Product Description
This title is suitable for children of ages 2 to 12 years. It contains a book & a CD. It offers a 45-minute CD and 20-page colouring book that includes all lyrics and translations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Unpleasant songs and accents
The singers do not have native French accents and the songs are annoying.How does a round version of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in english teach anyone French?

Not that bad
This cd covers some of the basics like the alphabet, numbers to 10, days of the week and some basic phrases in addition to songs. It is useful as a learning tool, especially if you find it cheap. We use it in the car.

Don't torture your ears!
I checked this out from my local library, along with Teach Me French and Teach Me Even More French.I liked this one the best of the three, yet I feel it still only merits two stars.I thought the organizational layout of the booklet was good-- it was based on the calendar year and events typical of each month.However, the singing is horrendous!I cannot stand to listen to it, which effectively makes this CD worthless as a learning tool, for if I can't stand to listen to it, I don't expect my children to listen to it.The singer has such a high pitched, nails on the chalkboard voice that she reminds me of contestants on American Idol who only audition so that they can get on TV.There are MUCH better French music CDs available.If you still think you're interested in this one, I urge you to check it out from a library first to see if you really, really want to buy it.

Not something I would buy
We borrowed this CD from the library and it was just ok. The songs were familiar, but it moved so fast that my kids just made up french sounding words and didn't learn a thing. It would be great for kids who have learned some french already, but I wouldn't recomend it as a learning tool.

A terrible learning tool
The adult singers on this CD are not native speakers of French, and have very heavy American accents. As noted in other reviews, the songs aren't translated literally - in the case of "twinkle twinkle little star," the English translation bears very little resemblance to what the French says. The children singers are very difficult to hear; I think they're native speakers, but the non-native adults sing loudly over them so your child doesn't get any benefit from them.

If you wan to learn bad French, this is the CD for you.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

My First French Book
Book was very throughly especially for beginners like my daughter... pictures are bold and bright and the meaning of each picture is right there in front of you... pages were easy to turn .... very simple but to the point... ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of articles is designed to familiarize the reader with idiomatic, everyday French. ... Read more

Product Description
This English-French/French-English learner’s dictionary includes more than 20,000 of the most frequently used French words, phrases, and idiomatic expressions. You’ll find more than simple definitions - examples show you how the most essential words are used in everyday conversations, and all information is presented with the needs of the beginner-intermediate level learner in mind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Affordable and well-structured textbook
I am a total beginner in learning French and I am glad I bought this product rather than spending hundreds of dollars on one of the immersion type products. I've been learning the language using the coursebook along with the learner's dictionary for about 3 weeks now and I love it. The coursebook has lots of useful words and expressions as well as simply phrased notes on grammar. The only shortcomings I felt are with the audio CDs. The CDs don't give you pronunciations on all the contents in the coursebook, leaving all the notes on grammar and some words/phrases. This makes it hard to use the CDs as an on-the-go learning tool. But overall, I'm very satisfied with this product.

Very dry, but good reference materials included
This program covers the basics of French, as advertised.What they fail to mention is that it is as dry as toast -- not one illustration, not one bit of "learning French can be fun."If you are very self-motivated, this will cover what you need at an attractive price.If you aren't self-motivated, it's going to bore you to tears.

That being said, the reference materials, a basic French grammar guide in the back of the lesson book and a separate French learner's dictionary, are excellent references to have on hand while you study with a more entertaining program.

Just what I needed
Very good and inexpensive dictionary for a beginner-intermediate who wants to expand their vocabulary - many definitions are shown in their common usage in phrases which I appreciate.

disappointing!
No didactical at all, very boring, bunch of words grouped together in lessons pronounced in good french though, very little conversation, not what I expected. Wouldn't recommend it!

The Best Language Acquisition Bang for the Buck
The Living Language grammar series books are excellent adjuncts to regular college or high school language texts or on their own for one familiar with the language acquisition process. For $10-$20 (including grammar book, 3 CD's, and dictionary) complete bought at Amazon, anyone can afford to begin really learning another language (French and Spanish in my case). REMEMBER: Search by the ISBN# for the best prices. Since repetition or practice on a DAILY basis is key to slowly picking up another language, the lightweight, portable paperback Living Language books provide the key to practicing your new language anywhere you happen to be sitting for a few minutes. The lessons are short, concise and quite accurate. The Living Language grammar lessons are arranged in LOGICAL order after the immersion style lessons, which are excellent for de-stressing and taking the fear from learning new and generally unfamiliar foreign language grammar styles. Exercises are included with each grammar lesson. There is vocabulary building and there is more than one word/phrase given for most different meanings which is one of the keys to creating neural net pathways in memory for holding onto a new language, it's idioms, colloquialisms, etc.

Overall the Living Language series in any language offered is KEY to picking up a new language providing ready access to spot practice sessions of short duration to match our short-term opportunities for practice in very busy modern life. Enjoy!!!

Native language speakers generally recommend expensive programs like Rosetta Stone. However, Living Language provides language learning access to the average citizen.

