French Language Builder(Michel Thomas Series) [AUDIOBOOK]

If you've come up against a brick wall trying to go from beginners to intermediate French, then this is the audiocourse for you. You'll need to know the basics, but if you want to go to France and not behave like a stereotypical English "if they don't understand you then just shout louder" person then this will do the trick brilliantly. Put the cd on in your car, and drive. Repeat. You'll start remembering phrases before you know it and next time you're in France you'll find people being ever so helpful. I only wish there was another 2 hour course after this one. Brilliant. Utterly Brilliant.


His method works for me.   March 2, 2002
 114 out of 116 found this review helpful

I suppose you either love Michel Thomas's method or you hate it. Personally I find it brilliant. He simply teaches you to create simple phrases and sentences, in such a way that you learn the essential grammar of the language. This language builder course is really an essential addition to his 8 disk series. You do need these phrases and vocabulary in order that you have some French to work with when you go abroad.

The best thing is that he makes learning fun, and encourages you to keep on with the language.

If he brings out some more I will buy them.


An excellent follow up!   December 12, 2001
 24 out of 25 found this review helpful

I too did the eight hour course and enjoyed it so much I decided to buy this. Its just Michel speaking and he goes quite fast. There is plenty of material to take in and to get the best out of the recording will require a few listenings.

Thoroughly enjoyable, I just wish there were more CDs to continue with. The booklet with the phrases printed out is an excellent idea too.


Builds on 8 Hour Course   November 14, 2001
 205 out of 207 found this review helpful

Just a month ago I knew no French at all. Well, apart from the one or two words that I could remember from school (ca va, ca va bien merci) and no joke that was about it.

I have used the 8 Hour complete course and this Language builder to get myself upto a level where I can 'get by'. I have tried loads of other books and tapes but they are boring. The Michel Thomas method is good because you are not bored. You feel that you are constantly progressing but also you are going over what you have learned previously so that you don't forget.

The system used on the language builder is similar to that in the 8 Hour course, but there are no annoying students to listen to. Michel gives you the phrase in English and then in French. You have to pause and answer in between to get the best out of the recordings.

I still have to think out what I am going to say for quite a long time but with practice I will become quicker and at least now I know that I can repond to a French person in French when I'm in Paris.

I found the booklet with all the phrases written down very useful as French is not as phonetic as Spanish or Italian.

I have only two complaints, one is that an awful lot is crammed in to these two hour recordings. Perhaps it could have been done a bit more slowly giving the student a bit more time to consolidate the knowledge gained. The second is that this method only teaches the structure of the language, you are not able to count and you lack the required nouns to speak the language properly. I suppose this could be remedied by buying vocab book (boring) but it would be much better if Michel covered this in addition to the structure of the language.

In addition a more advanced 8 hour course is required to supplement what is learned in this language builder. Reading the comments of other students I hope that Hodder and Stoughton (publishers) take notice and ask Michel to come back and do more.


This is a must have!!!   October 8, 2001
 12 out of 14 found this review helpful

Having used the 8 CD's from the French course,(and recommended it to all my friends at work) this was a welcome extention to consolidate and extend my vocab.