French Workbook for Dummies

French Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Language & Literature)): Fantastic resource for French learners AND teachers! As a private French instructor, one of my constant challenges is in identifying and bringing together resources that will be helpful for my students, often to address particular needs or meet them where they are most comfortable. Laura’s strength is in creating content that is so comprehensive and yet so approachable that learners of French can use it as their one and only resource. Laura covers not just the basics but also the nuances and particularities of this rich and often challenging language. I recommend my students to her site, and I now also recommend this book to them. I highly recommend it to all of you as well! This is the best resource for a solid foundation in everything French, a remarkable and brilliant work that is perfect for true beginners, but also a great review of the fundamentals for more advanced students. Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this work for review, however this doesn't influence my opinion. I am a native French teacher and have used many workbooks that are more or less good/helpful, but I can assure you that you can never go wrong with Laura Lawless. She never disappoints, and she definitely stands out as the best resource out there for French learners and French teachers alike. She has an impressive understanding and mastery of the French language and culture. She makes French accessible, almost logical, and dare I say fun! Her methods and explanations are encouraging, easy to grasp, to the point, effective, and get you ready to interact in French AND with the French. Indeed, beyond getting you comfortable with grammar, the author gives helpful advice to steer you away from easy-to-make cultural and social faux pas. I haven't found a single mistake. The content is accurate and up-to-date, and it even incorporates revised French spelling (in addition to traditional spelling, both being correct), which only about 10% of the French are aware of, even though most use them spontaneously. There is useful and relevant vocabulary. A bilingual dictionary is a useful tool, but only if you know how to use it properly, because you can quickly get into trouble (for example, the word “baiser” refers to something quite different whether it's a noun or a verb). Thankfully, the author thoughtfully gives you an easy overview of grammar (if it was not your strong suit, this book will be a game changer) and of dictionaries' abbreviations, so as to enable readers to use a bilingual dictionary accurately and effectively. This book is well organized, with lots of useful lists of common grammatical words, vocabulary, phrases, etc., so you don't have to memorize everything but can easily retain the essentials. This book is also flexible: you can enjoy it from front to back, or pick and choose the section you're most interested in. All the ground work is done by the author, so you can enjoy in bite-sized portions all the relevant info to be functional in French reading, writing, and speech. Whether you're a French learner or instructor, or just a francophile, or if you're about to visit a francophone country, this book is a must!

French Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Language & Literature)): Everything you need to start learning French This is a workbook & it’s interactive with frequent practical & clear exercises with the correct answers conveniently at the end of each chapter. It’s very well organized and thorough with clear complete sections & chapters. It’s easy to navigate if you have some French & wish to focus on particular topics rather than plow the whole field.The first chapter has the very basics of grammar, usage, & essential etiquette, and also the tricks of the art of using a bilingual dictionary, potentially saving the reader hours of error & trial & many paper cuts. The grammar notes are comprehensive and may improve your knowledge of English grammar. Every lesson is clear. There are no distracting untranslated words or off topic remarks in the lessons & each section sticks to its subject. If a topic comes up that might merit deeper development you are referred to a later section but you don’t need to read it to keep forging ahead.If you know some French, this is a good book for reviewing topics, happening upon pearls, filling in blanks or getting a solid foundation in a new topic. If you have no French or are just beginning you are very well covered in basic rules of grammar & parts of speech & essential vocabulary with no pre-requisites.It’s important in learning a language to be given basic rules & then to have a number of different sorts of examples to learn how to apply them & this workbook provides an excellent start considering there’s only so much you can cram into a reasonable sized book. If you just aren’t getting something, she has a free website with more examples &c. The website has everything that’s in this book I believe, and then some, but necessarily lacks the overall organized presentation the book permits.Topics that might be frighteningly ambiguous or confusing in some courses are neatly dissected and laid out & potential pitfalls are noted.This would be a great book to use with self-learning or beginning formal classes to first go through or even just skim so you know how it’s organized & then keep by your listening device or book for reference for other lessons or for reading/listening to French language material.

French Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Language & Literature)): Finally, a practical workbook for French learners! I found this well- organized workbook for French learners to be an efficient way to rapidly improve spoken and written French. Laura Lawless has a talent for teaching and presenting the material in an orderly and fun manner.