Living French: A Grammar Based Course with CD (A Hodder Arnold Publication) Review

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Living French: A Grammar Based Course with CD (A Hodder Arnold Publication) ReviewI have read a lot of language books. While everyone has different tastes, I can say that I find this book's approach refreshing. There are good dialogues and reading passages, but the grammar is solid. It's not boring or overwhelming. Having grammar, vocabulary, dialogues and reading passages that don't treat the reader like an idiot but still challenges is a perfect balance. The same can be said for other languages in the same series that I have. Good job. Highly recommended.Living French: A Grammar Based Course with CD (A Hodder Arnold Publication) OverviewDo you want to learn French or brush up what you already know? Are you planning a trip to France or preparing for an exam? Are you looking for a course with a traditional approach to language learning, based on solid grammatical foundations, translation skills and practical vocabulary? If so, this is the course for you.The material covers a variety of everyday topics in a simple, concise manner. There are many examples and explanations to illustrate how the language works and to build confidence. Each unit, designed to build systematically on what you have already learned, contains:clear grammar explanationsvocabulary listsreading material consisting of a story, dialogue or letterquestions for speaking practiceexercisesThere are also revision units to help you practice what you are learning. At the back of the book, an exercise key enables you to check your answers while grammar and vocabulary sections provide a useful reference.The accompanying CD will help you with listening and speaking. In addition to a full pronunciation section, it contains reading passages or dialogues from the course book, followed by comprehension questions in French, together with model answers.

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The Ultimate French Verb Review and Practice (UItimate Review & Reference Series) Review

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The Ultimate French Verb Review and Practice (UItimate Review & Reference Series) Review(I have just started to use this book, and am a few chapters in, so keep in mind that this is a review of the format and structure of the book, not of every detail.)
I am trying to revive my French after seven years of dormancy, and I thought this book might help me to produce the French that, these days, I can only read. I was not wrong. One of the broad, general advantages of this book is that all of the verbs appear in full sentences (both in examples and in exercises). That means that working on the verbs doesn't mean just practicing declensions: it means expressing full thoughts.
One of the other reviewers also mentioned the question of register, and this is another of the book's major strengths. Since I mostly read French, the vagaries of spoken French are still mysterious to me. The authors not only discuss the different ways of using verbs and constructing phrases in formal, colloquial, or general speech, but they also do little things like giving pointers on words with difficult pronunciation. Brilliant!
Strength number three: the authors' attention to idiomatic expressions. While they do give lists of verbs, they also often teach verbs in ways that make it easier to remember and use those words. For example, when teaching "prendre" for irregular verbs, they also give a list of expressions (like, "prendre son temps") and later, a list of compounds like "apprendre" and "surprendre". I really believe that teaching words in related groups like this will make them mean more to a student and "stick" in the student's mind.
Since others have talked about the general structure of the book, I'll mention finally one superficial aspect. When it comes to language-learning books, they're not much use unless you actually use them. Superficial matters like layout, paper quality, and type are really important. This workbook is lovely. The paper is of better quality then those old disposable workbooks I used in my high school French class. The layout incorporates lots of white space, so I can concentrate on the words and even make notes beside them. I say this because I also looked at the authors' first book (Ultimate French Grammar Review and Practice) after I fell in love with this one, and that one looked a lot busier, and didn't have spaces for the exercise solutions! They clearly made some improvements this time around.The Ultimate French Verb Review and Practice (UItimate Review & Reference Series) Overview
Learn verb skills and communicate confidently in a new language

Building on the authors' bestselling The Ultimate Review and Practice series, this book is your best bet to mastering the often tricky verb forms and key sentence structures of the French language. The Ultimate French Verb Review and Practice offers a step-by-step program for experienced beginners through advanced learners to understand how different verb forms work and use that knowledge to build increasingly sophisticated sentences in French. No other book on the market combines guidance and practice in verb formation and usage with tips on the 18 most commonly used sentence models.


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La France et la Francophonie (text): Conversations with Native Speakers Review

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La France et la Francophonie (text): Conversations with Native Speakers ReviewThe book came quickly and was exactly in the condition that it was advertised as. Thank you!La France et la Francophonie (text): Conversations with Native Speakers OverviewThis workbook presents a cross-section of French-speaking people from European, African, North American, and Caribbean countries discussing contemporary French culture. Designed as an accompanying resource for the DVD it is aimed atelementary to intermediate students and offers transcriptions of the conversations and notes on vocabulary and grammar in the interview, helping to improve reading skills. Students, teachers, farm workers, artisans, police, engineers, airline employees, and other people discuss many topics, including French family life, work, sports, politics, education, and technological achievements.

