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iVideo French: Video Learning for the Igeneration (Ilearn Anywhere) | 
| Creator: Inc Penton Overseas
Publisher: Penton Overseas
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
Buy New: $10.00
You Save: $10.00 (50%)
New (28) Used (5) from $10.00
Rating:  45 reviews
Sales Rank: 433943
Media: Hardcover
Edition: DVD Blg
Pages: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 5.5 x 1
ISBN: 1591259886
Dewey Decimal Number: 440
EAN: 9781591259886
ASIN: 1591259886
Publication Date: February 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The 60 minute DVD has been formatted for easy import into iTunes where you can view it as a TV show on your computer as well as playing it in your DVD player. Ten easy lessons provide all the vocabulary, grammar and cultural notes that a traveller needs to communicate effectively abroad. See and hear the words and phrases spoken as well as real conversations - all with English and target language subtitles. The second hour offers vocabulary enrichment for each of the topics covered. Text appears on screen as spoken and you can pause and resume as needed. It is perfect for quick and easy review on the go!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 40 more reviews...
A Great Way To Become Familiar with French August 20, 2008
Colorgirl (NE US)
iVideo French is a DVD in a plastic case which does not have anywhere to store it once you have opened it up- the original case it comes in is too flimsy, so you had better be sure you have another hard case to store it in if you order this.
When it first comes up on the screen (I ran this in a DVD player on a TV), this is what you will see:
INTRODUCTION
1. Greetings
Basic words and phrases. A man and woman take turns pronouncing each word twice while the English is on top and the French spelling is on bottom of the screen. You have the option to repeat the section if you like on screen. This is followed by a simple conversation between the man and woman, with English on top of screen and French on the bottom.
Special topic of formal and informal pronouns and verbs. Explains the simple differences.
2. Introductions
How to introduce yourself and meet others. Two women say the simple words = again same format as before which is carried through the DVD.
A short conversation illustrates how two people meet each other.
Special Topic
Gender and Grammar - simple explanation of the gender of simple words.
3. Do You Speak French
A man and woman use simple words of description which might help to determine speed, and other words that would be helpful to communicate if you want to find someone who speaks English because you can not understand much French. Bathroom words are included here. Also phrases are included to help you understand if someone is trying to tell you that they don't speak English at all or just a little. Also words to help you tell someone to slow down a bit if they are talking too quickly.
This section is quite long compared to the previous sections. A lot of information is covered here so it will be necessary to repeat this quite a few times.
A simple conversation happens between the young man and woman to help find someone that speaks English and find out some basic important information. (Bathroom)
SPECIAL TOPIC
French verbs and verb forms are briefly covered here. This is VERY basic.
4. Directions
ASking for and understanding directions. Two women will lead you through simple words and phrases to help you find out how to get somewhere and how to find something. This section is pretty well laid out for most things that you might need to address if you are trying to get directions. The two women stage a conversation of someone who is lost and needs direction from the hotel to a park.
SPECIAL TOPIC
Finding conveniences. The terms are different for things that we know in the US. Directions are given using landmarks and numbers so be aware of this.
5. Meeding, Wanting, Having
Terms and phrases to tell someone what you need or have. There are some verbs shown in their base form and some phrases with the verbs already put into the proper form for the speaker. Family terms and more restroom phrases included here. This section is on the longer side as well. A man and woman have a conversation which you can fill in the blanks to tell someone what you need, want, or have. It allows you to learn the basics.
SPECIAL TOPIC
Plurals and how to make them. This is very simple and basic.
REVIEW 1
Phrases from all five lessons are taken and you have some time to think of them on your own, they will then tell you the answer and allow you to practice. The viewer is not urged to continue on in lessons until the first five chapters have been mastered.
There are no people visible here, just the words show on the screen to allow you to think more clearly without distraction.
6. Travel
Airports, cars, passports, trains, and taxis. Words that you need to know to allow you to take transportation. The conversation that is in this section allows you to discuss your documentation that you need to present in order to travel.
SPECIAL TOPIC
Travel Time, how to talk about time.
7. Hotel
Vocabulary you need for lodging. Words and phrases to get reservations and such for lodging. Conversation shows how to check in for a reservation using your full name.
SPECIAL TOPIC
Type of lodging that you will find in France. Discussion of different manners of lodging- looking them up on the internet first- not much info here.
8. Restaurants
Some words relating to food and eating out. The conversation between two women is a dining out situation in a restaurant with a waitress.
SPECIAL TOPIC
Restaurant bills and tips.
