by Liz Allen

Created on: February 16, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

Whether you are embarking on self-study or a private tuition course in French,THE FRENCH EXPERIENCE is highly recommended. Writing and grammar are not over-emphasised, but if you wish to speak, understand and read texts, there is a wealth of material here. Each unit focuses on a particular topic such as health, travel, food and drink, professions, holidays and so on, providing useful vocabulary for tourists as well as residents. The CDs contain authentic dialogues and interviews recorded in France; within each unit the recordings concentrate initially on listening and recognising vocabulary, and then on the learner producing similar language through role-play.

THE FRENCH EXPERIENCE 2 enables you to progress through intermediate level French, increasing your fluency and understanding. The ten units each comprise six pages of audio-based material, concentrating therefore on listening and speaking skills; four pages of reading material, with texts from newspapers and magazines; and two pages for 'language production' by the learner through, for example, role-play. There is also a 'Profile' at the end of each unit, centring on an interesting personality or institution. This section will stretch your knowledge and understanding of French considerably more than the regular exercises. After each two units, a four-page assessment unit reviews your progress.

Topics are similar in nature to those of Book 1: accommodation, money, leisure, lifestyle, weather and so on. The grammar of Book 1 is consolidated and moves further up the ladder in Book 2 to include the subjunctive, the conditional tense, infinitives followed by or de, when to use c'est and when il est.

The French Experience 2 has a more international flavour, with recordings from francophone countries such as Belgium, Switzerland and Ivory Coast as well as France. Reading texts give an introduction to Vietnam, Canada and Senegal. This is an overview of the content, unit by unit:

Unite 1 - Langues et Pays (Languages and Countries)
Talking about languages people speak; arranging to meet; making appointments.

Unite 2 - Origines et Logements (Origins and homes)
Talking about your background, your home; enquiring about properties for sale; booking a hotel.

Self-Assessment Test 1

Unite 3 - Argent (Money)
talking about money and the cost of living; doing business at a bank; making arrangements to collect a hire car

Unite 4 - Environnements - (Environments)
talking about your home town, the environment, the weather; getting around

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