The Standard Deviants - Parlez-vous Francais? (Learning French - The Basics)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.