A well-known French proverb says VOULOIR, C’EST POUVOIR. An exact translation would be, to want is to be able or where there's a will there's a way. Speaking of, would you like to learn a new language? It might be easier than you think. Studies show that English contains many French words pronounced according to English rules due to the fact that close to thirty per cent of English vocabulary is of French origin. A few French words and phrases also slipped into the English lexicon through art and literature. As such, they have not lost their French character and often ease into daily conversation. Phrases such as à la carte (on the menu), à la mode (with ice cream), au contraire (on the contrary), bon voyage (have a good trip), bon appétit (enjoy your meal), c’est la vie (such is life), déjà vu (already seen), en masse (altogether), faux pas (a social blunder), haute couture (high fashion), joie de vivre (love of life), potpourri (mixture of dried flowers and spices), RSVP (please respond to my message), soup du jour (soup of the day) vis-à-vis (face to face), and so on.
Learning another language is beneficial for many reasons. Herbert Geoffrey Willans, English author and journalist once said that you never truly understand a language until you know at least two. Stop by Thunder Bay Public Library’s website www.tbpl.ca, and you will find an abundance of databases free to all library card holders. Click on "Research" and log in to My Giant Search. By scrolling down the list you will find POWERSPEAK LANGUAGES. This fun and interactive language learning resource teaches French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Inglés (for English as a Second Language learners). Immersed in both phraseology and culture, the learner quickly begins to gain proficiency in a new language. Only requirements are a library card/pin and you’re off.
More of a visual learner? The library has many additional resources for learning different languages. FRENCH IN MINUTES: HOW TO STUDY FRENCH THE FUN WAY by Liv Montgomery is part of the Made for Success Collection and is available as a downloadable audio book. The author guides the learner to speak competently and fluently with unique speed-learning techniques.
Maybe Spanish is your language of choice. SPEAK SPANISH WITH CONFIDENCE by Angela Howkins and Juan Kattan-Ibarra comes with three compact discs and a booklet, and is an engaging and approachable way to build Spanish speaking know-how. Vamonos!
Perhaps you would prefer to learn German. SPEAK GERMAN WITH CONFIDENCE by Paul Coggle and Heiner Schenke is located in the Waverley Language CD collection. In three compact discs and one booklet, this German course covers various scenarios from greeting people and asking for directions, to shopping and dining out. Each venue includes two sets of dialogue. Explanations are kept minimal and straightforward. Es ist leicht.
MANDARIN CHINESE; LEARN BEFORE YOU LAND is available as an electronic resource. Part of the In-Flight Series, this is a one-hour CD containing ten lessons of various phrase categories. A pamphlet on Pinyin basics is also included.
For English as a Second Language Learners there is the OXFORD ESL DICTIONARY FOR LEARNERS OF ENGLISH; WITH CANADIAN CONTENT, published by the Oxford University Press in 2012. It comes with a CD-ROM which offers the added bonus of listening to words, then recording your own pronunciation. Excellent.
El cielo es el limite. Sky’s the limit. It’s always a good time to learn something new and the Thunder Bay Public Library can help. Vous n'avez rien à perdre. You’ve got nothing to lose.
Caron E. Naysmith
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