Living Language French, Complete Edition: Beginner through advanced course, including 3 coursebooks, 9 audio CDs, and free online learning

I have learnt French in High School( I am an intermediate user) and this product was for me to refresh my French and for my Husband to start learning French. My Husband and me have been thinking of learning/refreshing French for sometime now. I saw the Ad for living langauge Platinum on the NYC subway and then I came home and did some research on various products available. I did not buy the platinum edition and I felt the essential edition would be too basic for our purpose(develop French upto an intermediate fluency, DELF B1/B2- google for info on this).So far, we like the product.3 books - Essential,Intermediate and Advanced9 Audio CD - 3 audio Cd's per book1 notebookFree online learning access to flashcards and games but I believe this is available to everyone and you don't need to enter any product code============================================================================================================The Essential Book gets you started with basic vocbulary and has 10 lessons: Essential Expression, Family, Numbers, At home, describing things, Around town, Ath the restaurant, Everyday life, At work and Socializing. All the words and grammar are also read-out aloud on the CDs. The CDs can be used as a stand-alone unit and so can the books(but you don't get any pronunciation guide if you use the books alone).The Intermediate book is the meat of the product and, according to me, the essentials of the amazing French language. This book is divided in units and has 5 units: Greetings and Introductions, Everyday Life, At a restaurant, Using the telephone and making appointments, and asking for directions. This book has more grammar which is the most important part of any language and specifically for French. It has everything about learning to ask questions, various tenses, pronouns and more new vocabulary. The CDs in this book only play new stuff and do not play everything like the essentials book does.The Advanced book goes more into the grammar and other important parts of the language. It is divided into 4 units: Shopping, Work and School, sports and leisure, Doctor and Health.============================================================================================================I definitely recommend this book to beginners as well as advanced-beginners. What I most liked about this package is the use of coursebooks which is not done by most other(leading?) language learning companies. Most other products only have CDs or online material and I wanted to have coursebooks as, having a good knowledge of French, I am aware that we need books to learn and improve grammar rather than just learning how to say things.As to some reviews here that say there is too much pause, we found the pauses/silences useful to repeat and asimilate words. I'm sure these reviews are from users who have some prior knowledge of the language.If you just want to test the waters for the French language , get the essentials edition which has the basics of the language(P.S.: The complete edition also has the material from the essential edition in addition to intermediate and advanced stuff). However, if you want to move ahead and learn the language enough to go to France, Canada and many African countries or live/work there, I can see that this product will help you. Ofcourse , to speak French like a native, immersion is the only way for the best learning experience and the living language complete series will give you the confidence to go to a French-speaking community and continue learning French to become a native/bilingual/multi-lingual speaker. This product *could* also help you prepare for the DELF exams. I can say that you will be ready upto the DELF B1 level which I passed last year.I say could, and not would because,the (only)extra effort that you would need for the DELF(A1,A2,B1) exams is to buy/review materials specific to the exam so that you know the type of questions asked.Enjoy. Happy Studying.

Studying languages is one of my many hobbies, and because of this, I own quite a library of language-learning materials. Based on prior purchases, I can say that the amount of information in this course is MORE than worth what I paid for it. With that said, I will offer some clarifications on this "Complete" edition, some things I liked about it, and some things to consider about this course if you've been told to avoid this Living Language course because it does not teach Japanese the "CORRECT" way. (???) (Yes, I was warned by a friend not to purchase it for that reason... and guess what?) :)If you're wondering if you will be "fluent" after you master this Complete Edition, the answer is ...No. Would you have a good, working, practical ability to survive, express yourself and socialize by speaking some decent Japanese? Yes. There are some who have questioned the term "Advanced" as it relates to the material in this course. After looking through the materials, I think it's more helpful to think of the levels of this course (Beginner through Advanced) as Basic, Intermediate Basic, and Advanced Basic. This, to me, seems more accurate.One thing I look for in language courses (and hardly ever find) is some indication, or measure, of skill mastery (ie., If I master all of the materials in this course, exactly WHAT will I be able to do with what I've learned... What kinds of things will I be able to actually say?) This course, has sections throughout called ""How did you do?", which state "By now you should be able to: ....." and gives several language skills you will have gained IF you've mastered the material in that section (such as "use counters to count different types of objects around the house", or "use the verb 'Become'). Also, at the beginning of each section you get a list of language skills you'll be taught in that section. I hardly EVER see specific "lesson-plan"-type structures like these in language courses, so this was a big plus for me.Now for the 'Correct" way to learn Japanese. I'm not a "Japanese Snob" (Purist) who believes that one should be proficient in Hiragana, Katakana and at least a few hundred Kanji before even attempting put together a single sentence in Japanes. (My friend who warned me against this course is such a 'purist', and we have gone rounds on this issue). Here is MY view on this. Language is about "Communication". If I'm dropped down in the middle of Kyoto, I'd much rather be able to ask where the nearest restroom is or ask some locals to join me for a drink (Survive and Socialize), than to be proficient in Kana stroke order. YES, OF COURSE, it's nice to know it all... but for those who would knock this course because it doesn't ever wean the student entirely off of Romaji (or English, for that matter), I say, "Give the course a break". For a 'Basic" course which gives a good grounding in Beginning Japanese, I think this course is more than acceptable. I'm not really knocking you "purists' out there..(except my friend, who is just plain annoying).. just reminding you that there are others who learn and progress differently than you do.Note: It WOULD be nice to see Living Language produce a more advanced "Complete" course (Intermediate through Advanced Intermediate). I'd add it to my collection without hesitation.All in all, this is a GREAT value for the money; is a good introduction to Hiragana, Katakana and a few Kanji; gives a good 'measurable' introduction to Basic, Intermediate Basic and Advanced Basic Japanese; and should give you enough practical knowledge to survive and socialize.

I wanted to recap my GCSE French. I chose this product and I think it is excellent value for money and is a very clear to follow course. The CDs are great and you can repeat exercises as many times as you want. I have to confess to have taken a break (due to illness) and am half way through, but feel that some of my previous learning gaps have been filled, and I have learned new vocabulary and ways of saying things. It lacks writing exercises (unless there are more in the advanced book) , and reading exercises. Also talking would need to be done with another person. Otherwise it gives a very good grouding in French and is a well-designed course. Excellent value.

Received today...Very impressed with this package. I have many language audio courses but, none as comprehensive as this. Many of the courses I have purchased are very good. The costs have been significant for the aforesaid. I cannot grasp the price of £31.79 ... an utter steal. Keep up the good work LIVING LANGUAGE.The delivery from Amazon was second to none...within a day.

Really nice looking box set very attractive looking indeed but that's about as good as It Gets the books are completely filled with Romaji and they do not go to a particularly high level certainly not the advanced that the books titles suggest. I would only recommend this boxset to somebody who is interested in learning Japanese for leisure or for a pleasure trip not for somebody who is aiming to learn the language inside and out to a serious level.

The most comprehensive self-study course I have ever known, there is a vocabulary of around 3,500 words, more than enough for travelling around Japan. One small point though, could have done with more Kanji writing practice as 20 Kanji characters is only a start. Good for teaching Kana though.

Seems like a good course. However, CD8 was missing from the pack, and there were 2 copies of CD9 instead. I don't want to return the whole pack, but would appreciate it if a copy of CD8 could be sent.