Je veux bien! Student Text

Rating:
Summary: poor system based on hear and say learning
Review: Anyone remember the old learn by hearing we tried in English way back in the 60s and 70s that was such a bust? This is based on the same principles. The idea is if you hear it enough you will learn it by using it and learn the basic rules the same way.
Not taken into account that how many of us live around French speakers could be counted on the writers toes. The Audio uses rapid speaking natives who use only sentences which are unclear. The speakers themselves are not clear voices. Repeats of words are not considered. The Audio for the chapter does not match the words to be learned. Instead you are attempting to understand a conversation. It is not to help you learn to speak correctly. The idea is presented in the classes at the University where one of the authors is employed is "Don't worry about how you say it. Everyone has a different accent."

Grammer is bypassed or very poorly covered in hopes that the more you hear the quicker you will learn the rules. It is not explained properly leaving many students complaining they do not understand simple formation of easy sentences. Suggestions by others who speak the language of other simple text clearly explaining the rules are made and the problem is solved. If you have to buy another text to gain the basics why buy this one?

The pictures are lovely. The guide to the metro is great. If used for a trip with a good French background it works well. As a text for those who would learn to speak or read it.. pass. Buy a better book. As an addition to a great text.. pick it up. Great for a refesher for those who have French 4 under their belt. The workbook is a must even for them to gain anything at all from the text.

Rating:
Summary: je veux bien
Review: I was not particularly impressed with this textbook. If anything, it's suited for high school. It's has more pictures of French pop stars and people eating baguettes than it has actual content. It is mainly oriented around conversational French. If you'd like something in-depth or grammar-oriented, choose another book. The CDs that come with the workbook aren't that great: what the editors chose to have pronounced for you seems somewhat random. I would prefer if every new vocabulary word was available to hear pronounced, but this is not the case.