Frank Snapp
North Oakland, CA ... Read more

Product Description
These pocket dictionaries give business and vacation travelers everything they need for a smooth, successful trip. Organized by subject, the traveler can quickly find the vocabulary relevant to the situation, whether transportation, hotels, meals, shopping, post offices and banks, sports, or health care, accompanied by a pronunciation guide. At the end of each phrase book is a 2,000-word mini-dictionary. Fully updated from the original editions to reflect currency changes such as the Euro and new vocabulary such as e-tickets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Must get CD
I bought this book as one of the two textbooks for a beginner's French class.I had never studied French before and wanted to get at least the basics in preparation for a planned trip to Paris.I have been using this book as part of the class for about 6 weeks.This book is designed to give the traveler the basics in vocabulary and key phrases.I think the book does a good job at that.But after 6 weeks of classes, I would have to say that French pronunciation is definitely not obvious and intuitive.So as I said in the title, you MUST get the CD along with the book to make this book worthwhile.

Handy, Stowable, Travel Companion
I picked-up this Guide on impulse at an airport on my way to the French speaking St.Martin (Caribbean, French West Indies). A self-standing kiosk that attractively markets other titles in the series easily caught my attention. Based on this experience, I will consider other titles the next time I see the collection. The small size of this Guide makes it easy to carry in just about any pocket. That's a big deal. Learning a language requires persistence and quick access to a collection of key words and phrases at random moments. I won't claim this is the best of many competing phrase books on the market, but I'm also sure you cannot go wrong spending some time with this Guide if you see it in your travels.

Great French Guide
I don't know anything about French, I bought this book to help me when visiting France, It's really good pocket book, it has categories such as Every Day Phrases, Villas and Apartments, Traveling Around, Driving, Eating, Menu Guide, Stores, Sport, Health, and many more categories.

It shows the phrase and words in English, French, and then the pronunciation of the French words in English letters.
Also it has general info about each category in France.

I speak English, Arabic and Spanish, and I find the French language very hard for me to understand and speak.

I think this is a really great pocket book for traveler to France.

A great resource
I am a novice traveller, but yet a lover of history.I purchased 4 books in these series to each place.Great read both on the plane ride AND while I am there.Does it have everything....no.But, it is easy to carry and gives you a good frame to work with.

Practical & helpful...an excellent book
The Eyewitness Travel Phrase books are excellent guides for tourists looking to communicate as much as possible in foreign languages. They include a host of phrases that can be very helpful in many situations - there are the classic "Can you tell me what time it is?" to a variety of more complex or particular expressions. There's also a section on spelling and pronounciation. It also includes expressions used not only while on vacation, but also while doing business.

This little book is also quite handy thanks to it's size, it fits perfectly on any pocket. It also includes a section with a simple dictionary that can be very helpful in identifying a variety of words.

The book is very good at doing its job, which is helping people cross the language barriers while abroad. However, it shouldn't be mistaken with a French course. This book is not meant to teach you the French language, but to give you a good enough understanding of it so you can travel without major inconveniences. If you want to expand on the language, you need to get other books. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The essential classroom complement
I am an AP French teacher, and wouldn't think of teaching the class without this book.It offers a multitude of prompts that give students a full range of the types of questions they'll encounter in each section.After a while, students can start to see patterns.

One can purchase the audio CDs for home practice, but not the answer keys.The best way to make use of this book is in the classroom or small groups, where discussion over *why* x is the correct answer can take place.

The idiomatic expressions and vocabulary lists in the back are amazing.

I wouldn't buy a used copy, because you're likely to get lots of the blanks filled in. This book is best used in tandem with a thorough grammar text like Une Fois Pour Toutes.
Courage!

Decent...Gets the Job Done
Clearly, this is a book to be used in a classroom setting.It's not a "Princeton Review" or "Barron's" book where there are explanations and answers and practice tests, etc.This is simply a book of questions.It's helpful if your teacher uses it in class, and you can check your answers with the teacher's guide.I noticed that on average, the questions in this book are more difficult than the actual AP test; I was feeling quite depressed about how I would do when I was preparing.My suggestions: use this book for the reading comprehension section and the listening, but practice the "fill-in-the-blank" grammar with College Board's free response questions on their website.After all, those are authentic.This book also contains a good selection of essay prompts to give you ideas about what to write, and the picture stories very nearly match those on the actual test.Overall, it's a good preparation for the test, but the difficulty of some passages relative to others and relative to the test should be taken with a grain of salt.

pretty good
I used this book in my french class and I thought it was great practice and very helpful, but yeah, be warned -- this is just the student copy WITHOUT the tapes or the answers so pretty useless it's used in a classroom setting.

disappointed
This book is simply a question book. In order to use it properly you need the audio cassettes and the the teacher's guide( to check your answers!) which is impossible to purchase unless you are a teacher. It makes no sense why it is sold on it's own. A complete waste of money........

