Features:

  • Get immediate digital access to the full program on your computer, iPhone, Android phone, and iPad WITHIN HOURS OF PURCHASE. Upon Amazon confirmation we’ll send you activation links so you can start Fluenz French right way (look for an Amazon email in your inbox within hours of purchase.
  • Fluenz blends a video tutor who explains the workings of French for English-speakers along with tens thousands of interactive workouts. 150 sessions of up to two and one-half hours each -- the most comprehensive digital French program.
  • The program gets installed on your desktop, laptop, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or it can be accessed online, allowing you to seamlessly switch between devices—the program always knows where you left off.
  • A realistic, achievable approach to fluency that is being used by the US Navy’s elite units, the UN and UNICEF, Fortune 500 companies, HBS and other leading universities.
  • THIRD PARTY SELLERS DO NOT HAVE VERSION 3. THEY'RE SELLING OLDER OR COUNTERFEIT VERSIONS, which no longer work and are NOT supported by Fluenz Inc. Second-hand versions are also NOT supported.
I am very happy to say that I am leaving for Paris tomorrow ...

I bought Fluenz french about 18 months ago after I made a goal to finally learn French, something I have always wanted to do. I am very happy to say that I am leaving for Paris tomorrow and have completed level 3, and I feel confident that I will be able to communicate effectively in French while there. I have made several phone calls to hotels and restaurants in Paris ahead of our trip and have been delighted to be understood! I have a pretty strong background in language. I speak fluent Spanish which I learned in school, and I took one semester each of French and Italian at an ivy league college. (I'm sure this helped me catch on more quickly because I have a good understanding of the romance languages). However, I found Fluenz to be a much better way to learn the language than a college course. The way they order the lessons gets you speaking what you actually need to know as quickly as possible, especially if you are learning for the purpose of travel. The pacing is perfect, allowing you to get lots of repetitions to get the accent right and really commit things to memory. I used the audio CD a lot in my car, but I never felt the need to "study" or take notes because there is a lot of review built into each session. As other reviewers have said, the pictures in the program are beautiful and Sonia is a delight, really making each session enjoyable. The teacher in level 3 is certainly different but extremely knowledgeable. I certainly have a very long way to go in terms of comprehension. I watched a French film recently and was quite lost. But I think I have a good enough foundation that now I just need to practice and get as much exposure to the language as possible. If I ever need to learn another language I would absolutely go with Fluenz again.

I'm learning!!! I have it on all my devices and use it all the time.

I have always wanted to learn French. I took a semester in college but I didn't retain much of it. After visiting Paris I came back really wanting to get into it. I started out with duolingo, and while the app is entertaining it just never got me anywhere. I learned words and phrases and some really strange ones by the way, but it didn't feel like I was actually going to be able to speak to anyone. It was free so no harm done. Then I started looking at other alternatives. I couldn't afford a tutor so it was between Rosetta Stone and Fluenz. I tried Rosetta Stone and it felt like an upscale version of DuoLingo, it wasn't really different. I couldn't find a way to try out Fluenz so I just bit the bullet. I am so glad I did. I appreciate the company, their customer support, how much thought they have put into the software. So here I am writing a detailed review. HOW THEY TEACH: I just finished module 1 and I can't believe everything I can say already. The next time I go to a French speaking country I know I will be able to interact so much! I can handle quite a few restaurant and basic travel situations. What strikes me most is how much I retain. The lessons on video are so helpful. They break everything down and explain it in detail. I need to understand what I am learning or else I don't remember it. After each video lesson you go to a series of exercises. They are incremental in difficulty and everything kind of fits together like a puzzle. Every lesson seems to build from the previous one and they provide ample review. I love the review sessions, they help me assess where I am and go back and look at everything I had touched upon. DEVICES AND USABILITY I don't know what that top review is talking about. I bought it and got immediate access to the program. They send you a link by email and you activate your account. When you are done with that you can go to their online version which works exactly the same as teh desktop version. I wanted to have it on my desktop right away so i could use it on the plane on a trip. Customer support is AMAZING! They sent me a downloadable version right away so I wouldn't ahve to wait for the box. I have it on my Ipad and on my Iphone. Once you have a username and login then you can use it on all teh devices. It works quite well for me. You need internet or data access to download the sessions but once they are downloaded they stay on your phone. I love it because I can use it on the subway. The desktop works exactly the same, you need internet access to download sessions but once they are downloaded you are good to go. CUSTOMER SUPPORT It is so rare to find a company that actually cares about their customers. If you write them they answer within a couple hours. They helped me have immediate access and they ahve even answered grammar questions. Thank you so much to the team at Fluenz. I can't wait to finish all 5 modules.Fluenz French 1+2+3+4+5 for Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad & Android Phones, Version 3

Great product for kickstarting your new language adventure!

