Comments for I Want To Learn French

Comment on SmartFrench Audio CDs Intermediate/Advanced Reviews by Claire

Claire — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:39:08 +0000

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

Real Confidence Builder - Works Great with Behind the Wheel French, September 4, 2005

Claire (Los Angeles, CA) -

This review is from: SmartFrench Audio CDs Intermediate/Advanced (Audio CD)

I have used SmartFrench Audio CD Intermediate/Advanced and I highly recommend it.
I personally have used it in conjunction with Behind the Wheel French in learning to speak French and have experienced a great deal of success as a result.
Having tried a variety of methods ranging from Bertlitz to Pimsleur, I would have to say that SmartFrench Audio CD Intermediate/Advanced is a breath of fresh air. It teaches you to speak 'real French' from real French people.
I enjoyed the variety of voices on the CD and the incremental teaching approach which gets you speaking in real conversational French sentences. This builds confidence and communicative ability in French and is essential to learning to communicate effectively.
Behind the Wheel French provided me with the sentences building techniques and high frequency vocabulary that sort of 'filled in the gaps' and gave me a complete and very effective learning experience.
Either course is wonderful but both together are a dynamic duo!!!

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Comment on SmartFrench Audio CDs Intermediate/Advanced Reviews by Patricia J

Patricia J — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:32:57 +0000

116 of 122 people found the following review helpful:

THE FRENCH WHISPERER, March 18, 2006

Patricia J (Los Angeles, CA United States) -

This review is from: SmartFrench Audio CDs Intermediate/Advanced (Audio CD)

If you want to be like the majority of Americans who have taken a foreign language in high school or college and can hardly decipher a word of conversational French then Smart French is not for you. On the other hand, if you feel that the value of learning a foreign language is to understand NATIVE speakers and hear the language as it is actually spoken then Smart French is a MUST buy. This program will completely demystify the art to French spoken language--and it is an art. When I heard my first lesson I honestly felt betrayed by my other programs--why didn't they simply tell the truth about French pronunciation like Smart French does? That is why if you have had years of instruction or not even one French lesson this program will benefit you.

You get a booklet with the written dialogues, the alphabet, and helpful pronunciation tips. You also get a a CD software program which effortlessly takes you through a rich library of interesting conversations. You can watch the video and audio together or listen to the audio alone. The secret to Smart French is that it breaks it down for you--lesson by lesson. One of the most important things in learning a language is to utilize your listening skills--something that had always terrified me until Smart French. Go through each dialogue step by step and you will lose your fear and finally gain the confidence to trust your ears. Then pick up your old language books, tapes, and French movies and you will be amazed when you finally understand the speech patterns. I highly recommend this program--ENJOY!

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Comment on SmartFrench Audio CDs Intermediate/Advanced Reviews by another opinion

another opinion — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:05:43 +0000

94 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

A bit overrated, March 18, 2008

another opinion -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: SmartFrench Audio CDs Intermediate/Advanced (Audio CD)

I wouldn't recommend these CDs, and it's very difficult for me to believe the number of 5 star ratings. There are some very decent products out there with a lot of effort behind them. Some for less money than this one.

The key is to understand what these CDs are, and what they are not. SmartFrench is not a comprehensive language course. At all. It is only a set of 7 dialogues which are repeated at different speeds to help tune your ear to French, and help with your pronunciation. It is not a competitor for Pimsleur, which develops your recall response in the foreign language, or Learn in Your Car, which hones your grammar skills, or any variety of CDs available to build your vocabulary. These CDs do none of these things.

If you're looking to purchase your primary language learning tool or need a review, this definitely shouldn't be it. This should be way down on your list. If your French vocabulary is excellent, but your pronunciation is lacking, then these CDs might help. Then again, it would serve you just as well to rent a french movie with the subtitles on.

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Comment on Let’s Sing and Learn in French by amanooensis

amanooensis — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:21:55 +0000

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Fun, educational package at a good price, July 29, 2009

amanooensis (Flyover Country) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Let's Sing and Learn in French (Paperback)

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.