No answers + no tapes or CDs = Useless
I ordered this book after reading the 5 star review, and upon receiving it realized that it is a STUDENT edition, with NO ANSWERS and NO tapes or CDs (or even a written script) for the listening sections! Without answers and tapes, it is useless as an AP study guide! The Amazon description of the book should state this, so other people don't waste their time ordering it. I couldn't find the missing items on Amazon, so I searched the web until I found the teacher guide ($16.97) and tapes ($49.97) on the Prentice Hall webpage. ... Read more

Product Description
BERLITZ DELUXE LANGUAGE PACK FRENCH

The comprehensive French language-learning course


Enjoy studying independently--Deluxe Language Pack is a comprehensive course designed to develop language skills at your own pace. Deluxe Language Pack immerses you completely in French; you ll gain listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Go from beginner to the intermediate level in the comfort of your own home no teacher, schedule or rules to follow!


Everything you need to succeed in French:

*6 audio CDs with native speakers to engage you in real-life conversations (5 hours total)

*2 fully illustrated course books

*100 quiz cards

*Bilingual dictionary

*Go online for free additional materials--easy to read audio script and learner s guide for those who like to read along with the audio

*Save up to $100 on Berlitz language classes


How Does the Course Work?1. Start with the Basic course book and audio CDs build confidence learning the basics

2. When you re ready, take your skills to the next level with the Intermediate course book and audio CDs

3. Test your newly acquired skills with 100 quiz cards

4. Use your bilingual dictionary for extra reference

5. Get additional support online--go to berlitzpublishing.com for a downloadable audio script and learner s guide

6. Compatible with your iPod® or MP3 devices ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great, fast service
I was very happy with the very quick turn around from this seller.They processed my order and mailed it out immediately.Great service and quick response ... Read more

Product Description

Unravel the mystery of speaking in French!

Product Description
Our best-selling audio language-learning program provides comprehensive grammar and vocabulary to beginners and advanced students, offering guidance in pronunciation in addition to language fundamentals. Updated for the 21st century and re-recorded with fresh voiceovers, Learn In Your Car includes terminology for cell phones, computers and the Internet, as well as contemporary currencies and usages. Listeners learn pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar of a new language without the need of a textbook: Level 1: Key words and phrases, basic grammar skills, emphasizes travel needs; Level 2: Expands vocabulary, new grammar concepts, more day-to-day activities; Level 3: Broadens vocabulary base, more advanced grammar skills, enriches conversational ability. 9 hours of audio on 9 compact discs, 3 booklets with recorded text for reference & grammar notes, Zippered CD Wallet, Travelogue DVD. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (53)

Excellent Learning Resource
This product was a wonderful investment. I had taken French when I was in Junior High and High School, but it never seemed to click with me. Most of the challenge was not in reading or recognizing written words (a lot of modern English words derive from French); it was in pronunciation. This course takes care of that by forcing you to practice speaking at a more complex, conversational level.

The main strength of the course is its suitability for learning while driving. After decades of listening to music radio, tapes and CDs, this is a welcome change, and is stimulating too. I've only briefly tried other language programs, but became frustrated with their cute music and convoluted formats. The Learn in Your Car series is very simple and straightforward. Some may get tired of the repetition, but if you want to learn a language alone, this is probably the best approach.

Great item for someone who already knows some French
I took French in high school, but I'm incredibly rusty having not really used it at all for the past 10 years.After having used the CDs for a couple of weeks, I find myself picking up what I had worked on before as well as new words/phrases.However, I think this would be a difficult product for someone who doesn't already understand the basics of French grammar, since that's not really covered in these discs.The French speakers are good and I like that they have both a male and female speaker.Back when I took French in high school, I had a female instructor.I found that I always had difficulty understanding male speakers because of the lower tone of voice.This product handles that by having both male and female speakers, .The only thing that would be nicer is to have a variety of speakers--not just the two that are on the CDs.

All in all, a great product for someone with a commute.I would definitely recommend this for anyone who has at least a small grasp on the basics of French.

Great Product, Accurate Seller Description
This has been a truly helpful product at a great price. The cds came brand new in a cd case and there is a book included to supplement the cds. I play them in my car back and forth from work and my tutor has definitely noticed my improvement. Very simple to follow and repeat after. Useful frases. I've tried other cd based language learning tools and none have been as good as this one.

Great fun and learning a lot
I ordered this product to teach my kids French. It works great. Everytime we are in the car, I put them in and I notice they pick up a lot. Especially the prononciation improves a lot since they hear it all the time. Great product !

Good for the busy person commuting to and from work.
I have used other Learn in your Car languages, Italian and German, and found them to be great for me since I use them as I commute to work.I have found that I can acquire a working knowledge of the language and when I have visited Italy and Germany I was able to function at an acceptable level, though far from fluent.The French will have its test this week but I feel good about my capacity to communicate. ... Read more

Product Description
In the tradition of Aesop, the fables in this enlightening and entertaining collection also impart practical, moral advice. Included are a trio of tales in verse as well as prose favorites such as "Sleeping Beauty," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Bluebeard," and "Cinderella." An informative introduction and annotations accompany excellent English translations that appear on pages facing the original French. The most complete edition available in English.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Quite an experience to read the real thing
It's quite an experience to read these famous fairy tales in Charles Perrault's French. The stories feel completely familiar at the outset, but as you read on, you see a grisly side, as in many other old fairy tales of Europe, e.g. Andersen's and those of the Brothers Grimm. This is not Disneyfied, but it is perfectly easyfor all levels of English-speaking French readers to follow, since the translations are on the facing pages (as in all books in this series. ... Read more

Product Description
New reading series brings foreign language acquisition into the 21st century

While the world produces more and more reading material each year, from magazines to newspapers to websites, why are most language learners still relying on contrived texts and classic literature for language acquisition? Providing entertaining contemporary texts in the original language, the Better Reading Language series is for those who want to brush up on a foreign language.

