feels under siege or threat. They just had a protest / demonstration to highlight the importance of remaining a French speaking city and the laws to protect and privilege the French language there ( Bill101 ). 

Many English speaking Canadians do not support these laws which make English a secondary language with less rights.

At the same time, there is a group that wants to have Montreal declared a city-state.

Interesting stuff.

You can read more at http://globalnews.ca/news/843651/french-language-rally-in-montreal-planned/

Do You Think You Will Never Completely Learn French?

In The Atlantic this month there is an article about someone who is just so frustrated about learning French. 

Here is an excerpt:

But what if you never learn the language? I don't mean what if you never decide to learn, but what if expend a great amount of effort and learn nothing. ... 

The hardest thing about learning a language is that, at its core, it is black magic. No one can tell you when, where or how you will crossover--some people will even tell you that no such crossover exists. The only answer is to put one foot in front of the other, to keep walking, to understand that the way is up. The only answer is a resource which many of us have long ago discarded. C'est à dire, faith.

I know what the author means about French. I have spent so long learning it myself, and still....

Spanish, on the other hand is just soooooo much easier. I can't believe how quickly I nailed that, and yet French remains so elusive. I have learned to live with my limitations and simply accept that I will never be really fluent.

What's your view?

Funny Trending French Video from Les Guignols

This is one of the top trending #YouTube videos in #France, from the comedy show #LesGuignols which is like the UK’s #SpittingImage(RIP). This is great for French learners because it has captions so you can follow the words.

I always find it interesting that the French have a distinct word for unemployment and the unemployed, unlike English speakers.

Bilingual Cat?

This is quite impressive, or is it some kind of hoax?

Does this cat really understand both Spanish and English?

("El gato hace...." means "The cat goes....")

Check out the video here:

http://now.msn.com/bilingual-cat-helps-baby-learn-spanish

Answering the Question, "How can I learn Spanish?"

This question was asked at http://www.quora.com/Spanish-language/How-can-I-start-to-learn-Spanish

I suggested to start off with free Spanish resources online for a couple of weeks, join some online groups, and start looking at Spanish movies or news where you know the content already and so can figure out what they may be trying to say.

But I suggest you get a good Spanish language program. Rosetta Stone is the most popular, but I don't really recommend it. It is too pricey and the teaching method leaves a lot to be desired. If you have the money, Fluenz is probably the best. If you are on a budget, then Rocket Spanish is by far the best deal. You can look at a comparison of the different software at Best Spanish Learning Software: Reviews for You to Choose the Best One ( http://ebestlanguagelearningsoftware.com/best-spanish-learning-software/ )

From there you can really climb up the ladder to fluency, eventually speaking with native Spanish speakers online through Skype, real-time chats or other interactive programs.

What would you suggest?

How long would it take to learn another language fluently?

What do you think? The US Foreign Service Institute says English speakers can become proficient in some languages in 23-24 weeks (575-600 class hours), but others 88 weeks (2200 class hours)(about half that time preferably spent studying in-country)

How long would it take to learn another language fluently?