French Now! A Level One Worktext [Paperback]

Christopher Kendris Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0812097408 | ISBN-13: 978-0812097405 | Edition: 3

Intended for use by students who are beginning French, this worktext attempts to stimulate the student's interest in both the language and in the French culture. It includes humorous stories, skits and dialogues, as well as exercises that are imaginative and challenging, words and music of French songs, word puzzles, riddles, French proverbs, menus and recipes, art reproductions and more. Suitable for both the classroom and self instruction.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 3 edition (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812097408
• ISBN-13: 978-0812097405
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #903,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Christopher Kendris, an accomplished linguist, has worked as an interpreter and translator for the U.S. State Department at the American Embassy in Paris. He holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and diplomas with Mention très Honorable at the Université de Paris (en Sorbonne), Faculté des Lettres École Supérieure de Préparation et de Perfectionnement des Professeurs de Français à l'Étranger, and at the Institut de Phonétique, Paris. He is former Chairman of the Department of Foreign Languages and Supervisor of 16 foreign language teachers at Farmingdale High School, Farmingdale, NY, and has taught foreign language courses at various colleges and universities.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Useful Workbook -- but No Answers Provided!, February 24, 2004

By 

PennsylvaniaMartha - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Now! A Level One Worktext (Paperback)

This workbook is great for drilling basic vocabulary and crucial concepts of grammar into one's head. I love having plenty of space right in the book to fill in the answers.

But unfortunately, there's a big problem: the answers to the exercises are NOT PROVIDED in this book! This can be a real headache -- what if you are drilling and drilling, unaware that you are repeating the wrong usage over and over?

According to the book's Preface, "A separate teacher's manual is available from the publisher." However, no such manual exists, as I found out by checking the publisher's web site. A separate "French Now Answer Key" is listed here on Amazon, but is described as Out of Print and is in fact unavailable anywhere.

Instead of this book, therefore, I recommend "French the Easy Way" by the same author. It's another workbook using the same format; in fact, the identical stories are used, as well as most of the same exercises. But that one DOES supply an Answer Key in the back.

Of course, if you are using this book in conjunction with a class and/or a teacher, it might still suit your needs, since the teacher can point out your mistakes. But for independent learners, I cannot recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost good, March 8, 2005

By 

E.B. "eb" (CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: French Now! Level One Cassette Package (Audio Cassette)

This would be a very good course if not for the fact that the audio part of the program does not cover dialog part. For beginners being able to herar what the language sonds like is very important. I have used Spanish NOW by Barrons with tapes that include dialogs. What a difference!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast for a beginner, but a fun ride, July 27, 2005

By 

erin - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Now! A Level One Worktext (Paperback)

There is a lot of knowledge in this book.

It tends to move fast, throwing a lot at the reader at once. It would be good for a classroom, but for the home schooled French learner, it is gonna be tough.

Take your time with this book.

That is my only complaint of this book, now -

The good points - Grammar is well explained. The glossary is good for being a "glossary" in a book. (may want to have a French dictionary just in case)

The approach of this book is to first teach the more common words and grammar. The author interjects much humor in the scenarios used.

For the price, I don't think you will find a better book. It is one of a few books that are not only "fun" but educational.

Some complain there is no answer key? True, but by the time you study a text, you will have enough examples to complete the exercises given. Many involve "Write 3 sentences explaining (this or that), and for those, there is no way the author could know what a person would use for their own words.

As with ANY course in language, look for real life usage to get the most. A course can only cover so much.