With the authentic materials provided in this series, readers will be able to peruse a Latin Grammys write-up in Spanish, a feature on Alain Ducasse's favorite recipes in French, or a review of a Milan fashion show in Italian. Readings on everything from music and sports to cinema and contemporary family life are arranged in increasing difficulty within chapters. Along the way, learners will find instruction and exercises to help develop improved reading speed, comprehension, and vocabulary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Not thought through
This book was a disappointment.

After having excellent experiences with other books this book came across as disorganized and not useful for a learning journey.The concept, the cover and the hype are good.The execution is poor.

This is not a "guide" to better reading as such, there are no reading tips and no section introductions to indicate what the author is aiming for the learner to achieve.The book does not have a vocabulary glossary, the readings are not well graded, and the exercises include tasks indirectly related to the reading on translation and grammar (and not reading comprehension). The readings are decontextualized in that no visual clues are provided, exercises are in the same format as the reading, and there is no indication of who authored the readings or from where the readings have been extracted. The author encourages the reader to select topics of interest; therefore the author does not envision a skill journey for the learner. The skill exercises do not build towards a cohesive skill set. It grates that the exercises and introductions are in English and not French, so there is no sense of immersion which I have enjoyed with other books.

Instead of a book designed for learning, you get the sense that this book has been produced by an experienced French teacher who has accumulated a considerable collection of learning materials over the years, and then decided to publish these in a loosely organized fashion.This book may in fact be an excellent resource for teachers of French.

A more useful approach might have been to include a complete lexicon of terms for particular topics at the start of each topic.But instead this book includes vocabulary exercises that come after the reading, and the vocabulary is not presented in a consistent or comprehensive manner.

Instead of persevering with this book, I will use other books to supplement my part-time coursework and will use French internet-based newspapers to achieve what I had hoped to achieve with this book.

Books that I have found very useful so far and which I would recommend are Easy French Reader and Beginner's French Reader for improving reading in French, and The Ultimate French Verb Review and Practice (The Ultimate Verb Review and Practice Series) for improving vocabulary and grammar.

Very good but some problems...
This book claims that you don't need a dictionary. I am sorry, but I don't know every single word in the French language such as "brin de bruyere" which comes from this poem that is not translated in the book.
I would have appreciated more definitions, but it does have great answers, but it reinforces the fact that I need to get myself a very good dictionary very soon.The book is good, just make sure you have a dictionary. In most cases, you won't need one.I would recommend this book, still.

Quelle deception! [What a disappointment!]
This author must think all Americans have nothing better to do but read the gossip columns or watch soap operas and want the French vocabulary to go with such behaviors.A major portion of this book covers romance-horoscopes and other vapid matters. The author insults my intelligence with her choice of topics.In addition, Ms. Heminway uses vocabulary in her pieces not defined in the book's glossary or pages of text which further frustrates the reader.A wonderfully, unusable text!

It picks up where the beginner books leave off.
There are reading exercises and test questions throughout.
And there is an answer key at the back. There is also a good list of French websites on various subjects.
IT does not waste time explaining the very basics. It assumes the reader has a basic understanding, and is ready to move forward with more challenging vocab, which there are a lot of new words that the intermediate learner probably has not seen. There are more complex sentence structures that are within reach of understanding.

You will have to do some work to understand some things, and that is what improving is about. Pushing yourself a little harder to get better. Have your dictionary ready. You will need it.
It is not in any way for a brand new student.

Excellent book
The book starts of easy and ramps up... I am actually learning not only more French, the end goal, and becoming better at reading French, but I'm also learning how to skim in French, a skill I lack in English.Well organized and thought out with interesting and varied readings that would appeal to a wide cross section of interests and skills. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Awesome textbook
Even though its from the 80s, its just as relevant today and has been very helpful in my struggle to learn French. I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Learning French
This textbook and workbook ROCKS! I copied the audio discs from the school library to my iTunes, so I have the audio lessons on my iPhone.

Some 35 years ago, I took 4 years of French in high school.Last year I decided to attempt to re-learn this fascinating language. Although the video and text were created in the late 1980s, and some of it seems out-dated, it is still entertaining, and you learn French!I even found a fan club or two online, when I got curious about the actors.Even though I remembered a lot of my high school French, I still studied very hard, since I had forgotten so much vocabulary and verb conjugation.

No method of learning is going to work miraculously, just as there is no miracle diet.You do need to apply yourself, but the goal is worth the effort.This method of learning and the story line is fun, which makes learning fun, which in turn helps you learn. You can watch the corresponding Annenberg Foundation videos online for free (small) or purchase a set for $450.[...]

