Customer Reviews

Berlitz Rush Hour French (French Edition) (English and French Edition)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The songs may be corny but they stick in your head and don't leave!! Whenever I couldn't remember something, the song would pop into my head and remind me so I guess this way of learning French really works. I've tried some other tapes with just a person talking and I felt these didn't work that well. I'm using Rush Hour French to learn some French before my trip to France and the first 5 lessons are very helpful. The lessons are a storyline following Jon and Jacqueline as she helps him learn French. The first five lessons deal with numbers, greetings, telling time, colors, articles of clothing and personal care items, food, weather, methods of transportation, train schedules, days of the week, months, seasons, ordering at a restaurant, all of which were very helpful. The sixth lesson deals with talking on the telephone and the French alphabet which I don't think will be helpful for a trip but certainly helpful if you are learning French just to learn it. The seventh lesson is entitled Around the Neighborhood and this is also very useful for my trip. It deals with the post office, bank, library, bakery, directions and how much something would cost. After that I thought that the lessons deteriorated. The songs were sappy and while some of the information was useful--rooms in a house, furniture, relatives, and information about choosing a place to visit--it could have been done in a better way. The last lesson revolved around two people deciding where to go on a date and the song was unbelievable. Dance with me, move with me, feel the heat, kiss me now (glad my daughter wasn't with me when I first heard it!!). I probably won't need that information in France! I know they were trying to keep the continuity in the storyline but it was very corny. I gave this 4 stars because up until the last lesson I felt it was an excellent way to learn French and, since the songs are so catchy, something that will stay with you unlike the normal boring tapes or CDs with a person speaking French and you just repeating it.

I really had to listen to both discs about 4 times to get over the irritating corny songs/delivery. There is some good info in there, but the songs drove me NUTS! I've purchased numerous language tapes/books, etc., and I think the most useful are:
1. Berlitz Basic French (2831557194)...it's ALL in French (no english), but somehow it really sinks in.
2. Learn in Your Car Series, Level 1 & 2-these more for basic vocab.
I'm fluent in another language (spanish) and learn languages fairly quickly if that helps.

Recently I went on vacation to Paris. Before leaving, I decided to buy Berlitz's Rush Hour French to teach myself French. I listened to it everyday on my way to work and I just loved it! The catchy songs kept my interest and made it fun. While in Paris I actually spoke and understood French! I highly recommend Rush Hour to anyone that wants to learn French.

I own both the French and Spanish versions of the Rush Hour series. The instruction technique is remarkable! I was bored with other types of language instruction tapes that leave you feeling like a talking parrot. Instead, the Rush Hour method compliments any learning style and lets you progress at a comfortable rate. Students don't have to struggle over complicated and lenghty sentences. Each lesson is the perfect length for me whether I'm driving to work or travelling across the world. My 7-year-old son actually prefers to listen to the Rush Hour tapes over other music when we drive and he takes great delight in following the songs and stories in both languages. Even my friends who speak foreign languages fluently were impressed with how easily and eagerly I improved my skills. I highly recommend Rush Hour to anyone..its awesome!

I was initially put off by the format, but I gave it a chance and began to love it. Learning the basics of a language is usually very boring; the Broadway-type tunes and story in this tape made the lessons stick. Unlike other reviewers, I do NOT think that people mumble or speak indistinctly in the dialogues. On the contrary, they speak at fairly normal speeds (though in the relentlessly bright tones of Broadway-trained actors). I particularly liked learning without reliance on a book; almost everything you need is right on the tape, so I was able to use it in my car. This is a great approach; I'd recommend supplementing it with bbc.com's free French video lessons, as well as the Annenberg Foundation's "French in Action" video series, which is available free online.

The content of this program is so refreshing that the lessons really stick with you. I found myself singing the songs throughout the day. Which meant I was reinforcing what I learned. Berlitz has really hit on a great idea!

It's a program that's not boring! I thought it would never happen! If you have intellectual pretensions that make you feel uncomfortable singing a new language, then find another program. Learning a new language does not have to be a solemn event. Some narrow-minded people can't handle a different approach. That's too bad. This format is designed for secure people who can handle a novel presentation. I've tried dozens of French courses. Most of them are garbage. Berlitz, however, managed to incorporate some basic psychology. They go easy on the repetition and make it fun. The result? With almost no effort I find myself REMEMBERING the language. I've never heard a better program!

This was a great program to begin with. After the first "show" I wanted to hurt myself and get my money back. I was irritated by the songs and how quickly the program passed over words and left me feeling stupid for not catching everything. I repeated the lessons and the songs gradually got stuck in my mind and I found myself actually getting basic words and phrases. The french on the tape seem alot friendlier than ones Ive met, so hopefully the Jacquelines of France are that nice and patient for when I arrive...

The songs are corny and you want to kill the singers. That said, you learn French this way. This method, like water torture or sleep deprivation, is effective. I came home and was speaking Frech to my wife - she speaks it at 4th year level. I wish they had it through intermediate and I will try to find other irritating tapes to learn with.

If you are serious about learning French, don't waste your money. All lessons are sung and nothing seems to be taken seriously. There are nothing but songs and horrible music. There is no real learning lesson here.