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Practice Makes Perfect: Advanced French Grammar: All You Need to Know For Better Communication (Practice Makes Perfect Series) Review

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Practice Makes Perfect: Advanced French Grammar: All You Need to Know For Better Communication (Practice Makes Perfect Series) ReviewAdvanced French Grammar dives into the the most difficult aspects of French grammar. I think the chapter on the subjunctive and the distinction between "c'est" and "il est" are worth the price of the book.
Here is a list of the chapters in Advanced French Grammar
1. Understanding the verb
2. Compound tenses and agreement of the past participle
3. Use of the past tenses
4. Translating the -ing form into French
5. Relative tenses introduced by que
6. The subjunctive
7. Relative tenses not introduced by que
8. Articles
9. Other determiners
10. Relative pronouns
11. Neutral relative pronouns: translating a different kind of what
12. Determining a noun with prepositions
13. Object pronouns
14. Position of object pronouns
15. Expressing this is and that is: ce, ça, and il
16. Questions
17. Translating for, since, and a few other expressions of time
18. Negative sentences
I've already mentioned that my favorite parts of the book were the sections on the subjunctive and c'est/il est. I especially liked how the author gave a list of "trigger expressions" for the subjunctive. She also gave a list of expressions that do not trigger the subjunctive.
I liked the chapter on the past tenses, but I didn't love it. It seems to explain the imparfait the exact same way several other books and teachers explain it; they say it describes the scenery. And I really don't like this explanation because it's so unclear to me. When I tutor students on the difference between the imparfait and the passé composé, I use the acronyms HIDE and STARS.
Imparfait - HIDE
Habitual Actions (used to + VERB)
Incomplete Actions (was/were + ing form of verb)
Descriptions in the past
Emotions/Feelings (most of the time)
Passé Composé - STARS
Sudden Ocurrence
Time Limit/Complete Action
Action Disrupts Action of Imparfait Verb
Reaction/Result
Series of Distince Instances or Events
The other chapters explain prepositions, pronouns, making questions, negating, etc. I highly recommend this book to any intermediate or advanced French learner.
Brandon SimpsonPractice Makes Perfect: Advanced French Grammar: All You Need to Know For Better Communication (Practice Makes Perfect Series) Overview
Take your French grammar skills to the next level and speak with more panache!

To fully understand how to speak French effectively you must move beyond the fundamental principles of grammar and tackle more sophisticated sentence constructions. Practice Makes Perfect: Advanced French Grammar focuses on intermediate- to advanced-level topics to help you create more complex, meaningful sentences and communicate more naturally.

Instead of just applying sets of rules, Practice Makes Perfect: Advanced French Grammar helps you better understand the nuances of the language and develop your skills and confidence as a French speaker by providing easy-to-absorb explanatory materials, examples, and exercises.Inside you will find:

Thorough explanations of topics that often prove difficult for English speakers when they learn French, such as the correct use of object pronouns.
Practical exercises that give you the opportunity to test what you've learned

Learn the ins and outs of: Compound tenses • Translating -ing • The subjunctive • Relative tenses • Ce versus ça • Prepositions • . . . and much more


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The Ultimate French Review and Practice with CD-ROM (UItimate Review & Reference Series) Review

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The Ultimate French Review and Practice with CD-ROM (UItimate Review & Reference Series) ReviewI have loved the French language since I studied it in college and have tried to practice it whenever possible, traveling, seeing French films, reading newspapers in French. I bought French language books for review but always felt I was at a standstill, never really improving. It wasn't until my daughter started studying French in high school and I was looking for books for her that I began to make progress. That was the day I found The Ultimate French Review and Practice in a bookstore.
The book explains all the grammar points of the language so clearly and concisely and the exercises use real situations and everyday, authentic language. The culture notes are fascinating and connected thematically to the exercises. The articles and ads from French language newspapers with their accompanying exercises have really helped me to read and understand. I have been so motivated and inspired by this book.
I couldn't imagine anything better until I was in a bookstore and voilà, there was The Ultimate French Review and Practice with a CD-ROM. Several weeks into my use of the interactive CD-ROM I'm so excited that I have to write in to let people know about it. I'm working my way through the hundreds of exercises that are all new and different from the exercises in the book. I can practice all the grammar points of French and the exercises are referenced to the chapters in the book so it's easy to check my answers and find explanations. The diagnostic and review tests are extremely helpful.
What I especially love about the CD-ROM are the Audio Modules which are great for improving your listening comprehension skills. They have dialogues or narrations spoken by native French speakers. If I don't know a word I can consult the Glossary or the pop-up definitions. I find it very helpful to repeat after the speaker the Ten Key Words and Expressions that precede the audio passages. The topics of the audio passages are very varied and there's a wealth of idiomatic vocabulary based on the topics. My daughter, who is now studying French in college, is dazzled by what I can say about shopping, choosing a career, traveling by plane, eating in a restaurant, even falling in and out of love. She says she hasn't learned nearly as much in her courses and plans to borrow my CD-ROM! Je crois que je vais avoir un succès fou (as one dialogue character says)!
The Ultimate French Review and Practice with CD-ROM (UItimate Review & Reference Series) Overview
Gain confidence in your French-language communication using the method trusted by more than 200,000 students

The Ultimate French Review and Practice gives you a good grasp of grammar so you can build your skills and confidence in communication. Each grammatical concept is explained and illustrated with engaging sentence examples; you'll also get extensive exercises offer practice at applying this knowledge in everyday conversation.