Do some research, check out the reviews, then get started learning French with "French in Action!"

Better than New
Thank You so very much for sending French in Action Beginning Course in such a short time. The condition of the book is ratad at 10 stars.
Sincerely, Georgette.

Don't waste your time and effort with French in Action.
I studied language acquisition for a semester. So I can tell you French in Action was based on some totally misinterpreted, in the wrong direction research done back in the 1980s.

Back then, there was a flurry of excitement about how children could learn a second language merely by being around speakers of that language. Brian, one of my classmates, had a son who was 5 years old. The boy and his mom spent 3 months in California when he was 4. They heard many people speaking Spanish. Brian said, "When they came back, he was speaking Spanish."

Researchers use the word plastic to describe this; children have a very plastic learning ability and they can learn languages much faster than adults can learn the same language. Some language teachers made the obvious, wrong conclusion - If it works for children, we'll use it with adults, by golly!

The problem with French in Action is nearly all of the talking is entirely in French! That doesn't work for adults. They don't have that childlike ability to just absorb words in a foreign language. The Capretz Method has a learning curve that a 4 wheel drive Hummer couldn't climb! Any language program that reads - So you learn naturally, the way a child does. - is complete and utter trash.

Even worse, with everyone in the videos blissfully chatting away in French, it's easy to get the feeling that - Oh, if only you were more dedicated, that incomprehensible French conversation would actually make sense to you. Nonsense! Get something that works for you! Don't suffer through hour after hour of listening to people talking French when you have no idea what they're saying because they couldn't be bothered to translate the vocabulary. Sacre bleu!

French in Action and Children:
Since all this glowing research said children can begin learning a language just by hearing it, then you might think French in Action would work for children. N'est pas? But no.

I heard the tail end of a talk on Public Radio about this. Sorry for the lack of names, but the result is still clear. This is from some woman who studies language teaching. Alas, she didn't say where this research was done. She did say some graduate students tried exposing children to a foreign language. Adults, speaking the foreign language, were around the children for several hours a day, 5 days a week. For children up to age 7, they were able to absorb many words and phrases in the foreign language. For children from 7 to 12, their ability to absorb foreign words and phrases was just middling. For children above 12, their ability was only slightly better than an adult.

Here's the thing, she said when the children heard the same language, the same words and phrases on television or from a radio, they learned nothing! Nothing at all, not a single word! There's something about human contact that just can't be duplicated.

My Recommendations:
For learning from a book, I recommend French, The Easy Way, 4th Edition, by Christopher Kendris. The 4th edition has some newer vocabulary words, plus some blue was added to the drawings and I think the way it's laid out is easier on the eyes than the 3rdedition.

Also, French Demystified by Annie Heminway looks worthwhile, though I've only leafed through it.

If you seriously want to learn French, you must work your way through a book! There is no way you can get up to conversational level by listening to dialogues while you're driving around or taking a walk. Dialogues are definitely helpful, especially for learning the sound of a language, but nothing replaces learning grammar, verb tenses, spelling and doing exercises from the printed page.

To learn another language, you must make your brain cells work! And you do that by studying and doing exercises. It's like the difference between watching an exercise video, which does nothing for your body, or doing bicep curls with a 45 pound dumbbell (That's what I start with.), which really works the bicep muscles. If you can get a French tutor or join a French class, so much the better.

A Talking Program:
The very best French program I've ever heard where I can hear people talking is French Pod! There are 2 hosts, Erica, who is American, and Amaury, who is French. They walk the listener through little vignettes, such as missing a train. They go over the words and phrases several times, so it's easy to learn the handful of words they discuss.

Plus they're cheerful and chatty! And that's a welcome change from all the other French audio programs I've heard where the speakers are so monotone. French Pod comes with lots of worksheets, so you can learn a lot of French, as quickly as you want to work, and enjoy doing it as well! Plus you can sign up to use the French Pod website for a week for free! (You just give an e-mail address and a user name. You don't have to give them any credit card or bank account information.)

Just remember, since French Pod is mostly talking, you won't learn a huge amount of grammar and verb tenses. To learn French, you have to do both, work with a book and listen and repeat.

You could also check for a conversation French group in your town. Any decent sized city in North America or Canada will probably have a French group.

Bonne chance!

Hands down the best way to learn comprehensive French
I have taken a few different stabs at learning French over the years. There was the beat up college book that my grandma used in college that I tried to use. There were the tapes that I listened to, repeating words over and over as if to tattoo them onto my brain. There were the workbooks pulled off of the shelf that asked you put a name next to the picture. I've tried Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur. Everything helped a little - I could probably order dinner in Paris if I had to and maybe find the bathroom, but not much else.

So then I picked up the Capretz Method. It is a little out of date - you have to giggle at the clothing and hair in the videos - but it is, hands down, the best method I have ever used to learn French. After a few months of immersing myself in the program, and make no mistake, it is a very involved program, I am starting to think in French. I could hold a competent conversation in Paris and I can work my way through reading French on the internet (placed my first order off of Amazon.fr the other day). This course is more work than any other I have tried, but it is far more useful. I am fully confident that after finishing the lessons I will be quite comfortable conversing in French.

