Needs more material and less repetition on CD set (Rating 3 of 5)
» Robert S. Olive
I've purchased several immersion Spanish sets and now having a trip to Paris scheduled have ordered this material. I'm disappointed because I thought with an 8 cd set, it would provide more extensive training than it does. The teaching technique is to provide words, phrases and sentences that are for the most part in no contextual framework to promote the ability to remember them. As I reached the fifth CD I began to wonder if the instruction would get away from repetition of the simple phrases and verbs contained on Disc One and began to use a storyline or situational approach. I scanned six through eight and was sad to learn that this is just not a technique the author likes. There are a very few such passages ("at the bus stop"), but overall the presentation is very, very disjointed. There is a great deal of repetition in the form of review, and that does help the memory, but that is easily done on any cd player without filling up eight cd's with it. This would be fine for his classroom, where repeating is not available at the touch of a button. Further, though the author uses up the first several minutes bragging on his multiple language linguistic skills to convince us that we bought the best product, anyone with an ear will be confused by his accent when he intersperses his own use of French in exchanges with Cιline, the (apparently)native "student" who does most of the responding translations to his words and phrases (many of his vowels are just not the same as hers). She is quite excellent in her tempo and articulation and most of what the author says in French is repeated by her (hence the ease of distinguishing between his Americanized French and hers). I can understand the praise for this by the students well into the language or those refreshing their skills after long absence, but it is not a good course for someone with no real background. (I was lucky enough to have two months of total emersion French in the 9th grade, most of which stuck with me the next 45 years, and unlucky enough to finish under a teacher who essentially read from the text book, none of which I have retained). I've had both the storyline/context specific cd's and the cd's similar to this while learning Spanish, and the former are far and away the best on-the-move way to commit the language to memory (I don't have time to practice law and do lessons at home). One more complaint: the author is reading his material and does it so rapidly that his out-of-context, jump from topic to topic approach is just that much more difficult to apply
Excellent If The Book Is Used Heavily (Rating 4 of 5)
» Donna Heidman
After struggling to retain anything using the Rosetta Stone, I decided to purchase "Behind the Wheel". I easily uploaded the cds onto my computer and transferred them over to my IPod shuffle so that I could listen to them while I was working around the house or at work. I have to admit that I found the workbook that came with the cds much more effective than the cds themselves. The audio does not delve deep enough into the language to get a grasp at it. Before I started "Behind the Wheel", I only had a basic knowledge of French. Now, I am almost through chapter 4 in the book, and feeling much more confidant of my speaking and listening abilities. My fiance is a French citizen, and I am trying to work towards fluency so that I can communicate with my new extended family! I feel that "Behind the Wheel French" has been a wonderful springboard toward my goal
Very Good (Rating 5 of 5)
» Donald K. Douglas
Have purchased a number of language courses including Michel Thomas'French which was a good starting point. "Behind the Wheel" slowly builds a foundation too which is good if you're just starting. It is a listening only approach, as the name implies, so is good for the car or headphones in bed. It is very clear and an concise going back and forth, english to french with the use of a native french speaker repeating the translation twice each time. More relevant/practical in its lessons than some courses. It is important to me to work on vocabulary and sentence structure that is useful and practical for a visitor moving about and interacting in simple day to day activities such as shopping dining, hotels, travel, etc. Call it tourist plus. There is a lot there
french review (Rating 3 of 5)
» Roger Colvin
The french in this package and the method of teaching is very good if you already know french and are seeking a review. The words and phrases I have never heard are difficult to learn because it is difficult to visualize. The woman has a very good accent but the man speaks too fast and is very difficult to understand due to his poor accent. The CD quality is poor and has a difficult time working in my CD player. This is not a problem for any other CD. I would say this is just an average product
"Behind the Wheel French" with the companion book "Language Dynamics French" is all you need to get started (Rating 5 of 5)
» JCH
The "Behind The Wheel French" system is great, but make sure you buy the 2006 edition of "Behind the Wheel French 1 Revised/Complete Illustrated Text & CD Script/Answer Keys/8 One Hour Audio CDs (Audio CD)". See the review of this 2006 set by J. Rhoda "Amazon lover" (Beantown MA.
It's the combination of the CDs with the book that really works. I tried Pimsleur, which is very limited and comparatively expensive
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