Customer Reviews

French: How to Speak and Write It (Dover Language Guides French) (English and French Edition)

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I agree with the previous reviewer's observation that the "overly formal" usage and illustrations are a bit dated. A French friend agreed; when I showed this text my friend, originally from Bordeaux, she grinned a little and said, "We don't speak French like this anymore."

However, I feel that this book helps beginners with transliteration more than any traveler's phrase book. This book describes how French is pronounced more graphically and emphatically than any other similar book I've seen or read. At the end of each unit is a brief review so that you can apply what you've learned to other scenarios. So, without even trying, you actually learn something about French grammar! I applaud the authors for writing arguably the first book on building grammar skils and memorizing vocabulary through the use of typical travel scenarios and French-to-English transliteration.

If you're looking for something more modern, than I'd suggest "Berlitz Essential French," which I feel is also good at transliteration. Otherwise, this old inexpensive text from Dover books will work just fine.

This book dates back to the early 60's and many of the illustrations and photos look even older. It is a very delightful work even with such dated material as the cutaway illustration of a passenger steamship. That in fact gives it some of its charm. It presents a dated French lanugage which is overly formal. Children, for example, address their parent's as "vous". Still it employs a high frequency vocabulary and builds up a useful vocabulary. I certainly would not prescribe it as a primary text but it is nostalgic look at the French and France of a bygone era.

A little older than I thought, but very informative and easy to use. I have a long term goal to take a trip to France sometime, and I find this a perfect & fun way to brush up on my french. The illustrations are wonderful. Donna