So, suppose I learn 3000 words in French. Would I recognize what a francophone is saying? If I wouldn't, how could I learn to? Do I learn how to pronounce these 3000 words in French? And after all that, suppose my understanding of French grammar is "okay", would I be able to have francophones understand me and myself understand francophones?

Try using this site, I'm using it to work on my German and it has many other languages.

French I Tutorial: Basic Phrases, Vocabulary and Grammar (http://www.ielanguages.com/french1.html)

Start with basic phrases then work your way up. Remember to be patient and don't get discouraged. Mastering a language is difficult and takes years of practice. I speak, read and write French so if you need a translation to English, let me know.

You didn't answer the question, but thank you for the website. I will definitely take advantage of that at one point.

Hamworld, I can't quite get at what's behind your question, but if you're questioning a course that offers to teach you 3,000 words of French, I'd skip it. A real grasp of any language just requires a lot more dedication, in my opinion.

Such a course would probably give you enough knowledge to read French, but probably not enough to write it--or understand it, which has been the hardest part for me. That requires hours of dedicated practice and expanding your vocabulary.

Don't mean to make it sound tedious, because I've enjoyed it very much, but there are always hard spots; no pain, no gain.

By the way, Livemocha.com is what I use--it has a very helpful French community who will correct your exercises and converse with you, and it's all free.

Wonder if I addressed what you were talking about?

Hamworld, I can't quite get at what's behind your question, but if you're questioning a course that offers to teach you 3,000 words of French, I'd skip it. A real grasp of any language just requires a lot more dedication, in my opinion.

Such a course would probably give you enough knowledge to read French, but probably not enough to write it--or understand it, which has been the hardest part for me. That requires hours of dedicated practice and expanding your vocabulary.

Don't mean to make it sound tedious, because I've enjoyed it very much, but there are always hard spots; no pain, no gain.

By the way, Livemocha.com is what I use--it has a very helpful French community who will correct your exercises and converse with you, and it's all free.

Wonder if I addressed what you were talking about?

No course. I want to learn 3000 words by myself. I don't need $100 flashcards. Why was understanding French the hardest part for you? Is not being able to read French the same as understanding it? Could you not learn to write French by reading it? I've written two short stories and yet I have a "talent for writing". I just think I'm good at mimicking other authors' writing styles(novels, heh). I wonder if the words you were studying were not used by francophones(or did they keep using phrases you haven't bothered learning?).

Why was understanding French the hardest part for you? Is not being able to read French the same as understanding it? Could you not learn to write French by reading it?

Yes, I taught myself to read French without the help of any hundred dollar program, too, and I think I can read and write it passably. Understanding the spoken language is what's hard for me, although I can speak it without much of a problem. It takes my ear quite a while to recognise the words and phrases I already know when spoken by someone else, not to mention any words or phrases I haven't learned. But that may be a problem peculiar to me. Anyway, I intend to keep studying French (and English!) the rest of my life; that's one enjoyment that won't run out on me too quick. Alors, bonne chance a toi, j'attends que tu le trouveras joli, toi aussi!
;)