Ultimate French Beginner-Intermediate (Book) [Large Print]

For the analytically minded language learner who really wants to LEARN the language, this course is probably the most balanced available. It is well laid out and presented in a clear, concise manner. There are plenty of practice problems. The text itself takes you farther than most beginning language courses and the advanced book (sold separately) picks up where this one ends. There is lots of audio--two separate series on the CDs, one following the book, the other supplemental (can be listened to while you are driving, exercising, or whatever). I like the Living Language books because they are self-contained and I don't feel as if I need to be working through other course books concurrently as I do when working through offerings from some other language-learning publishers. The only negative for me personally is that the vocabulary comes quite fast. I find myself getting way ahead in the grammar while being stalled with loads of vocabulary. This, however, is a personal weakness/strength issue and you may not have this problem. Other than that, I can't think of a thing that I don't like about this course. How does this offering compare with other company's offerings? I would have to say that Living Languages and Hugo are my favorites. Hugo is great for stripped down, no fluff presentation. I really like their stuff. But, they tend to be very intense and typically do not have sufficient practice problems. Living Language is more balanced and takes you farther with the grammar and vocabulary. I'd say the two are tied for my favorites. Teach Yourself also has some great offerings... but choose wisely, because they are not consistent and offer some real dogs as well. Living Language and Hugo have a consistent format and you know what to expect from all of their courses. Of course, this book will require study. It is not a "Learn French While You Watch TV and Eat Popcorn" or "French in Your Sleep" or "French in the Blink of an Eye" course. As long as you go into it knowing this and are willing and able to actually study and invest some time, you should have a good experience with Ultimate French. If you don't like to study and invest time, you'll have a great new dust collector in a protective clamshell sleeve.

I am French and I teach French as a foreign language. I highly recommand thsi method. It starts with simple dialogues which get trickier and trickier but very gradually. The voices, intonation and accent sound really authentic too. A very good choice !

I loved, loved, loved this package! In fact, I'll have to buy a new book soon since my old one is so worn out from nights of study and review. This set, to me, is so much better than Pimsleur. It all depends on what you wish to learn. Pimsleur is all audio, so from a purely conversion vantage it might be better for tourists, but it doesn't teach you the ins and outs of the language. Grammar is basic (sometimes non existent). This is the exact opposite. You learn the language properly, by learning how to build it noun by verb etc. It's the way that every child should be taught his primary language (but seldom is, hence Prof. Higgins' rant!). After completing this course (which, if you're studying it thoroughly, should be at the rate of a lesson a week), you will have all the tools you need to construct sentences in several forms of the past, present, and future, as well as having a very solid foundation for pronunciating (most students biggest complaint about French) correctly. I bought this set my senior year of high school to prepare me for college French, and I must say, I learned more from this set than I did all four years of high school French and the first year of college. If you really want to lay the ground work for French fluency, voici le livre!!!

Excellent self study course as is all of the ultimate series. If you are motivated and organized in your studies you can learn much from this course not only about the language but also how to use it which is most important. You will not need a teacher. In fact I have never known anyone to become truely proficient through classes. You must study every day. I would reccomend this course along with Barrons mastering. Barrons for the drilling method which may be old but us tried and true and Ultimate for the up to date diologues and vocabulary. Also listen to movies with french tracks and also the internet news in French can be invaluable in developing your listening comprehension.