Speak in a Week French: See, Hear, Say & Learn (French Edition)

I love the speak in a week series -- I've been so happy with their design/layout that I've purchased French, Italian, and recently the Spanish series - overall the series is pretty straight-forward; the cartoons are helpful, but if you need to just listen in the car or while traveling the audio makes complete sense on its own. I think this is for the absolute beginner - I find the beginning tapes are just a little slow for me - speaking wise...but if you are learning this can be great as it gives you a second or two to try to remember the translations. Also for someone looking to brush- up this is great, I've studied French as a youngster and used it to brush up my Francais in my adult life - works great for this as well.
The series looks exactly the same in each language, and I like the first lessons they teach you, they actually seem to make sense that they would be the first things you learn. For example: things that they go over-- salutations, hello, how are you, i am fine, what is the phone number, where is the...? (ex where is the hotel, where is the beach, etc) i need...(i need a glass of water, i need three tickets, etc) do you like...(do you like the party, do you like the museum, etc) i like...i need... -- overall things that i think are actually important to learn when learning a new language.
Would absolutely recommend this to anyone as a great introduction to a new language.

I find this program to be very helpful in my continuing French practices. I use it on my iPod while exercising at my athletic club and while sleeping at night.

We are using this book set to learn French in a college setting with a class that is for retired people. I love it!! Quick and easy to learn and the pictures make it easy to remember.

I would use this even without the additional instructional support. Most likely, when I get ready to learn Spanish, I will use that version of this series.

This is a very good set of CDs and booklets. It's very portable and colorful. Complete beginners should choose this one, which can bring them towards intermediate level quickly. There are a few typing errors that are confusing but negligible. It would be good if they have more advanced programs.

This collection is a nice review for me to get the accent back in my ear. The speaker sounds like a native and many times when the book misspells something, he of course speaks it correctly. For example, Pg. 59, the article of the word is incorrectly spelled as "la parc" but he pronounces it correctly as "le parc". So this makes me think he is a native speaker. I highly recommend these French CDs as a refresher course or as a way to learn French for the first time.

Stay away from the Italian version. Way too many mistakes by the speaker who is obviously NOT from Italy!