Michel Thomas Advanced Review Course: French (Michel Thomas Series) |
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Author:
Michel Thomas
By Hodder Arnold
Average Customer Rating: 
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 9780340939017
Format: Audiobook
ISBN: 034093901X
Label: Hodder Arnold
Manufacturer: Hodder Arnold
Publication Date: 2006-09-29
Publisher: Hodder Arnold
Studio: Hodder Arnold |
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Just Michel and you!, 2006-10-01
This programme is a one CD distillation of the 5 hour advanced course (see my review below this paragraph, as it covers the same material). The advanced course covers all of the tenses in the French language and gives you the opportunity to practise. It is fantastic! However, there was always a problem that when you came to review the material you had to listen to the two students thinking out their answer (as the tapes were recorded real-time and not scripted). The editing process has removed the two students and just leaves Michel asking a question in English and then giving the answer in French. It is a fantastic resource for really over learning this material so that it becomes second nature and will improve your fluency. A recommendation to buy.
I read in the accompanying booklet that there will be a Vocabulary course introduced in March 2007, 3 CD's providing over a 1000 words with Native speakers. This will be a very welcome addition.
Advanced Course Review:-
This follow-on from the 8 hour course and two hour language builder course has lived up to expectations, it is excellent!
As the name of the course suggests it is designed for students that have either completed the first courses or acquired a grounding in French through other means. If you are an absolute beginner you should come back and purchase this course when you have picked up the basics, its not for you yet.
Michel uses the same technique as the 8 hour course, two students (one male and one female) and himself. The students (you will no doubt be relieved to hear) are different from the 8 hour course, they make very few mistakes. The benefit is that when listening to the course again you will not continually have to wait for the mistakes of others to be corrected. This was a problem in the preceding 8 hour course.
There isn't much new vocabulary in the course but what you do get is a thorough analysis and chance to practice quite advanced French grammar . He spends a long time going over the past tenses in French which were only lightly touched on in the first course. In addition, every students dread, the subjunctive, is covered in a way that I can only describe as brilliant. My fear of the subjunctive has now gone!
There is a small booklet that accompanies the course but there is no more than a summary of the course content on each disc so if you are looking for a written explanation of the grammar you would be better buying Madrigals Magic Key to French by Margarita Madrigal (OUT OF PRINT but worth it if you can find it!). To be honest I think this is a good companion for anyone listening to these discs as all of the tenses described by Michel are included in here along with more written practice exercises. In fact the method used in both Michel Thomas and Margarita Madrigal is very similar.
A word of warning for those looking for advanced vocabulary, there is not much in here. If you are familar with French grammar then you should buy other materials to improve your vocabulary but for intermediate learners this course is definitely good value for money and should be high on your list of French materials to buy!
Great for listening in your car, 2008-03-03
Just a note to say don't be put off by the introductory message. It comes on and says that this is a review for the 8-hour Foundation - not advanced, course. This seems to be just an error in the recording as the material is correct.
As for the CD itself I find it useful to have in the car for short trips to give me a quick reminder. It's no substitute for the full course.
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