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From DK Canada
About the product
Combining the solid grounding of a practical language teaching course with the instant accessibility of a phrasebook, each Complete Language Pack is structured around simple conversations used in everyday situations. The courses cover basic vocabulary and grammar in sixty fifteen-minute daily units. Pronunciation guides and the audio CDs make speaking easy, and "cover and test" flaps and flashcards reinforce learning and make testing yourself fun.
Teaching what you need to know fast — arranged thematically, with simple conversations based on real-life situations, Complete Language Pack French includes the bestselling 15-Minute Language Course, Visual Phrase Book, and three audio CDs.
With a pronunciation guide for every word and phrase, a two-way dictionary that provides ready reference on the go, and a phrase book including useful cultural tips, Complete Language Pack French is ideal for both business and vacation travelers.
My Thoughts
I am impressed with the presentation and the French lessons on this product. Yes the lessons are made with two French speaking people from France but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something from it if you live in Canada and desire to learn French. French Canadian is a bit different that French from France but nevertheless these CDs and books will be useful for someone willing to learn the language.
I couldn’t help but smile as I heard the “teachers” speaking English. It was quite evident that it wasn’t their primary language. Even when I speak myself people know that I am not English. However, they are very professional, speak clearly and slowly, and will guide you through a series of exercises to learn how to communicate in French.
The pack comes with three CDs – two of them contain the lessons while the third one is in fact the visual phrase book CD. Also included in the pack you will find an Easy Grammar, a Visual Phrase Book as well as the lesson book. The Easy Grammar booklet provides useful information on the French grammar with sections on nouns and pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, questions and a reference section on numbers, days, months and time. The Visual Phrase Book is very compact and can be carried everywhere you go when you are visiting a French country or Quebec. Sentences and images are both listed in English and French to help you communicate at the restaurant, at the store or anywhere you go.
The CDs and lesson book is broken down into five daily lessons over the course of 12 weeks. Each lesson is specifically designed to last 15 minutes and you will have plenty of exercises to practice. You will have warm ups, Say It exercises, introductory paragraphs, as well as cultural and conversational tips. At the end of the week, you will have the opportunity to review and repeat the lessons. I originally tested this product while driving and realized that though it is a nice to be able to listen to the CD while driving, it is quite difficult to check the book at the same time. So I would suggest that you could practice in your car while driving but when they are suggesting that you look at the book it would be preferable that you do so when you are at home or during your lunch time at work.
Here’s the list of the lessons from both CDs.
CD 1
Week 1 Introduction – Hello, relatives, my family, to be and to have
Week 2 Eating and Drinking – In the Café, In the restaurant, To want, Dishes
Week 3 Making Arrangements – Days and months, Time and numbers, Appointments, On the telephone
Week 4 Travel – At the ticket office, To go or to take, Taxi/bus/metro, On the road
Week 5 Getting About – About town, Finding your way, Sightseeing, At the airport
Week 6 Accommodation – Booking a room, In the hotel, At the campsite, Descriptions
CD 2
Week 7 Shopping – Shops, At the market, At the supermarket, Clothes and shoes
Week 8 Work and Study – Jobs, The office, Academic world, In business
Week 9 Health – At the pharmacy, The body, At the doctor, At the hospital
Week 10 At Home – At home, In the House, The garden, Pets
Week 11 Services – Post office and bank, Services, To come, Police and crime
Week 12 Leisure and socializing – Leisure Time, Sport and hobbies, Socializing
As you can see, this product covers everything you will need to travel and communicate safely when you go to a French country or province.
Though I smiled when hearing the teachers as I listened to it, I can see that this product was specifically designed for anyone wanting to be able to communicate easily with French people around them. I also think it is a great way for practice a second language. As you might know we are a French language family – but I must be honest and tell you that the kids have a tendency to speak English first. Knowing this, I figure these CDs will help them to interact more in French and also expand their vocabulary. While I was listening to the CD as I drove for a last excursion at the Agriculture museum with the younger two, my son Jérémy took the time to repeat at each lesson. My daughter was a bit more stubborn but I figure that she has no choice than listen as well… Reinforcing the French is one of my objective this year – and yes in case you are wondering we do speak French at home but when the kids play I always hear English…
Other Complete Language Packs are available at DK Canada – Italian and Spanish.
The Complete Language Pack French is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.
Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned products for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.
Recently I have been approached with an opportunity of reviewing a new line of dolls. I knew this wasn’t a good time because of our move but I agreed to review one of them if they could guarantee the delivery by a certain date.
When I got the Out Of This World Doll that I was assigned to review I couldn’t help but smile. We received Techno!
Some of you might not know this but a few years back, my husband and I – with a team of wonderful people – were planting a church in the downtown core based on electronic music and techno. We also held what we called Christian raves. Jasmine, our daughter, was born during that time and learned to crawl and then walk at the sounds of techno music.
To this day, our girl loves to dance and spin around when she hears music.
So you can understand why I was smiling when I saw Techno in the package I received…
But wait…. you must be wondering what are the Out Of This World girls? Also known as O.O.T.W. Girls the dolls are supposed to encourage girls to use their imagination and celebrate their own uniqueness. The line possess low-tech electronic functions that are unique to each doll. 
At first sight, the doll looked sturdy to be handled by little hands. Knowing that Techno is supposed to move at the sound of the music, I was looking for the switch to make her go around. Unfortunately, there wasn’t one but I did found a small button at the centre of the doll (See on the image) which could be press. Instantly, music and sparkles will go in her head and the doll will vibrate to turn on the table. However, as soon as you let go the button, the doll stops… What? That’s it? A one second twist? There gotta be something more. But no…. the more I searched the less I could find. That was it. Very disappointing. I wish that the music/dancing would go on for a good 10-15 seconds at least.
As much as I like the design, the interactive part of this doll leave me wanting more of it… So because of this feature that doesn’t seem to stay on for a long time, I can’t recommend this doll to my readers.
On another note, I think that most of the girls are fabulous (though a bit more work is needed for the electronic functionality) but one of them put some emphasis on seeing the future and personally I wouldn’t want my girl to own such a doll as we do not believe in future telling. On the other hand, Gigi is another cute girl who loves to laugh!
Finally, you will also find a QR code on each package which will allow your child to connect with the characters using an electronic device. I personally don’t think it is wise to let your kids learn to use QR Codes at a young age. The kids these days are inundated with advertising and don’t need more of it in their lives.
The initial launch includes five and two pets. Note that the line will also expand later this year with play sets as well as other girls.
This new line of dolls (O.O.T.W.) is produced by Blip Toys and will be available at retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us as well as Amazon.com. The O.O.T.W. girls will be available for the price of 9.99$.i
p ToysDisclaimer: Thanks to Blip Toys for sending me the above mentioned products for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.
