French: How to Speak and Write It: A Conversational Method for Self-Study

by Joseph Lemaitre

Book Overview

Probably the most delightful, useful, and comprehensive elementary book available for learning spoken and written French, either with or without a teacher. Working on the principle that a person learns more quickly by example then by rule, Lema tre has assembled colloquial French conversations on a variety of subjects, as well as grammar, vocabulary, and idiom studies. Index.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486202682
• ISBN13: 9780486202686
• Release Date: June 1962
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 401 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

I wouldn't say "old," just "timeless."

I agree with the previous reviewer's observation that the "overly formal" usage and illustrations are a bit dated. A French friend agreed; when I showed this text my friend, originally from Bordeaux, she grinned a little and said, "We don't speak French like this anymore."However, I feel that this book helps beginners with transliteration more than any traveler's phrase book. This book describes how French is pronounced more graphically and emphatically than any other similar book I've seen or read. At the end of each unit is a brief review so that you can apply what you've learned to other scenarios. So, without even trying, you actually learn something about French grammar! I applaud the authors for writing arguably the first book on building grammar skils and memorizing vocabulary through the use of typical travel scenarios and French-to-English transliteration.If you're looking for something more modern, than I'd suggest "Berlitz Essential French," which I feel is also good at transliteration. Otherwise, this old inexpensive text from Dover books will work just fine.