We went back and forth between this and Rosetta stone for several weeks---reading any reviews trying all the samples we could before we finally settled on Fluenz. We didn't buy Rosetta stone so I can't give an accurate comparison---but I can say that I LOVE this program and that I have had SO many compliments on my French (some I am sure are just people being kind)...We moved to Quebec and didn't speak a word of french and after having completed up to Fluent 3 we felt pretty confident with our french. Many French have said our accents are very close to the real deal. I would say this is a great backbone to your French learning but that you should supplement with other books to increase your vocabulary as well as learn how to conjugate and use different tenses and moods but with Fluenz you will know how to pronounce words and form sentences quickly. Have recommended this product to several friends. I would say now after having finished level 4 that it will take you to a level that you can completely function in french but you would need to have an immersion course or something of the sort in order to become completely fluent.

Supurb French instructional program!

I have looked at many programs to learn French, and this is by far the best! I learn best by understanding structure, not memorizing words and phrases, and this program teaches French language structure by comparing and contrasting to English language structure, e.g., it first presents a literal translation of each word, maps the structure to English, then explains the true idiomatic meaning. I meant only to learn to understand and speak, but this program is helping me write/spell as well, an amazing feat since I can't spell in English (unless - wait for it - I understand the root/structure of the word). I tend not to believe reviews that are one-sided, but I have found nothing negative yet about this program, and have been using it for a year. (I also use learnfrenchbypodcast to supplement my French language understanding/acquisition.) Lastly, the company's support is nothing short of awesome - with very fast, helpful responses to email queries. Ala prochain!

I am actually remembering what I learn!

Well structured, great presentation and thumbs up for the customer support. I'm going to start out by thanking the folks at Fluenz. The people behind this program care about their customers. I had some issues installing the program and they were quick to answer and walk me through it. I am not great with technology so I appreciate the help. When you send an email they reply within hours. Merci! Now on to the program. In the first 2 levels the program focuses on what a traveler would need. Restaurants, transportation, directions- things like that. But I love that they explain everything. Why you learn this or that and how to use it. It starts getting more complex after that. The first two levels are slower but it gets a lot faster beyond level 3. You keep revisiting what you learn. They re-introduce things as you move along. And there are also review sessions that are very helpful. Overall the best part about it is that I find that I am really remembering what I learn. I am sometimes surprised at how I just know some things now. That has kept me wanting to continue. I have progressed tremendously and can't wait to use my skills in France.

I'm going to Paris

I have no practical use for learning French. I just like how it sounds and I have always wanted to be able to speak it. I took some classes in high school. I have downloaded apps and things like that. I learned some vocabulary but I decided I wanted something more. I read all the reviews here. And I feel like I have to contribute becuase thanks to the reviews I went for it. First of all I don't know what some of the reviewers here are saying. Any problem I had, I emailed their support team and got a reply very quickly. Even with quesitons about grammar!! I think the program works great but I like to use it on my computer best. At first it was easy. I felt confident going through the lessons. But pretty quickly I started to see more complex sentences. I love that someone explains things to me. I had all this vocabulary but I did not know how to put it together. Now I can. I plan on traveling to Paris next year. I love the teacher on the video. I want to speak just like her.

Shazam! This is the Bomb!!

Bonjour! I cannot speak highly enough of Fluenz! The format is beautiful, easy to navigate, and fun! My daughter moved to France and I now can converse with a darn good accent in everyday interactions! The exposure to different native speakers is REALLY helpful. The customer service is AMAZING! prompt, cheerful, and sometimes even funny. You receive any update automatically, and it works across phone, laptop MP3. It is actually very lovely, thorough. You don't have to keep guessing until you get it right like you do on Rosetta stone (and then STILL don't know why you were correct!) I also used the Fluenz Spanish to improve my interactions with Spanish speaking patients, and was good enough to GET A RAISE. Now that may not be what happens with everyone, but I can interview patients without an interpreter. My anesthesiologist colleague now is using Fluenz Spanish with the same goal. Beautiful, fun, effective and damn good support!

