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Learning French with Paul Noble

 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes Post Reply
ericblair
Senior Member
United States
Joined 4712 days ago

480 posts - 700 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: French

 
 Message 1 of 8
10 September 2012 at 6:48am | IP Logged 
I often find myself checking out the new programs and language resources my local library
gets in. They just got this in:

http://www.amazon.com/Collins-Easy-Learning-French-Noble/dp/ 0007363958/ref=sr_1_1?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347168510&sr=1-1&keywords=paul+noble+fr ench

Anyone ever use this? It appears to be rather similar to Michel Thomas. I was just going
to ask if anyone knew if it could be used while driving and similarly in as large or
small of chunks as one wanted like with MT? Or is it best to do at least an entire track
at once? It seems rather lengthy compared to MT, but superficially, there appears to be
a lot that is similar (at least from the outside. I didn't check it out).
2 persons have voted this message useful



Elexi
Senior Member
United Kingdom
Joined 5566 days ago

938 posts - 1840 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: French, German, Latin

 
 Message 2 of 8
10 September 2012 at 10:24am | IP Logged 
If one was being charitable one would say that the Paul Noble course is based on MT - one might also say it
is a rip off - it follows the same grammar translation methodology and covers the same ground as the MT
Foundation course but takes into account some people's criticism of the MT approach: there is a native
speaker who pronounces the words so you can get native pronunciation, the vocabulary is more aimed at
'holiday' language and there are no live students about to annoy you/learn from (depending on your
perspective). In some respects, therefore it bridges the best of MT and Pimsleur.

Personally, I would say it is pretty good course for a car/commuter learner to start a language with. I was too
far advanced for the French course but I am going to give the German one a try as I am between courses in
German.

I would recommend following it up with MT Advanced course and Assimil New French
with Ease (for what my opinion is worth).

Edited by Elexi on 10 September 2012 at 10:25am

1 person has voted this message useful



James29
Diglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 5376 days ago

1265 posts - 2113 votes 
Speaks: English*, Spanish
Studies: French

 
 Message 3 of 8
11 September 2012 at 2:33am | IP Logged 
You can listen to fairly extended audio clips of the Paul Noble courses on Audible.com

It is indeed a lot like Michel Thomas, but I think of it as almost a cross between MT and Pimsleur.
1 person has voted this message useful



Enrico
Diglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 3746 days ago

162 posts - 207 votes 
Speaks: Russian*, English
Studies: Italian, Spanish, French

 
 Message 4 of 8
03 September 2014 at 1:21am | IP Logged 
ericblair wrote:
I often find myself checking out the new programs and language resources my local library
gets in. They just got this in:

http://www.amazon.com/Collins-Easy-Learning-French-Noble/dp/ 0007363958/ref=sr_1_1?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347168510&sr=1-1&keywords=paul+noble+fr ench

Anyone ever use this? It appears to be rather similar to Michel Thomas. I was just going
to ask if anyone knew if it could be used while driving and similarly in as large or
small of chunks as one wanted like with MT? Or is it best to do at least an entire track
at once? It seems rather lengthy compared to MT, but superficially, there appears to be
a lot that is similar (at least from the outside. I didn't check it out).



I have listened to 8CDs of 12CD of Collins French with Paul Noble I would say it is somewhere around Michel Thomas
Foundation course. For me it is more clear and comprehensive because he has a good pronunciation and has not
those annoying students.
1 person has voted this message useful



ericblair
Senior Member
United States
Joined 4712 days ago

480 posts - 700 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: French

 
 Message 5 of 8
03 September 2014 at 5:37am | IP Logged 
Did you not find it incredibly boring and slow-paced? That is the biggest complaint I
hear.
3 persons have voted this message useful



Elexi
Senior Member
United Kingdom
Joined 5566 days ago

938 posts - 1840 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: French, German, Latin

 
 Message 6 of 8
03 September 2014 at 10:54am | IP Logged 
It is slow paced and without personality, but not as slow paced as Pimsleur. I reckon
its a good first course but no more. I got something out of the German course, so I am
not complaining.

However, in my view, the absence of the students shows how effective they are in the MT
courses at getting the listener engaged. I couldn't really get engaged with Paul Noble
and the native speaker could have just as easily been a computer for all I cared.



Edited by Elexi on 03 September 2014 at 10:55am

2 persons have voted this message useful



Talib
Diglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 6662 days ago

171 posts - 205 votes 
Speaks: English*, Arabic (classical)
Studies: Arabic (Egyptian)

 
 Message 7 of 8
05 September 2014 at 5:01am | IP Logged 
I get the sense from these comments that MT is more interesting, but I have also read that the Paul Noble course is a little easier and perhaps better for learning pronunciation. I am going to give French another try, so I am thinking about starting with one of these courses. Which one would you recommend?

Edited by Talib on 05 September 2014 at 5:02am

1 person has voted this message useful



Elexi
Senior Member
United Kingdom
Joined 5566 days ago

938 posts - 1840 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: French, German, Latin

 
 Message 8 of 8
05 September 2014 at 9:35am | IP Logged 
I would probably go with Paul Noble as an easy introduction, and try and get Michel
Thomas from your local library.


2 persons have voted this message useful



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