Customer Reviews

Paroles: Introductory French

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

 

 

I was very favorably impressed with the organization and variety of this book, as well as the fact that it accommodates the different styles of learning among students. French is my sixth language (counting English).

This text follows several parallel learning approaches. In each chapter, there is a section emphasizing conversation, there are notes directing the student to "discover" grammatical themes and irregularities, the usual snippets of history and culture, comments on usage, a brief vocabulary, an English discussion of the language lesson (like a plain-language discussion of what's going on from one English speaker to another). Each chapter closes with a condensed technical grammar for later reference and review.

Besides the diversity of learning approaches it supports, I especially like the fact that this book includes reading that is an uncomfortable stretch. These excerpts require deduction of the message from context. I'm sure students will complain loudly about the "unfairness" of having to guess the meaning of words that aren't formally defined anywhere, but face it -- intelligent guessing is the skill most required by someone who tries to use a language in real life. Why shouldn't it be taught?

As I say, I'm a bit of a language nut, and have several shelves of texts in various languages (Russian, German, Latin, Attic Greek). This is one of very few that actually teaches the skills needed for ordinary conversation, listening to the radio, and reading Le Monde.

The author seems more concerned with course organization and pedagogy than with teaching the subject.There are times I wish she would just get on with it.

It was unorganized and muddled. I had a hard time learning anything. My school no longer uses it for that reason. I don't recommend you buy this unless you know French and are just trying to expand your basic skills in no order. I was so confused.

The activities in this book are varied and serve to reinforce and improve basic French skills, I would not recommend this book unless you had some prior knowledge of French, any will do really. It also has grammar sections in each chapter and has nice vocabulary and culture sections. However, there are areas that aren't fully explained and if your teacher/professor is a French native then they should quickly be able to point out the books cultural mistakes and explain the little details (but very important) that the book leaves out. A willing student and a good teacher can really make this book work.

I have taken many language classes, and they usually go something like this: teacher pulls out a puppet, the puppet says a few words, the students repeat them, and then at home we fill in a wroksheet for 10 minutes adn go back to whatever else we were doing, no more knowledgeable then before. This book is very refreshing- it is challenging but expalins the grammar step by step and directly so the students don't miss anything and can really understand. Also, the grammar pages make it easy to pre-read and review. The culture lessons make learning more exciting and make us use the French- which was my point for taking the class. To be able to use it in real situations! With this book I can learn French at a college level, the same way I learn math or econ or anything else. French doesn't have to be slow, easy and filled with puppet shows that leave you confused. I learned so much using Paroles (more than I did with HS Spanish) and I'm really glad that my university uses it. Merci!

My students, who are University level individuals, consistently HATE this book and its ancilliary materials. The textbook is adequate IF the professor is competent and able to supplement the series with other material and practice. The text "Accent" is superior for French, and this work could benefit by emulating the superb Con Mucho Gusto format for Spanish. My students consistently find the "Paroles" text and materials to be awkward, tedious, frustrating, and even (in places) patronizing in the "new paradigm" approach which was the pedagogical fad of the 1990's. (Read some of Steven Pinker's brilliant works, especially his views on language acquistion). A more "traditional" text series such as "Accent" was more conducive to effective language learning. My students who use more "traditional" methods of learning French experience better understanding, retention and communication skills...and, as a skillful teacher, I find that I must heavily supplement the "Paroles" materials if I am to do justice to my students. Fourteen years' experience in the French language classroom and six years with this textbook series justify my critique, based upon personal experience and student reviews.