Since first posting in late 2007 about tackling my goal of learning french through Robert Fontaine’s “French KISS” method, I’ve delayed starting several times. My excuse for delaying has been my feeling that I was not ready to spend time on French while still working on my MBA. With my MBA drawing to completion in the beginning of May, I am now looking forward to beginning and am again reviewing the French KISS, course materials.
Mr. Fontaine says that one can develop conversational ability and understanding in about 100 days. His unique approach, which seems to be built on perceiving/experiencing/using the language, looks promising.
One important component of the program will be practicing which leads to the obvious question of “where?” Do I practice French on the treadmill at the gym? Sometimes a person on a machine nearby, earbuds snugged tightly, sings, usually off key, and entirely unselfconsciously. Would practicing a foreign language be any more odd? Perhaps not if it were Spanish but this is Arizona and French might cause other gym members to worry that I was in religious ecstasy. Other places for practice would be my home, when other family members are out; my car on my way to and from work every day (20 minutes either way); or, in the shower. For me it will probably be a mix of practicing while driving to work and downtime at home.
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