SmartFrench Audio Cassettes Beginner [Audio Cassette]

Christian Aubert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2004

- Repetition of excerpts of complete conversations - French language rules explained in a simple way - Cassettes with booklet containing actual transcripts of French natives - Color-coding shows what is and what is not pronounced in spoken French - Used in American Embassies

"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 SmartFrench does?" - Patricia J. Gust, Attorney, Los Angeles, CA

For Americans, learning a foreign language is typically a very frustrating experience. After spending countless hours in a classroom environment, most find that they are still unable to comprehend "real world" French as it is naturally spoken between native French people.

SmartFrench does what conventional language courses will not do. The program is designed to teach you pragmatic rules to learn "spoken" French, not "textbook" French. Even a beginner new to learning French will find SmartFrench to be the perfect complement to conventional study methods. Just by following the simple, easy and enjoyable program, you will see an immediate improvement in your French, which will build your speaking confidence.

Used in Embassies all over the world and by travelers and businessmen, SmartFrench helps develop the ability to listen effectively and to fully understand the French language based on real live conversations as opposed to scripted dialogue. There is no homework or memorization involved. You’ll feel like you’re walking the streets of Paris with a tutor guiding you, a friendly companion constantly by your side – helpfully translating for you and correcting your pronunciation. The purpose of SmartFrench is not to teach you grammar. You can learn that in any high school French course or grammar book. What they will not or cannot teach you is how to understand and speak French like a native. A beginner is naturally not expected to be able to understand right away, but with a little patience, you will soon feel more and more confident about your ability to "talk" French just by learning how to recognize the "rhythm" of the language and its predictable patterns. Even an advanced student who experiences difficulty will become fluent in no time using SmartFrench.

"I have three other French language courses, and I've learned more from this one than I have the others put together." - Cynthia Stull, Washington, DC, writes contracts for the National Cancer Institute, for the AIDS programs around the world.

"The intelligent structure and the good-natured tone of the interviews make SmartFrench a wonderful tool to learn French." - William Martin, retired political editor, The Oakland Tribune

Editorial Reviews

Review

I believe that the SmartFrench CD-ROM is the marvelous rendition of a brilliantly simple idea. -- Ian Jackson, CEO Breathplay – Dallas, TX

I would recommend SmartFrench to anyone who wants to understand and speak French. -- Judi Irving, CEO Hemacare Corporation

This CD-Rom is a "must" for learning how the French REALLY talk! I recommend SmartFrench without reservation. -- William Martin, retired political editor and reporter for several metropolitan newspapers, Alameda CA

This is the first learning program that made me laugh! Thanks for creating such a good product! -- Brad Bunnin – Berkeley, CA

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: SmartFrench (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972947434
• ISBN-13: 978-0972947435
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,623,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

227 of 236 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tried them all -- FINALLY something that works, June 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: SmartFrench: Beginner Level - Learn French from Real French People (Audio CD)

With an impending vacation to Paris, I wanted to become familiar with the French language, having never studied it before. I've read and listened to nearly every major French language program out there, including Barron's, Berlitz, Michel Thomas, Living Language French, Teach Yourself French and Instant Immersion. Smart French is by far the best, both in value and in what it teaches. I couldn't understand why after studying these other methods, when I watched a French film, I could understand little to nothing of what was being said. After purchasing Smart French and working each of the interactive lessons, I finally get it. What is taught in the textbooks is not the way the French actually speak. They contract so much that the written French is quite different from the spoken French!

A child learns a language first by hearing it spoken and mimicking the sounds, then by attaching meaning to the words. This is what Smart French does. It teaches you to hear first, repeat the sounds that you hear and translate later. First you learn to hear, then speak and finally to understand. All the other methods teach basically the same way and method, while Smart French is very different. I wholeheartedly recommend Smart French!!!

114 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This has really helped me., July 21, 2006

By 

elise dubourbon "elise d." (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SmartFrench: Beginner Level - Learn French from Real French People (Audio CD)

First of all, if/when you go to France, the whole experience is completely different if you attempt to speak their language versus if you expect them to speak yours (which they all can!). They really appreciate your attempt to speak the language that they are so proud of and consider an art, and they make every effort to help you to learn more and improve. It really, really opens so many doors to try to speak French. It's the difference between being treated like family versus being practically shunned. So do try to speak it. But the catch is that they hate it if you "bastardize" their language, meaning really rip up the pronunciation badly. It makes them wince. When I went to Lyon a few years ago I made every effort to speak French the whole time and was shocked how incredibly accomodating, sweet, and warm the French were to me, teaching me new words, helping me with my pronunciation, drawing me pictures, everything! Nothing like the rude treatment other Americans told me to expect from the French. One thing I noticed, though, was that while most of the time they could understand what I was saying pretty well, I most often could NOT understand most of what they were saying. This is because they spoke faster than I was used to listening to French and also because the French link their words together. Having being taught from text books and slow-speaking French teachers, I was over my head. I bought the beginner and the intermediate/advanced versions of this CD set because it's been a while since I practiced French and I originally leaned by the textbook method so I wasn't sure which I fit under. (I discovered that I fit under "beginner" in some aspects and under "intermediate/advanced" with other aspects.) Since I have a long drive to work and back every day, I play these and (when I'm awake enough) I do the recitations with him. I have to say that it's helped a lot. Both versions have. And the more times you listen the better you get and the easier it gets to understand. He says on the CD that you shouldn't or don't need to read the translations in the book that come with it, but I found that it helped me to read them before listening or I was distracted by my plausible ideas of what is really going on in the conversations. The content of the conversations is actually pretty interesting too: he interviews people, for example, who have had long diplomatic careers or knew Salvadore Dali as a child (both examples are in the intermediate/advanced version). For the first time since studying a language I've actually learned from the syntax AND the content of the lessons. I found it to be a wise purchase. Both of them. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars was simply because the tips he gives throughout the CDs can be a little repetitive, but then with some things you do need that consistent reminder.

75 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning Can Be Fun!, April 7, 2004

By 

Brad Bunnin (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SmartFrench: Beginner Level - Learn French from Real French People (Audio CD)

This is the first learning program that made me laugh! Thanks to SmartFrench for creating such a good product. The method is much like that by which kids learn. It introduces the patterns of the spoken language, not just grammar and vocabulary; so it's possible, in short order, to begin constructing sentences that sound French. It's a real confidence-builder. And it's fun. The speakers have personalities that keep the learner engaged. There's nothing boring about SmartFrench.