Mastering French Level Two: Audio CD Package (Mastering Series/Level 2 Compact Disc Packages) [Audio CD]

Foreign Service Institute (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764179764 | ISBN-13: 978-0764179761 | Publication Date: June 23, 2006

This updated, high-intensity language learning program is intended to teach students who already have some command of spoken and written French. It's an ideal follow-up program for students who have completed the Mastering French Level One program, also available from Barron's. This new edition of consists of a set of audio compact discs, supplemented with a textbook. The book covers rules of grammar and instructs in the spoken and written language on an intermediate-to-advanced level. Approximately 15 hours of conversational training in French are presented on the compact discs, which replace the previously available cassette tapes. Foreign Service Institute language programs are the same as those used by the U.S. government to train diplomatic personnel. The book and compact discs are packaged in a sturdy vinyl box.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

(box, back panel)
TEXTBOOK AND 13 AUDIO COMPACT DISCS

MASTERING
FRENCH
LEVEL TWO

THIS COMPREHENSIVE INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE COURSE IS RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE FSLI LEVEL ONE FRENCH PROGRAM. IT IS ALSO IDEAL FOR STUDENTS AND TRAVELERS WHO ALREADY HAVE BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF FRENCH AND WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR FLUENCY.

YOU'LL MASTER GRAMMAR, PRONUNCIATION, AND VOCABULARY AS YOU GAIN COMMAND OF THE SPOKEN LANGUAGE.

BARRON'S MASTERING FRENCH, LEVEL TWO, IS THE SAME COURSE USED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO TRAIN DIPLOMATS.

PACKAGE INCLUDES AN IN-DEPTH TEXTBOOK PLUS 13 COMPACT DISCS USING NATIVE SPEAKERS TO FAMILIARIZE YOU WITH THE SOUND OF CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH.



TEACH YOURSELF TO SPEAK FRENCH FLUENTLY

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (June 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764179764
• ISBN-13: 978-0764179761
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.9 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Books on CD > Languages > Language Instruction > French

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Be sure you know which level you want before buying, June 7, 2008

By 

Christopher Mead (San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering French Level Two: Audio CD Package (Mastering Series/Level 2 Compact Disc Packages) (Audio CD)

I am giving this item one star because the description of what this package contains needs to be better, not for the contents of the package. These are the Foreign Service Institute lessons which are available online for free. There are a total of 24 units, each containing multiple lessons. This Level Two package only goes up through unit 12, so anyone looking for a more advanced course will be quite disappointed, as I was. Nothing on the package cover or the description of the item states this, and it is not until you have opened it up and discovered that in fact it is not the advanced lessons do you find this out. Once the package is opened, it can only be returned to Amazon for 50% of what you paid.The quality of the recording is better than the online lessons, and it includes the book, which is also available online but is 500 pages to download, so it is better than the free online material if you want better audio quality and don't want to download a huge number of pages. It is NOT the second more advanced series of units, however, so do not buy it if you're looking for advanced level material. Units 13-24 do not seem to be available other than the free online source. If the package or any description of this item had indicated it was only lessons units 7-12, I never would have purchased it. By finding this out the hard way, I lost half the purchase price when I returned the item.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure audio, October 4, 2007

By 

oak (new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering French Level Two: Audio CD Package (Mastering Series/Level 2 Compact Disc Packages) (Audio CD)

A good resource for improving your spoken french. There is almost no english translation, so one must have a solid foundation of vocabulary and verbs prior to using these cds. The book is nice to have in case you don't understand a spoken word, but is way too boring to read by itself (more of a back-up manual). The audio cds are of excellent clarity and very well done. This program is best for audio learners, or for when reading is inconvenient (driving, while resting/relaxing, when your eyes are fatigued, etc...)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barron's is great for the serious language student, February 14, 2010

By 

Kyle Bunch (WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering French Level Two: Audio CD Package (Mastering Series/Level 2 Compact Disc Packages) (Audio CD)

This series is the continuation of Level 1 which I recently completed. The approach is "old-school" but sound: drill until you get it correct. At the same time, I don't find it boring. If I know a particular grammar rule, I can always listen to the speakers and work on pronunciation and rhythm.
I have tried other methods, and I have also studied French in high school as well as college. My frustration came in visiting France and not understanding a word. With the Barron's series, they do not slow down the speaking, and they do not pronounce every syllable as though speaking to a three-year old. They give you real language. My (pleasant) surprise has been in watching French films and understanding what they say (granted, only 10-50% of what they say in some cases, but still a big leap from my college French).
Make no mistake, however. This course is not complete. They work on grammar, for example, but you do need to have a parallel grammar book (McGraw Hill has a good one) as well as a vocabulary book. This course, does, however help tremendously with speaking and listening comprehension. (As a side, my problem in France was mostly listening comprehension. Since then, whenever I have been able to get someone to slow down I do much better. I hope that Barron's will fix this problem as they do speak at the pace of a native speaker)