resinteralios Newbie Brazil Joined 4900 days ago 7 posts - 12 votes Studies: English
| Message 9 of 13 10 August 2011 at 6:08pm | IP Logged |
carlonove wrote:
I haven't seen the newer editions, but the older French without Toil is an excellent book, one of the best language books I've encountered. It's got 140 lessons, which includes some 15-20 songs, and you can still find hardcover copies second hand. If manage to find the recordings, they are also excellently produced. |
|
|
I'm currently using precisely this version of Assimil for French (1940). I very much like the mood of the lessons, quite different from the silly/naïve tone that is common in language learning books.
1 person has voted this message useful
|
carlonove Senior Member United States Joined 5986 days ago 145 posts - 253 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian
| Message 10 of 13 10 August 2011 at 6:34pm | IP Logged |
resinteralios wrote:
carlonove wrote:
I haven't seen the newer editions, but the older French without Toil is an excellent book, one of the best language books I've encountered. It's got 140 lessons, which includes some 15-20 songs, and you can still find hardcover copies second hand. If manage to find the recordings, they are also excellently produced. |
|
|
I'm currently using precisely this version of Assimil for French (1940). I very much like the mood of the lessons, quite different from the silly/naïve tone that is common in language learning books. |
|
|
I have no information to base this on, but I suspect this is because Cherel may have played a greater role in producing French without Toil since it was his native language. It would be interesting to find out if one of the voices on the recordings was his.
1 person has voted this message useful
|
Elexi Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5565 days ago 938 posts - 1840 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French, German, Latin
| Message 11 of 13 10 August 2011 at 7:31pm | IP Logged |
The voices on the recordings change over time - I have the French Without Toil recordings from the 40s (book and 78s dated 1948), 60s (45s) and 70s (cassettes that haven't lasted very well) and the voices on the recordings are all different.
1 person has voted this message useful
|
Improbably Diglot Newbie Norway Joined 4936 days ago 34 posts - 87 votes Speaks: Norwegian*, English
| Message 12 of 13 10 August 2011 at 8:52pm | IP Logged |
When I check Assimil.com, the ISBN they have listed for New French with Ease is 9782700502299, matching my book (634 pages), which is one of the newer paperback editions (unlike what their site says). So something's not matching up properly there.
Edit: Nevermind, I hadn't selected the Book+CD-pack. In any case, seems like you get the paperback if you order the book alone.
Edit2: And in case you wondered, the ISBN of the Using French paperback is 9782700501094
Edited by Improbably on 10 August 2011 at 8:58pm
1 person has voted this message useful
|
kam1892 Newbie United States Joined 4927 days ago 10 posts - 12 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Greek
| Message 13 of 13 14 August 2011 at 1:21am | IP Logged |
In case anyone was wondering, here's an update. I ordered the Book + CD package for New French with Ease from Barnes & Noble, and received it today. The packaging is as it appears on the Assimil web site (I was imagining it might show up in a blister pack for some reason). The book was smaller in height & width and thicker than I envisioned, and is a paperback. It has 632 numbered pages, and flaps on the front and back covers. ISBN on the book is 978-2-7005-0229-9, on the box (with the CDs included) ISBN is 978-2-7005-2013-2.
Not sure what made me go ahead impulsively with the purchase now, as I am trying to study Greek first. I'm hoping to get to this in 6-9 months, though, so guess I'll have it ready when I need it.
Thanks to all for the discussion and information.
Edit: I will be keeping an eye out for an old French without Toil, too.
Edited by kam1892 on 14 August 2011 at 1:22am
1 person has voted this message useful
|