Complete French: The Basics (Book and CD Set): Includes Coursebook, 4 Audio CDs, and Learner's Dictionary (Complete Basic Courses) [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Living Language (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1400024102 | ISBN-13: 978-1400024100 | Edition: Unabridged

With Living Language Complete French: The Basics, you’ll start by learning words, and then you’ll progress to phrases, sentences, and conversations. This simple four-step building block approach will have you speaking with confidence right from the beginning, and you’ll be able to learn gradually and effectively. Best of all, this comprehensive course includes everything you need — pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, culture, and practice — and it’s designed to be effective in a short period of time. So what are you waiting for? With Living Language, you’re just a few simple steps away from speaking French!

This comprehensive course package includes:
•40 step-by-step lessons in a convenient coursebook
•4 audio CDs with all the important course content
•A comprehensive grammar reference section
•Supplemental sections on e-mail and internet resources
•An English-French/French-English learner’s dictionary
•A bonus pocket travel reference

Plus, you can save $5 with publisher mail-in rebate!

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Living Language; Unabridged edition (July 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400024102
• ISBN-13: 978-1400024100
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 2.2 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Books on CD > Languages > Language Instruction > French

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not good for 'virgin' learners, December 24, 2006

By 

K. Smith - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete French: The Basics (CD) (Complete Basic Courses) (Audio CD)

I bought this french lesson kit 3 years ago, before a trip to France. I didnt know any french whatsoever, never had a class, watched a movie, nothing. Thinking back, I think the package said "beginner to intermediate". I consider myself a quick study and thought it'd be perfect.

I had a difficult time learning. And it wasnt until a few years later (now) that I understand why I wasnt learning anything. This kit is designed to learn by memorization. It doesnt focus on structure. It gives you page after page of "everyday" sentences, then has vocab at the end. But it doesnt explain HOW the french language works. So you're memorizing and then you quickly forget. It does have a lil something about the etre and avoir. But thats it. It doesnt explain things like inversion, but we're supposed to memorize it??

With that said, this is a GREAT book for intermediate level. It is excellent for honing your pronunciation skills, the listening CDs go on for HOURS. If you've had at least ONE semester of french, then this is perfect for you. Because thats when you already have an understanding of the language, and you're more focused on expanding your vocab and pronunciation/speaking. This kit is PERFECT for that.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Language Acquisition Bang for the Buck, May 12, 2007

By 

Frank Snapp "Pallas89" (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete French: The Basics (CD) (Complete Basic Courses) (Audio CD)

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

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French for Okies, November 5, 2006

By 

T. Jones "Meester Coffee" (New Knoxville, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete French: The Basics (CD) (Complete Basic Courses) (Audio CD)

Starting a new language as a 40-something is no small undertaking. This package is very entreatable because of its logical progression through the mechanics of the language and because its example recordings are clear (on three CDs). I would recommend this product to anybody wanting to make a serious effort at a new language.