It isn't easy, that's for sure, you have to be involved in the verbal, visual, aural, written and reading parts of the program to get the value out of it, I wouldn't even bother with just the book or just the workbook. But if you put in the time and the work, you will learn far more than you ever thought possible.

For the money I would recommend Capretz any day. If you have a week and need to feel at least familiar, pick up Pimsleur. If you want to speak and read French with some fluency, pick up French in Action. ... Read more

Product Description
Updated with helpful facts and tips for international travelers, this new third editions of Learn French the Fast and Fun Way is suitable as language teaching book for adults as well as for older children. It instructs beginners in the basics of reading, writing, understanding, and speaking French. The book lightens language-learning routines with cartoon-style illustrations, language games, and puzzles. A set of vocabulary flashcards and a small staple-bound bilingual dictionary booklet are bound into the book's spine and can be easily removed for supplementary use. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Useful Phonetics
This takes one through each mot or word phonetically so one can overcome one of the biggest challenges in linguistic etudes. This is the pronouncement of words orally so one can make way in ordinary discourse as a tourist.Mispronunciation is construed as an insult to many foreigners albeit they might rate you an A for effort. The conversational contexts furnish a realistic arena for the situations in which another would find oneself.This is lacking in many texts.Steves uses a similar approach to Leete in his tour books.Still some conjugation schemes would abet to see the person changes one can encounter such as reframing a question to the second person.

Fast and Easy
This is an excellent review book for someone with some knowledge of French. With the CDs it becomes a really good learning book. Lessons are easy to follow and the audio is great.I am not sure how easy it would be to learn from scratch with this book however.

Learn French the Fast and Fun Way

My book actually was shipped from Dailybooksales at a discounted (very good) price.It arrived in a timely manner and in new condition.I was very pleased with the transaction.NDLearn French the Fast and Fun Way (Fast & Fun)

Colorful diagrams and charts, coupled with relevant vocabulary and grammar exercises
It must be the colorful pages that pull a student into the French language. You'll be reading and writing basic French in no time, if you work with French the Fast and Fun Way. Most important is the treatment of regular and irregular verbs. Plenty of opportunities to practice their definitions and conjugations. Also comes with illustrated flashcards and a handy dictionary. Perfect for the beginner!

Super fast and very easy!
I have this book in Spanish as well and these books are the fastest and easiest way to learn. ... Read more

Product Description

"Wow! This book is simply amazing -- visually stunning, rich with information, and overflowing with detail... Essential for students of any of these languages, lovers of language, and any library supporting a language program or multilingual patrons."-- Library Journal (starred review of first edition)

35,000 terms per language and 6,000 color illustrations.

Unparalleled in its scope and detail, The Firefly Five-Language Visual Dictionary features 6,000 color illustrations labeled with 35,000 terms in each of English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Each key word or phrase is connected to an illustration that makes identification and translation quick and accurate.

Customer Reviews (3)

Firefly
Great book! Exactly what I have been looking for. The perfect book for learning proper terminology.

Great educational tool for interpreters
This is a fabulous resource for educational interpreters working with students that use or are learning other languages other than English, including ASL.It is also a wonderful resource for sign language interpreters enabling us to see the picture of the object to give us ideas as to which classifiers to use in the interpretation as well as how to set it up as we prepare for the classroom.It is also very helpful in the tutoring environment as a picture is worth a thousand words.It is very detailed in its drawings.I spent a long time comparing different resources like this one and kept narrowing it down to this one.I am very thankful I finally purchased this book as I am pleased with it.It meets my expectations.

Helpful compilation
I purchased the Firefly Five Language Dictionary to complement my study of German, French and Spanish.

Although I am fairly literate in English and some people even say I am fluent in Spanish, I find that the illustrations in this Dictionary consistently provide me with names even for items I see daily but have never associated with a precise English word, let alone the appropriate term in another tongue.

As a visual dictionary, it obviously isn't full of adjectives, verbs or other parts of speech.It is essentially just illustrations with words that identify each component part in five languages (along with gender for the non-English tongues).

From oil rigs, to bicycles, to insects, to the human body, the pictures in this Dictionary gives you names of parts for which one might not even know the proper English term. ... Read more

Product Description

FRENCH in 10 minutes a day® Book

Customer Reviews (7)

It Works Tres Bien
When an English only speaking traveler takes his/her first trip to a foreign-speaking country, that initial shock comes when you step off the plane and find that you can't communicate with those you are turning to for assistance. I can imagine the horror of simply asking directions to the restrooms. "French in 10 minutes a day" made my first two trips to France easier to function in this cultural shock. Working alone with this course takes time and dedication, but it will help in your survival in a foreign country.

However, I've found that the best method for using this workbook is to pair up with your spouse or a friend and work together at the same pace. In no time you'll be speaking to and understanding each other in French. It's not the high-dollar immersion course that your hear about on TV, but by working in pairs (or groups), you can make it that.

I've found that the CD-ROM works best as a method for testing what you have learned, as opposed to actually guiding you through the book. Work through several sections of the book first, and then test yourself with the CD-ROM.

