- ISBN13: 9780071428484
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
A fun and easy new way to quickly acquire or enhance basic reading skills These unique guides are based on the premise that the best way to learn a language is to start reading it, immediately. Suitable for raw beginners to intermediate-level language learners, the new editions of these popular titles feature engaging readings of progressive difficulty that allow learners to rapidly build comprehension. Easy French Reader begins with the adventures of t… More >>
Tags: best way to learn a language, comprehension, Easy, easy french reader, French, intermediate level, language learners, level language, premise, progressive difficulty, raw beginners, Reader, reading skills, remainder mark
#1 by Willy on February 4, 2010 - 9:50 pm
I give this 2 stars because the first part is good. They will list 30 to 40 words, with their translations, which are used in the short conversation stories that follow and it works well.
Then in Part 2 they got lazy and stupid. Part 2 is made up of much longer stories but suddenly the amount of words they list with translations goes down to as few as 15. Part 2 is about the history of France. By it’s nature, it uses many words that you will rarely come across, and most aren’t listed and translated with the story. There is a small dictionary in the back of the book where you can find some of these words but most are missing. Part two is also a dry and boring read because it covers the history of France which doesn’t do anybody any good now. Part 3 is even worse than Part 2 with only a handful of words and even longer stories. How about stories asking for directions or where a good restaurant is?
The authors apparently believe in some mystical power that if they teach you a few words, you will magically know all the words in the French language. For beginning French students, they should have used high usage common everyday words. Another stupid thing they did was give you exercises with questions and crossword puzzles but they don’t provide the answers anywhere in the book. Laziness.
This is just another example of a person or company out to make a buck. It almost appears like someone started the book with good intentions and then quit, so someone else stepped in and just slapped the rest of it together to get it done. You are better off getting a regular book written in French and using a dictionary to translate, because that is exactly what you will be doing with this one.
For those of you thinking it must be me because there are so many 5 star reviews, go read those 5 star reviews. Most of them say “Great Beginner Book”, and then go on to say such things as “I just finished College French 101″ or “good if you had French 101 or 102″. How interesting. The only people saying it is a good beginner book are those people who aren’t beginners.
Rating: 2 / 5
#2 by Caraculiambro on February 4, 2010 - 11:50 pm
Though a bit stuffier than its sequel, “Easy French Women,” which Amazon is, for reasons that elude me, not offering.
Rating: 4 / 5
#3 by Cal Page on February 5, 2010 - 1:06 am
The book is at just the right level for a beginner wishing to learn to read French. Each chapter starts with a small translation list for new words or expressions that show up in the main text thus helping you through the translation. Sentences are short and in the present tense, which is just what you want when you begin. There’s also a lot of repetition, again good for the beginner.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Christine Haack on February 5, 2010 - 2:25 am
This is a great resource for French teachers. I use it in my classroom all the time. It also has a great section of history articles that is very easy to read for intermediate students and if you supplement a small activity to go with each reading it really helps the material stick. The history sections are short enough that they give you all the information that you need to know, but don’t bore the students. The other sections are also fun and are great for quick activities for when you have substitutes.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Patrick D. Goonan on February 5, 2010 - 4:53 am
This book is one of my favorite French resources. I agree with the other reviewers that it has entertaining stories that help you REMEMBER vocabulary and absorb grammar. It starts out with basic French, but it advances quickly. There is a version of this book that comes with a CD of a native speaker reading the text. This is a VERY BIG value added feature. Interestingly, however, only 2 of the 3 sections are recorded and this is NOT an error. I contacted the publisher and they didn’t get around to it! It might be present in future additions, however. Either way, it’s a good solid book for the money.
Rating: 5 / 5