If you're serious about learning French, you will not be disappointed

I recently finished all 150 lessons of Fluenz French (1 - 5) After French 5: -- I am quite impressed with my reading and writing ability. I can compose fairly complex sentences with a high degree of accuracy (although prepositions--which to use and when to use them--are sometimes still tricky.) I'm comfortable with the basics of French grammar. I've recently begun correspondence with some native French pen pals, and they have all told me my French is understandable--I'll take it! -- I am rather frustrated with my listening skills. This is not a fault of the software--you're getting a basic foundation. There is no substitute for practice. I can understand much of a French newscast with its straightforward structure and clear topics, but I find movies almost impossible--fast, subtle, fluid and idiomatic. I can only guess at this point, but I think I'd be OK with an actual conversation--gestures, obvious topics and the opportunity for repetition and word choice changes. -- I don't know how good my speech is. This is the weakest part of the software. You can record your speech and play it back, but you are the only judge--and of course you know what you wanted to say. I can't imagine any software being efficient at this, so again I don't blame the software. (Check out Gabriel Wyner's YouTube French Pronunciation video--this is excellent.) My voyage through the software: -- The customer service is excellent--responsive and courteous. -- At first it's super fun and super easy. However, it becomes like school after a while--not necessarily unfun, but no longer a game. This is actual, quality French instruction. The learning itself is the primary reward. For example, I got tremendous satisfaction translating a long, complex English sentence on the first try. -- In French 1, I was able to do two lessons a day when I was on vacation. It's pretty easy and it's the honeymoon phase. You will need your own internal motivation to get past French 1. I soon was down to one a day (still pretty good) and then by French 5, well... it took a while. It's not that it's that much more difficult, it's just more of a grind. -- During the lessons themselves, I enjoyed going at my pace (which is usually fast, but not always.) I often found a classroom environment annoying. Too many students needing individual attention. Too much repetition. Too many laundry lists of vocab. Here you get what you need in digestible chunks with many changes of pace. -- Sonia's accent did not bother me. Although now that I'm used to native Caroline since French 3, I might be mildly annoyed if I went back to 1 and 2. Both instructors are bright, articulate, and motivating. I'm pretty sure they love doing what they do. Highly recommended. -- The lessons felt integrated with each other, always building on each other. Just when I might have forgotten something, I'd see it at some future point and say, "oh, yeah, I remember that." Eventually, it sticks. The entire course feels perfectly laid out. -- I, personally, would not have felt ready to travel in France after French 1 , 2 or even 3. It's not the quality of instruction, it's the confidence in and the versatility of my French I felt I had at those points. Now, after French 5, I think I could fumble my way around without resorting to English if I had to. I think it's all or nothing--get all 5 levels and do all 5 levels. -- The software does not cover all the verb forms, but you will be surprised how flexible you can be with what you do learn (present, future, past, imperfect, and various shades within those (just having done something, in the middle of something, feeling like doing something.)) If you want more, check out something like Barron's "French Verb Workbook"--I'm using it now, and I'm surprised at how confident I am going through it, to which I credit Fluenz. Good luck in your studies.

Very useful and effective for the first time tourist

The price is intimidating but it is worth every penny. I’ve never studied French but at just 85% through level 1, I am able to compose simple short sentences, understand and answer many simple phrases. The lessons are taught in English which is actually helpful. Many peculiarities of the French language are easily explained. If you know another Romance language then the grammar is a piece of cake. The initial lessons definitely cater to a tourist going to France for the first time. Many useful scenarios (ordering food, at the airport, etc) are presented in such a way that the material never seems redundant. Each lesson incorporates older material, thus making each lesson more challenging and reinforcing what you have already learned. I don’t expect to become fluent just with this course but I won’t be worried if I get lost in Paris. I have absolutely no regrets having purchased Fluenz. The program runs smoothly on all of my devices (desktop, iPad, etc) and the lessons can be downloaded or streamed.

Far superior to the "other" program!

I wish I had discovered Fluenz French BEFORE I wasted time and money on Rosetta Stone! Fluenz French is by far the better program for learning and ultimately becoming truly fluent in French (I cannot speak for other languages but would be inclined to try Spanish next if it is available). The format is quite engaging and challenges me to understand and utilize the concepts presented. I am just now halfway through Level One of the five levels but I anticipate I will be conversationally fluent before going to Madagascar next spring.

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