What has benefited me most is responding at home in French to annoying telephone solicitors. It's quite amusing to hear them squirm, trying to make you, a French speaker, understand what they are selling.

French in 10 minutes a day
Even though the French language is covered well in this book and CD, I was very disappointed that I was only able to play the CD on my computer and not in my car.I live a busy life, as do most people, so I found this limitation a major drawback.I would have to recommend Pimsleur over this selection for that very reason.

Fabulous book
The book has very helpful graphics, the CD has great review tools, and I've posted the sticker labels all around my house. I took 2 years of French years ago and this resource has been the perfect solution to my memory loss. It's also teaching me new things! I'm studying abroad in France soon and this book has been a fabulous help thus far!

Elementary French -- literally.
A couple of reviews I read of this book said that it would be useful for business travelers.WRONG.First, the vocabulary in this book contains very little that would be of use to travelers for either business or pleasure -- who typically don't need to know words for things like "dog," or "cat," kitchen appliances, bedroom furniture, or articles of clothing.Second, the vocabulary in general is extremely basic.Things like colors and numbers, while important, are hardly worth buying a book for.Anyone who took as little as a year of French in school, even if that was 20 years ago, will likely be beyond the grade level offered here.Finally, the design is cartoonish -- more like a child's coloring book than something that would appeal to most adults.I admit that I found the stickers kind of cute and enjoyed pasting them around the house in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Paris, but their value in refreshing my college French -- let alone teaching me anything new that might be useful -- was extremely minimal.

Great Stepping Stone to Learning French
I enjoy the easy way this book is written to learn French.It sets up to learn the basics of reading and writing French.I would suggest anyone who is willing to learn the basics of French to purchase this book.Thanks! ... Read more

Product Description
English-speaking children are introduced to French as a second language and have fun as they learn 50 important French phrases. The book is filled with a color illustrations and variety of word games to keep kids interested. The phrases and their translations cover greeting friends, knowing colors and numbers, giving names to many different foods and drinks, and naming familiar objects such as books and paper, as well as animals such as dogs and cats. The book also includes an extra vocabulary list, a simple pronunciation guide, and a summary of all words and phrases on the last page and both inside covers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beginner French
Great introductory book for beginners.I like the way they show you how to pronounce these French words that are confusing to fledglings like me. ... Read more

Product Description
Do you want to improve your French using a learning style that suits you? Why not Mind Map your way to fluency? Following the huge success of the Language Revolution Beginner level, international best-selling author and inventor of Mind Maps(R) Tony Buzan continues on his quest to alter the way language is learnt -- forever.Collins Language Revolution Beginner Plus is:Flexible - Whether you are completely new to Mind Mapping or already a convert to Tony Buzan's revolutionary language learning techniques, you can reach a new level of conversational ability with Beginner Plus. Fun and easy - All you need is your imagination, a sense of humour and coloured pens. Effective - Mind Maps(R) are a system proven to successfully unlock your brain's potential for learning and memory, and are used by many of the world's most successful politicians, business leaders and educators.Unit 1: Welcome Unit 2: What do you do? Unit 3: I feel like ...Unit 4: In touch Unit 5: At home Unit 6: At the estate agent's Unit 7: Time passes ...Unit 8: Travelling Unit 9: A wedding Unit 10: Congratulations! ... Read more

Product Description
One of the oldest and best ways to teach kids languages, updated for the 21st century

Grownups have been using simple songs to teach young children the rudiments of languages since long before people danced sur le pont d'Avignon. Now the Let's Sing and Learn series, CD Editions brings that tried-and-true method up-to-date for today's modern kid. Each book/CD set contains collection of 20 original songs that combine catchy melodies with simple, cleverly-disguised lessoning vocabulary and expression.

Written by accomplished songwriter-linguists, the songs cover a variety of subjects, including greetings, colors, counting, the alphabet, the days of the month, relationships, and more. And most importantly, the songs are easy to learn and fun to sing, making them the perfect medium for introducing children, ages three to six, to the words, accents, and rhythms of other languages.

Each book/CD set includes:

• 20 original tunes covering an array of everyday subjects
• A CD recording of the songs that provides a model of proper pronunciation and rhythm
• Simple musical scores that parents and teachers can use to accompany young learners
• English translations for each song and suggested actions

Customer Reviews (7)

Fun, educational package at a good price
As some have complained, the product description for this book/CD package inexplicably lists 20 songs when there are in fact only 12. It is carelessness on the part of the publisher (McGraw Hill) and perhaps Amazon, too. But I bought it even after having read that complaint, because personally, I did not care about the number of songs, but rather, the quality.

And the songs are fine! Most are original compositions, while some are adaptations of traditional French songs. One of my favorites is "Ma mère m'envoie-t-au marché" described by the author as a traditional folk song from Québec. Overall, the songs are lively, fun, and especially appealing to kids, while also being quite listenable for any adults nearby.

Here are the track titles:

Rock & Roll Frère Jacques
C'est l'Halloween
Le chat angora
Pour voir les animaux
Le printemps
Comment ça va?
Comment y aller?
Bonjour Monsieur!
Ma mère m'envoie-t-au marché
Je ne sais pas
Je suis un artiste
Quel miracle

The CD is well-recorded and the 62-page book is well printed, with full music (for piano and/or guitar) for each song, the lyrics in French, with the English translations also provided for each one.

