Customer Reviews

123 Flash French (4 One Hour Audiocassette Tapes, Complete Listening Guide & Tapescript) Cassettes (French Edition)

5 star:		(5)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love languages and am trying to learn several of them. I have found (of the many I have tried)that Flash French is the best in the west. If you don't believe me, go out and try three or four beginning to intermediate level French courses (like I did) struggle through the bizarre and esoteric music, wierd voices, unclear or no explanations. After guessing and wondering what the heck was being said or taught, or after learning stuff that has ABSOLUTELY NO RELEVANCE whatsoever to the real world, go and buy 123 Flash French. You will feel like you died and went to heaven. It is SO EASY to use and what I learned I was able to apply almost immediately. I was also able to request the optional text which accompanies this fabulous course.

Last year, in preparation for our trip to Italy, I used Mr. Frobose's 123 Presto Italian tapes with great success. This year, we're headed to France, and I've spent 40-50 minutes a day with 123 Flash French on my recumbent bike/trainer. Mr. Frobose's system has rebuilt the foundation of my French and has really helped improve my pronunciation.

I bought the program based on the positive reviews below. Now, I wonder whether those reviews were genuine. All this program about is having two people reading off the pages of a book. It is claimed that no reading is required. In fact, constant references are made to the page numbers of a non-existing book. There is a minimal amount of interaction. The fact is, there is zero chance you can learn to speak fluent French from this program. There are plenty of audio French programs you can choose from Amazon. Any other program will be much better than this one.

Flash French is the best audio cassette course I have ever used. The lessons are easy to understand and the progression from one lesson to the next flows logically. The explanations of the grammar and the pronunciations are clear and easy to understand. I never thought French would be so easy to learn. My husband and I are touring France and Italy in August and I was so impressed with Flash French that I have ordered 'Speaking High Frequency Italian' as well. Marylyn Cole

...We bought the Flash French because we are going to Francethis summer...it makes reference to a book that doesn'tcome with the tape and you can't buy. It doesn't teach common phrases and doesn't allow proper practice with the narrator. Don't waste your money on this one.END

Learning French can be difficult. I have tried other Language Dynamics courses and have found them all to be very effective in teaching one to speak a foreign language quickly and easily. Flash French was recommended to me by a friend whose instructor was teaching from it in a community college French course (it was required and on the syllabus). She loved it and so do I.

I purchased this set needing to learn as much French as possible in a relativly short amount of time. I was more than willing to put in at least an hour a day, but for me time was wasted on this audio set. First, it comes with absolutely NO written material - none - not even on the back of the cassette holder. The gentleman narrating gives you a quick overview of the french vowels and their pronunciation, but then goes straight into learning weather, months, days of the week, etc. The narrator speaks the English word and then is followed by "Celine" who says the word, phrase or sentence in French. She almost never leaves enough time in between each word/phrase (each said twice) for you to repeat w/o having to hit the pause button which grows very tiresome (and dangerous when driving). The narrator is dry and monotone and stumbles over his speech. For me, I need to see what I'm saying or it doesn't make any sense to me. Since French is such an interwoven language where one word often flows or dovetails into the next, its difficult to hear (much less repeat) what is being said when the words are not in front of you. "Il fait chaud et beaucoup de soleil" is just too much to catch orally. At least for me.

I bought this set due to the other reviews who stated they were speaking sentences in 15 minutes - don't let that claim fool you. What they mean is that they were *parrotting* or repeating sentences - not speaking their own. I took 2 years of French in high school and minored in Spanish in college - after two hours (and 3 rewindings) I didn't even feel comfortable moving on to side 2. I will be returning this set. I would recommend Pimselur or Unforgettable Languages programs instead.

Flash French worked so well for me that I have to take the time to briefly review the highlights of the course that I consider so valuable.
Number 1. The course actually works, meaning, you WILL get results if you use it regularly and repeat along with the tapes.
Number 2. It is easy. No more grammar. This course teaches you to speak real French.
Number 3. It is fast. I learned an amazing amount of useful French very quickly using this course.
For these and other reasons, I recommend you try Flash French. It worked for me and I'm sure it will do the same for you if you put effort into it and use it daily.