I've found podcasts to be very helpful for practicing languages.
If you find some daily news broadcasts or "magazine" type programmes, the topics are usually stuff in the current news (i.e. somewhat familiar to you), and also way more interesting than "language tapes".
I will definitely come to your presentation in Montreal and say hello! :)
I learned English by watching Star Trek in English and then getting hired for a job in Montreal where most of the people I spoke with were English speaking folks. So watching a recurring and interesting tv show in French is my suggestion.
Thanks for all the feeback. A co-worker will lend me his "tell me more" cd's. I might also consider the "French with Michel Thomas" alternative if those cd's dont work out for me This will be the starting point. I also like the approach of using movies and podcasts. Finally I will just continue to try and think in French as much as possible, while encouraging co-workers to speak/chat in French with me as well.
