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The Standard Deviants - Parlez-vous Francais? (Learning French - The Basics) | 
 enlarge | Actor: Standard Deviants
Studio: Cerebellum Corporation
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $10.97
You Save: $9.01 (45%)
Rating:  25 reviews
Sales Rank: 26823
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Platform: Windows
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 80 Minutes
Operating System: Windows
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5 x 0.6
MPN: 655
ISBN: 1581983700
UPC: 631865008322
EAN: 9781581983708
ASIN: B00005B803
Theatrical Release Date: January 1, 2000
Release Date: June 26, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
In this tutorial, you will master the French alphabet, learn lots of vocabulary and how to conjugate verbs. This CD-ROM is full of examples and mnemonic devices to help you retain what you learn as you begin to speak and understand this amazing language!
Amazon.com
The Standard Deviants: French, Part 1
If you're looking to really learn the French language, as opposed to briefly memorizing a few phrases to help you find a bathroom or complain to the doctor of your traveler's stomach, the Standard Deviants have the video for you. Their French, Part I is a language lesson for the MTV generation. Short segments, funky graphics, and personable youthful teachers make watching this tape entertaining, rather like Sesame Streets for grownups. Using the functional approach (making sure people can communicate and accomplish tasks in the new language), the video introduces French with phrases and full sentences, introducing ideas through demonstration. The idea is to help you think in French. Dialogue is clearly transcribed on the screen, so you can see what the words look like, and two cards are included with the tape that give translations of some of the dialogues and useful vocabulary. Note, though, that all of the explanations are given in English, as opposed to an immersion program (meaning all in French, including explanations), such as French in Action. Which style works best is purely a matter of personal preference. Skits put the conversations into context and provide levity. Yet, as is clearly stated in the beginning of the lesson, this series is intended to be a supplement to a class, and French really needs to be practiced through speaking and writing. The benefit of video, though, is you can rewind as much as needed to master pronunciation and to let the concepts sink in. The video opens with pronunciation, with close-ups of faces as they pronounce the alphabet to help you learn how to shape your mouth around the French letters. The video then covers a range of topics including -er verbs, gender, articles, adverbs, etre, adjectives, pronouns, avoir, numbers, aller, and faire. While the video could benefit from more native French speakers, this is a delightful introduction to the language and a fun complement to a high school or college French class. Don't miss the flubbed lines during the credits. --Jenny Brown The Standard Deviants: French, Part 2
French, Part 2 picks up, not surprisingly, where the Standard Deviants French, Part 1 leaves off. Using the same functional approach to French, this tape uses fun graphics, humorous skits, transcriptions, and translations to help you learn the language (and once again the video begins with the caveat that these videos are intended to supplement, not replace, a class). Two cards are included with the tape that give translations of some of the dialogues, conjugations, and useful vocabulary. Beginning with a subject near and dear to le francais, we visit a cafe where we learn about food while also discovering le partif, prendre, and different ways of asking questions. Three more sections cover describing yourself, shopping, and morning and evening rituals, covering topics such as irregular verbs (including decrire, vouloir, and dire), regular verbs, more adjectives and adverbs, conjugations, the past tense, direct and indirect pronouns, and reflexive verbs. Occasionally dialogues are repeated with the English translation beneath them, which seems superfluous given that the translations are provided on the enclosed cards. While the video could benefit from more native French speakers, this is a delightful introduction to the language and a fun complement to a high school or college French class. --Jenny Brown
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| Customer Reviews: Read 20 more reviews...
 Amusing review of French basics April 19, 2008
Kieli-ja-Musiikki (Sumter, SC)
This DVD provides both parts I and II of the Standard Deviants' French series. I teach high school French, and my students find the videos engaging, entertaining, and informative. By its nature, this DVD cannot offer the depth necessary to supplant any real teaching (which isn't their purpose anyway); however, it does help remind students of some grammatical and lexical basics they learn in French I. The college-age actors (non-native speakers with some questionable pronunciations here and there but clear enough for their goal) are accessible to my teen students, but their acting is meant to be over-the-top (perhaps to counter boring professors' lectures at some universities). Note that this DVD is not for learning phrases for travel.
It's Good for some "basics" as the title states February 25, 2008
B. Mascia (Phila, PA)
Overall it's decent and interesting to watch. I was actually hoping for more basic vocabulary and common phrases than all the grammar rules they are trying to teach. I just need more "travel/tourist" knowledge. So this seems better suited for someone actually trying to learn the French language for the long haul, not if you're traveling for a week. It's still interesting and slightly corny, but it makes it somewhat fun to watch.
 Not adequate for High School or above October 21, 2007
A Happy Teacher (Oregon, USA)
I purchased the "Basics" video thinking I was going to get a silly, fun explanation of the basics. It is true that the video focuses on the basics and actually covers the same material our French 1 book does in the first 2 chapters. HOWEVER, I would send this video back if I could for 2 really important reasons:
1. My students fell asleep watching it for about 15 minutes.
2. Even more important - and the most disappointing part of all - the people speaking french had very strong American accents. Even my french 1 students could hear the bad pronunciation. If you are using this to supplement your French program at the High School level, don't waste your money.
My granddaughter loved it... August 17, 2007
L.WOLLETT (Columbus OH)
It was a gift so I didn't see the video myself but she sent me an email thanking me for it 3 days after she got it and said she had already learned her ABC's in French.
 Parlez-vous Francais - The Basics March 18, 2007
V. Fontaine (San Francisco)
This is the best language tape I've ever used! It cuts a language down to the basics and uses an approach much like Sesame Street. It makes any language fun to learn.
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