9. Shopping
Essentials for finding souvenirs and words and phrases so you can do basic shopping. Conversation is a man and woman shopping for souvenirs to bring home to family.
SPECIAL TOPIC
Currency- how to understand Euro and credit cards. Very brief.
10. Emergency & Pharmacy
Basic emergency terms. Theft, medical emergency, and loss words are in this section. You can also find more words of this type on the audio appendix. Conversation is between man and woman but they are both acting out different conversations- one is a heart attack and the other is a stolen purse.
SPECIAL TOPIC
Medical and Law Enforcement. Differences between France and US approach.
REVIEW 2
Same process as the first review section.
Credits
Lesson Menu
WHAT IS THIS PROGRAM LIKE?
Nice music reminiscent of Mr Rogers Neighborhood- rolling piano music- comes on and you are given a brief introduction of what to expect when you use the program.
There is an audio appendix and a self-print guide that you can print out via computer.
COMMENTS
You can not use the search button to speed forward through the lessons- you have to listen to each lesson completely through if you want to repeat it. That is rather frustrating. I would prefer to be able to forward through the lesson to get to words that I wanted to review.
Also, another thing about this program is that the people that act out the words and conversations are kind of stiff and not as fun to watch with as the Spanish program is. It is a decent program for those who want to quickly learn French enough to survive in France for a trip.
The other advantage is that this program can be used on an Ipod. Supposedly it can be used on MP3 too, but I have not been able to do it, so I am going to say it does not work. If I figure out how to do it, I will update this review, if possible.
I wish that this program came with a case, but I think that it is a decent introductory program to learn VERY BASIC essentials of French.
If you are looking for something more substantial, then I would look for something else like Rosetta Stone program or other more foundational French programs.
There is very scanty information on things as far as understanding the language, and I think that it is primarily repetition and learning of basic things trusting that it is going to be correct enough to get you through a trip. If you want to learn how to translate words and such- this program will not help you.
I have given it 4 stars. It is good for what it is, but I am not WOWed by it.
I like the fact that you can use it on portable media so you can take it with you while you travel.
 Not enough July 4, 2008
cmp (Merrimack, NH USA)
I returned, within the last month, from a trip to France. I took Spanish in high school and some Italian post-college, but beyond "parlez-vous anglais?" and some other basics, French isn't my language.
In preparation for my trip, however, I downloaded many episodes of a free podcast called Coffee Break French. It was not a video cast unless you subrscribed with a fee for their service, but I find them vastly superior to this program even just doing the free (non-video) subscription.
There is no introduction nor explanation in the beginning of the lessons, suddenly people are just repeating phrases (and not useful ones, in lesson one, I might add.) Another review mentioned some dubious pronounciations and I have to agree - based on what I heard in France and based on my other lessons.
I am a fairly quick language learner - I feel that I did well enough in France - but this program wouldn't have helped me near as much as my free podcast did. It just doesn't have the oomph needed to keep people interested, and in fact isn't terribly helpful. Don't waste your money if you're a beginner. I'm not even sure it would be great as a review, as it's so completely boring.
I guess I would look for just a little "more" - the free podcast I used had very personable people, who gave a lot more explanations about what you were saying and why, along with personal examples, differences for what a guy would say or what a girl would say, much more grammar explanations, etc. Watching two people repeat disjointed phrases just doesn't do it for me.
 OK for tourists, but not comprehensive enough June 27, 2008
Darren Harrison (Washington D.C.)
Having studied French for five years in the British education system I decided to check this out to see if this would enhance my understanding of the language. While this program is fine for those preparing to travel to France it lacks the comprehensive quality that I was looking for. It, like its Italian cousin, seems largely geared to the casual tourist and if that is you I recommend it.
 great quick study June 27, 2008
S. Gould (Woodmere, NY United States)
The ivideo language program is a great way to brush up on a language you studied many years ago or to learn enogh odf a new language to make yourself known in a foriegn country. Too often we Americans expect others to learn our language while we never try to learn theirs. This program can help change that impression. Try it!
A refresher if you once spoke the language June 26, 2008
Lynn Hoffman, author:The New Short Course in Wine
Here's what this disk is for. If you have a basic knowledge of French or a memory of having learned it back in the once-upon-a-time, this will refresh your memory in preparation for a trip. The disk is easy to install and use on both MacBook and iPod, although you'll have to provide your own case for safe-keeping.
This would probably not be of much help if you were starting from no knowledge at all- at best it would tune your ear to the sound of the language, although the demanding and fussy pronuciation of French might overwhelm this simple disk. It certainly wouldn't work if you wanted any understanding of the structure of the language so that you could apply it in a real setting.
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