In its approach, Fluenz French 1 is positioned almost precisely opposite most of the software we review here.  It uses a more traditional method of teaching the language, using a real teacher, although certainly not in a traditional classroom setting.

Traditional Language Learning, Untraditional Setting

Fluenz follows the standard method of learning languages, which is to say emphasis on learning through listening, speaking, reading, writing and practice, practice, practice.  What Fluenz does differently from most other courseware is provide you with a real person, a tutor named Sonia Gil, who instructs you in English first, explaining lessons, sentences, grammar, pronunciation and more, before letting you get down to the lesson at hand.

Explanations In English

The explanations in English are different from standard immersion courses where you must completely abandon your normal language and take instructions in the language you’re trying to learn.  For many, having a preliminary explanation in English first means less headache and less time trying to decipher a barrage of words in an unfamiliar language.  It lets you cut straight to the point.  Further, there are no unexpected twists or surprises, you know exactly what you’re setting out to do because you’ve had it all explained to you in your own language.

Great For Travelers

This is not the only area of difference, however.  Fluenz has carefully chosen the lessons to ensure you’ll quickly learn conversational French of the sort which will be immediately practical to you if, for example, you found yourself needing to order food, ask directions or carry on a simple conversation.

Fluenz French is therefore particularly attractive and useful to travelers who are about to embark on a journey to French speaking countries.  It provides exactly the right number of lessons, the right kind of lessons and teaches you what you need to know in the right amount of time, which could be just days or weeks before your trip.  It assumes, probably rightly, that you don’t want to become a PhD in the language, you just want to learn how to ask for a phone or hotel before you learn how to describe animals.  Every lesson is prioritized in this way.

Smooth And Seamless Interface

The interface itself is very highly polished, organized and well-thought out.  You know you’re getting what you paid for – these are not dated graphics, this is work by top design and programming talent.  This ensures the learning experience is a smooth and pleasant one, you won’t be wasting time figuring out how to use the software, or which button does what, and will instead get right to the lessons.

Noticeably lacking from this software is the usual array of “bonus” tools and add-on resources.  You won’t be able to learn by downloading the software to your iPod or MP3 player.  You won’t be able to download additional vocabulary.  You won’t have a French thesaurus or dictionary to work with.  None of this really matters, however, as the lessons are just compact and effective enough to teach you want you want to know without also sending you off on diversionary exercises.

A Buy Rating

All in all we’re impressed with this product and it clearly has a place in the hall of French courseware champions.  Its target audiences are those who like learning languages with a traditional teacher, those who like having some English explanations of what they are learning, and those who want to get down to exactly what they need to know to carry on a conversation.