This book/CD-ROM package includes:

More than 400 exercises, in addition to 200 exercises on the accompanying CD-ROM
A Pre-Test that identifies your strengths and weaknesses and a Post-Test that helps you review your progress, both on the CD-ROM
Bonus online content, including audio exercises as well as internet-based activities focused on key cultural website across the French-speaking world

Topics include: Verbs--Basic Forms and Uses, Present Tense, Present Tense of Irregular Verbs, Negative Sentences, Interrogative Sentences, Imperative, Passé Composé,Imperfect, Imperfect versus Passé Composé, Reflexive Verbs, Future and Conditional, Conditional Sentences, Pluperfect, Future Perfect, and Past Conditional, Passe Simple, Present Participles, Uses of the Infinitive, Nouns and Their Modifiers, Pronouns, Nouns: Gender, Number and Articles, Uses of Articles, Stressed Pronouns, Subject-Verb Agreement, Possessive and Demonstrative Adjectives and Pounouns, Interrogative Adjectives and Pronouns,Adjectives, Comparative and Superlative, Object Pronouns, Numbers, Time, Dates, Adverbs, Negatives and Indefinites, Prepositions, Prepositions with Geographical Names, Verbs in Two-Clause Sentences, Relative Clauses, The Present Subjunctive, The Past Subjunctive, Literary Subjunctives, The Subjunctive, Idiomatic Usage, The Passive Voice and Substitutes for the Passive, Important Idioms and Proverbs, Verb Charts


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Tune Up Your French: Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Spoken French Review

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Tune Up Your French: Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Spoken French Review"Tune Up Your French" is not your ordinary French book. The theme of the book does not emphasize the normal grammar structures or verb drills nor does it highlight naughty French gros mots. Instead, author Natalie Shorr extends an informative welcome to enter the inner circle of native French speakers in both understanding and imitation. She hits upon ten topics that will bring your formal textbook French to a more comfortable level where you and the person to which you are speaking are more in tune with each other, resulting in less cultural misunderstanding. Her hints cover a wide spectrum from nonverbal cues, sound effects and interjections, through manners, table talk, practical idioms, slang to the all important use of wit and improvisation in language (think the magnificient French film "Ridicule"). By explaining the French response to certain expressions used by an unsuspecting native American speaker, the student reader becomes aware of the nuance behind his conveyed mannerisms, his words, the intended meaning and actual interpretation of any of the numerous expressions detailed by Schorr. The text demystifies many all-important ideas like how the French use more words to convey one word ideas in English, the French idea of food and a meal, the way slang is interpreted more negatively when used by a non-native speaker and the very European way of expressing the positive while using negative expressions. Schorr unlocks the door to understanding this centuries-old civilization by illustrating that language is alive and changing through numerous examples that are gastronomical, historical, philosophical and above all uniquely French and hence somewhat alien to the average American listener and observer. She stresses that once realizatiion of what the recipient of your dialogue understands and interprets,dawns, the non-native will be better equipped to use the right phrases, expressions and gestures to ensure that the correct point is being transmitted.
"Tune Up Your French" is by no means a diatribe about language. On the contrary, the information for each tune-up or chapter is presented in the following easy-to-read manner: a preview, explanation, list of top ten expressins and some reheasal time to review.
The book includes a wonderful CD which runs for about an hour which contains listening and repeating of expressions; the male and female French speakers will review some of the text's highlights and then use dialogue to allow you to practice usage. Very enjoyable.
This book is not for the beginner. The student purchasing this book must be pretty well versed in French basics. Some of the phrases used as examples are not translated; others are. The dialogue portion of the CD is rapid fire (spoken as French is truly spoken) without translation and without repetition.
Nevertheless, I most whole-heartedly recommend this very readable and enjoyable departure from most language textbooks. I would love to see a "Tune Up Your French II" with another fun-to-listen-to CD. Tres Bien, Madame Schorr! Please, McGraw Hill, do a "Tune Up Your Italian" also, s'il vous plait!Tune Up Your French: Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Spoken French Overview
Readers can tune up their conversation skills with Tune Up guides--the next best thing to a year abroad!

Getting beyond sounding like a beginner is more than just a matter of learning more vocabulary and grammar. It's also about understanding the culture and developing the right mind set for thinking, listening, and talking like a native.

The next best thing to a year abroad, the books in this exciting new series offer language learners an entertaining and practical way to hone their foreign-language conversation skills. Tune Up books are structured around 10 key areas for improvement, covering everything from tricky grammatical structures to gestures, slang, and humor. In each area, key phrases are presented in "Top Ten" lists, including everyday expressions for filling pauses, icebreakers, and more. An excellent brushup for learners returning to a language they studied in high school or college, Tune Up books feature:

Practical advice on improving conversation skills
Valuable insights into how difficult verbs and structures work
Tips on how to avoid taboos and common faux pas
A 60-minute audio CD with key phrase lists and exercises


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