I disagree with the reviewer who prefers the "Family Circus" (Lyric Language) product to this because, on that one, the singers constantly switch between English and French, supposedly as an educational technique. We have that disc also, and although it has its place, it's a different approach to teaching.

Ultimately, I think a child does better just hearing one language throughout each song, as one does with this product, and learning to sing along. It is simply the concept of "immersion" in the foreign language (for 25 minutes at a time) and I believe it tunes the child's ear more successfuly than constant interruptions in English.

Perhaps some folks are less comfortable with it than others, I don't know. But if you're going to learn a second language presumably the goal is reach a point where you do so independently, and can understand it without a translator constantly hovering nearby. In this case, perhaps just read along in English the first few times you play the disc, and I think the meaning will sink in and stick.

One reviewer reports a "noticeable" accent in the French. I did not hear anything like that. Besides, I think it's more important that the diction is clear and that one can make out every word, which is the case. These songs appeal to children, the material is presented in a way that is easy to use for education, and at this price for a CD and book together, it's a very good deal.

Great music for learning French
I use songs from this CD to teach French to 1st-3rd graders, but I think the songs have a wide appeal, to kids of all ages.Even my Kindergarten and Preschool students LOVE the rock and roll Frere Jacques!C'est l'Halloween is probably the all time favorite song of my Elementary students.It's rare to find songs that are both good quality music and the right level of vocabulary for teaching language.My students who play instruments like the piano and guitar music that come with the CD.I highly recommend this product for Elementary students who will learn French as they sing and listen to these great songs.

Disappointing, but okay overall
I recently purchased this CD based soley on the Amazon description and customer reviews.Amazon's description claims that this CD contains "20 original songs."That is not true.The CD I received has only a total of twelve songs on it-- only 60% of what its description claimed it would have.Thus I feel both disappointed and gypped.That being said, I don't hate the CD, but neither do I love it.Overall I think it is okay.It has a running time of thirty minutes and some of the songs have fun sound effects.The music is often upbeat, even if the lyrics are not.But had I been able to preview this CD prior to purchase, I would not have bought it.

I much prefer the Family Circus/Complete Lyric Language French CD, which also has some sound effects, and has twenty-one fun, bilingual songs that run seventy minutes.I also like the Universe of Song, French, which is bilingual and runs about an hour

It's a great way to learn French
My children absolutely adore music, so this is a great way to learn French.Flip Flop French is a great addition to this if you have younger kids ages 3-5.Flip Flop French is based on a proven curriculum and they really enjoy "their workbook".

Fabulous for readers and for speakers
My sons love singing along with the CD and my 5 year old likes to follow along with the song book. We'd only played the CD once before when he began telling me what each of the songs was about and asking me to translate specific words he didn't remember. I had to resort to the song book a couple of times, but the lyrics are so clear and easy to understand that it wasn't often necessary. Parents who do not already speak French will like having the translations available. Compared to much of what is out there for bilingual texts and supplements, this in an excellent value. ... Read more

Product Description
Barron's E-Z French instructs students with little or no prior knowledge of the language in informal conversational French. They'll find true-to-life dialogues with translations, skill-building exercises, useful verb conjugation charts, explanations of grammatical terms, and many more language-learning features. Illustrations supplement the text and capture much of the spirit of contemporary France. Books in Barron's new E-Z series are enhanced and updated editions of Barron's older, highly popular Easy Way books.New cover designs reflect the brand-new interior layouts, which feature extensive two-color treatment, a fresh, modern typeface, and more graphic material than ever. Charts, graphs, diagrams, line illustrations, and where appropriate, amusing cartoons help make learning E-Z in a variety of subjects. Barron's E-Z books are self-teaching manuals focused to improve students' grades in skill levels that range between senior high school and college-101 standards. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Buyer beware!
This title is virtually the same as French The Easy Way and French Now!I was very disappointed that Barron found a way to publish the same course under 3 different titles.The only difference for French Now! is that it contains a CD, but that CD does NOT cover the dialogues as you would think or would have hoped.If you own one or both of the other titles, unless you look forward to some subtle differences in the chapter exercises, I don't recommend you buy this book.You'll end up returning it like I will.

Why 4 stars then?Well, the course (in whatever title and design it resides) is good.I was excited to receive this book, but very disappointed it was nothing new, except for a few different exercises.Also, the section on pronunciation lacks any real guide to the sounds and spelling of French.In fact, the book recommends you buy another publication to learn these.So, what is E-Z French if it is not E-Z?You need more than what this book offers, unless you are already familiar with the sounds and spelling of French.Not so E-Z afterall. ... Read more

Product Description
The first book in a two-book series is designed to introduce elementary and middle school students to basic elements of French. With an emphasis on communication, the book actively engages students in speaking, reading, and writing activities through a variety of topics that range from simple greetings and family relationships, to clothing, weather, and days of the week. All lessons and activities are presented in a natural, personal and fun format. ... Read more