Customer Reviews

The Everything: Learning French Book (Everything (Language & Writing))

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First, this is an excellent French reference book. I took quite a bit of French in school, but needed some in-depth review so I could help my home-schooled daughter with her "passe compose". Perfect book for that... or if you need to review your reflexive verbs, etc. Well laid out... rules are explained in depth, but in very understandable terms.

Unfortunately, though, this book markets itself as a beginner's book. "Learning a language has never been so quick and easy - or so much fun!" the back cover boasts. I love the French language, but this is NOT a "fun" book... it is 98% grammar, 2% practice. You can literally go pages without seeing a sentence in French.

This is a great book, it has everything a person who wants to learn French wants in a book.
Has grammar rules, basic phrases, verbs rules, has lots of tables with vocabulary.
It is also excellent for a person who wants to get a quick refresher of the language.
Highly recommended!

The title of this book "The Everythng Learning French..... in No Time" is a bit deceiving. I have taught intensive French for over 25 years and was the Director of an Intensive French Program. You simply cannot learn French or any other language "in no time", a few key words and expressions perhaps. And of course there are people who are trilingual and are just "picking up" French, but in general it is deceptive to claim to be able to teach a casual tourist a foreign language in a few classes. There are plenty of Elementary French books as well as "method" type books out there. Some are better than others. This one wasn't bad just not one I would consider using. The pronunciation part was especially poor.

This book is a welcome addition to anyone learning French. It is probably best for one who has had a semester of French, but I have found it to be one of the better review books. I think the layout is good and the additional CD gives a plus to the text. For me, one of the better French language books I have purchased.

I found this book to be very informative and easy to learn the French language. It has everything you need to know, very good.

I find this book and CD to be very helpful as I am taking French lessons.

Bon chance!

Update/Edited Review (2011):

Now it is 2011 and I am alreadyin my A1.2 lessons for French. We use a different book at l'Alliance Française for our lessons but I still double check with this book whenever I have questions or would like to have extra learning. It is a good reference and supplemental book at the same time.

Check out the images within the book's pages I am sharing.

My first review is below (2009):

The first chapter of the book has all red pen underlines which is really annoying considering I paid for a "new" book. I just let it pass as I live in Europe and it is too much for me to return such purchase. I think I'll live with this second-hand book. I think I'll just purchase a new one with a CD... Learning French without a CD is futile. I thought this one has CD too considering the German and Spanish versions have. It's my fault when I did not examine it closely when I was ordering.

The delivery was so quick though. I was expecting it to be delivered around last week ofJanuary but I think before 2009 ended, it was already here in Netherlands! Very quick delivery!

Kindle version does not provide the CD, making it very difficult to follow the book. The writing itself seems pretty good, but I haven't gotten very far.