SmartFrench CDROM - Learn Real French (Mac, Windows 7, Vista, XP)

by SmartFrench

Product Features

• CDROM plus booklet w/transcripts and translations
• real improvised authentic conversations by real French
• color-coding to help pronounce correctly
• step by step approach to acquire speed
• simple explanations on liaisons and contractions

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• ASIN: B0016G24A6
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 24, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,849 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #85 in Software > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > French

Product Description

'Our son is using the product (as complement for GCSE preparation) and making leaps of progress already after years of frustration and struggling. Recommend unreservedly. D. CRASS 'J Linn' Gt Britain

It's a fraction of the price of Rosetta, but works better than Rosetta software for me. Also - less stress. Maybe sexier too.?? Stephan Stradtman, WA

With this CDRom you will learn the French language the way the French deliver it in natural conversations. You will develop your comprehension abilities as well as your speaking abilities.

The total beginner should start with our SmartFrench - Introduction to French, Vol.1 and 2.to know basic grammar, conjugation and vocabulary while the CDRom will start you on the right tracks to be able to understand when someone speaks.

"I have spent hundreds on books, audios and video in trying to learn French. All have helped. But this one is a MUST." William Martin, Former Political Editor, The Oakland Tribune.

"When I heard my first lesson I honestly felt betrayed by my other programs--why didn't they simply tell the truth about French pronunciation like Smart French does?" Pat Jones, attorney.

"I saw online that many native French teachers recommend this product." Erika Huang

The difference between this CDROM and the Smart French audio CDs Beginner and Int/Adv - also available on amazon.com, is that the CDs are for the car. The CDROM contains all three levels, with the videos of the interviews on which the lessons are based (to see people when they speak always helps and it's fun.). The CDROM is for the computer (Windows and Mac). and the CDs are for the car. You can get both to reenforce your experience

Attention:This product will teach you to speak, not to translate. Our translations are volontarily litteral in order to help you get used to the way the French think when they speak. It will help you learn faster and speak French naturally. Check the site for a demo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Program, July 1, 2008

By 

Peter (CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SmartFrench CDROM - Learn Real French (Mac, Windows 7, Vista, XP) (CD-ROM)

This is an excellent program for learning to speak French the way it's supposed to be spoken. I used to speak as a child in school, but haven't spoken the language for many years. As my kid is learning French, I'm trying to help. School classes teaches the hard stuff, like grammar, etc., and not exactly how to speak/listen to the language. We tried a few other programs and were fairly disappointed until we got SmartFrench. This is an excellent program where you learn to speak, and as importantly, listen to real conversations, at different speeds. There are also text to refer to, as well as the vocabulary list for the CD materials.

One thing to understand though, that this program (Beginner level) does assume some basic knowledge of the language, and therefore not exactly for the absolute beginners. For the absolute beginners who never had any experience with the language, the also excellent SmartFrench - Introduction to French 1 & 2 CDs, also by Christian Aubert are more appropriate to start with.

Finally, this is not a program that teaches you to conjugate verbs and such. There are many books and others for French grammar. This program excels at the one objective, training your listening and speaking skills so that you can speak French like the French do. It's a perfect program if you've had some French in the past and want to brush up on speaking/listening.

Have fun!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great product, September 16, 2008

By 

Feshie (Southeast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SmartFrench CDROM - Learn Real French (Mac, Windows 7, Vista, XP) (CD-ROM)

The SmartFrench CD-ROM is a great product because Christian Aubert interviews native French speakers and they speak naturally, with run together sentences and words, dropped endings, hand gestures, facial expressions, etc. On the CD-ROM one can watch the videos, listen, read the scripts, read the translations, skip around, go from beginner to advanced, and tailor it to suit one's own learning style. The ONLY way to learn a language is to absorb the sound as it is spoken, and than to jump in and start speaking. By osmosis, one learns to speak, and this works, because it worked for me years ago in a French-speaking country. Grammar should come AFTER one can speak the language...not before. Courses that emphasize grammar kill the spoken word. (The letter kills, the spirit gives life) I think this is a great product.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars C'est Super!, March 18, 2009

By 

Tucker (PHILADELPHIA, PA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SmartFrench CDROM - Learn Real French (Mac, Windows 7, Vista, XP) (CD-ROM)

I received my order of both Smart French CD Rom and the Smart French Intermediate & Advanced Level. I purchased both based on all of the positive reviews.

Well, having worked with the first set of lessons on the CD Rom and after visiting the Smart French website for practice dictation, I must say that all the reviews were right! This program is amazing and I have had the most enjoyable learning experience!

I am a college student of French and knew intuitively that there must be a different way to learn French besides the conventional 'method memorizing'. What's more, my grades in French have suffered because I have had to work against this intuition and against my particular learning style. Not everyone learns by memorizing, certainly not me. I learn through application, repetition, and association; as such, this program entirely corresponds to my learning style.

I love and am committed to learning French. I think that finding Smart French is something of a miracle for me. This program has already begun to build the kind of confidence I need to successfully comprehend French. Now I can major in French and not settle for a substitute major. Put another way, now I know that I do not have to give up my first love. I cannot wait for Smart French's additional projects to hit the market. For now, I am entirely satisfied with this product. Indeed, I am thoroughly overjoyed!