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Comment on Let’s Sing and Learn in French by C. Campbell-Carney

C. Campbell-Carney — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:32:17 +0000

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Disappointing, but okay overall, January 7, 2008

C. Campbell-Carney (Fair Oaks, California USA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Let's Sing and Learn in French (Paperback)

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

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Comment on Let’s Sing and Learn in French by Nicola Evans

Nicola Evans — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 08:57:23 +0000

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

Fantastic!, November 9, 2006

Nicola Evans (Springfield, IL, USA) -

This review is from: Let's Sing and Learn in French (Paperback)

Our whole family loves this CD! The music is fun and enjoyable for both adults and children alike. It is simple enough for our young son, but complex enough to be enjoyable for us as well. The book is fantastic, giving full French text and music for each of the songs, and then the English translation for all of them at the back of the book. I highly recommend this product as an early exposure to French language, and simply as an enjoyable listening experience all around.

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Comment on Speak in a Week French Complete: See, Hear, Say & Learn (French Edition) by Lexie Lo.

Lexie Lo. — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:04:31 +0000

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Love this series!, October 7, 2009

Lexie Lo. (east coast, USA) -

This review is from: Speak in a Week French Complete: See, Hear, Say & Learn (French Edition) (Spiral-bound)

I love the speak in a week series -- I've been so happy with their design/layout that I've purchased French, Italian, and recently the Spanish series - overall the series is pretty straight-forward; the cartoons are helpful, but if you need to just listen in the car or while traveling the audio makes complete sense on its own. I think this is for the absolute beginner - I find the beginning tapes are just a little slow for me - speaking wise...but if you are learning this can be great as it gives you a second or two to try to remember the translations. Also for someone looking to brush- up this is great, I've studied French as a youngster and used it to brush up my Francais in my adult life - works great for this as well.
The series looks exactly the same in each language, and I like the first lessons they teach you, they actually seem to make sense that they would be the first things you learn. For example: things that they go over-- salutations, hello, how are you, i am fine, what is the phone number, where is the...? (ex where is the hotel, where is the beach, etc) i need...(i need a glass of water, i need three tickets, etc) do you like...(do you like the party, do you like the museum, etc) i like...i need... -- overall things that i think are actually important to learn when learning a new language.
Would absolutely recommend this to anyone as a great introduction to a new language.

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Comment on Speak in a Week French Complete: See, Hear, Say & Learn (French Edition) by Y. Ding "Bush"

Y. Ding "Bush" — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:24:22 +0000

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

A good learning material, May 13, 2008

Y. Ding "Bush" (NZ) -

This review is from: Speak in a Week French Complete: See, Hear, Say & Learn (French Edition) (Spiral-bound)

This is a very good set of CDs and booklets. It's very portable and colorful. Complete beginners should choose this one, which can bring them towards intermediate level quickly. There are a few typing errors that are confusing but negligible. It would be good if they have more advanced programs.

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Comment on Speak in a Week French Complete: See, Hear, Say & Learn (French Edition) by Carlyle Mallory

Carlyle Mallory — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:14:38 +0000

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

French language, May 12, 2007

Carlyle Mallory (Chesapeake, OH USA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Speak in a Week French Complete: See, Hear, Say & Learn (French Edition) (Spiral-bound)

Another excellent Penton Overseas Speak in a Week. This series was so excellent as I loved the Spanish and Italian series that I decided to obtain the French and Chinese series. Super way to teach--repeition and use of colorful illustrations. Anyone interested in learning or relearning high school/collegiate French will enjoy this series.

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Comment on French Phrasebook (French Edition) Reviews by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 21:41:06 +0000

French Phrasebook, June 29, 2011

FS -

This review is from: French Phrasebook (French Edition) (Kindle Edition)

Comment ca va?
All I really know in French so hope this book can help me! So far, so good!French Phrasebook (French Edition)

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