French all-in-one for dummies

French All-in-One For Dummies

by Eliane Kurbegov with Dodi-Katrin Schmidt, Michelle M. Williams, Dominique Wenzel, Zoe Erotopoulos, and Laura K. Lawless

French All-in-One For Dummies

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Copyright 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2012947689

ISBN 978-1-118-22815-9 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-28252-6 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-28399-8 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-28693-7 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Authors

Eliane Kurbegov has been teaching French at secondary and post-secondary levels in Florida and is currently serving as Campus Curriculum Coordinator and High School World Language Chair at Discovery Canyon Campus in Colorado. Eliane is a French native speaker who was twice honored by the French government with the prestigious Palmes acadmiques for her contributions to the promotion of the French language and culture. Eliane has authored many publications for a variety of educational purposes and thoroughly enjoys sharing her love of the French language and francophone cultures.

Dodi-Katrin Schmidt has been a writer, translator, and editor for over a decade. Aside from translating German, French, and English texts of various kinds, including linguistic handbooks, film reviews, travel guides, and childrens books, she has been involved in developing language textbooks, language courses, teachers handbooks, and grammar companions for video language courses. Dodi has been teaching for more than two decades at high school, adult education, and college levels in Europe as well as the United States. She also writes test items for various national language tests and recorded textbook and test material. Together with her husband, she travels a great deal, and they continually house and entertain foreign students and former students in their home in Princeton, New Jersey.

Michelle M. Williams is an editor at a major educational publisher. A former French teacher, she has taught students ranging from 2 years old to adults in both the public and private sectors. She is a firm believer in making the language fun and accessible to all who want to learn. Her most rewarding experience, however, is watching and listening to her son Nathaniel learn to speak and sing in French.

Dominique Wenzel has been a freelance teacher of French and a translator for 15 years. Born and raised in France, she received a masters degree from the University of Paris-Sorbonne and studied at the University of Chicago on a postgraduate Fulbright scholarship. Her students include business professionals, children, and adults of all levels and interests. She travels regularly to France. Dominique raised two bicultural, bilingual children who are both active in the international field.

Zoe Erotopoulos holds an MA, MPhil, and PhD in French and Romance Philology from Columbia University. Her French teaching experience ranges from elementary to advanced level courses, including literature and theater. Dr. Erotopoulos has taught at a number of institutions, including Columbia University, Reid Hall in Paris, and Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. For the past 15 years, she has been teaching in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Laura K. Lawless is the author of seven language instruction books (four French and three Spanish). She also teaches French, Spanish, and English on the Internet and has a website of vegetarian recipes and information.

Dedication

I dedicate this work to all those who love French, including my colleagues all over the United States who work hard to share their passion for the French language and cultures, and also to my wonderful American family who wholeheartedly espoused my French legacy as a means to enrich their own lives.
Eliane Kurbegov

Authors Acknowledgments

I extend my greatest thanks to Senior Project Editor Alissa Schwipps for her patient, supportive, and professional guidance in the writing of this book. Her probing questions for clarification have undoubtedly improved the quality and depth of the explanations and examples I provided. I also thank Copy Editors Danielle Voirol and Megan Knoll and Technical Editors Carrie Klaus and Jenny Darnall whose suggestions consistently presented the learners perspective and helped me focus on their needs rather than on my understanding of the language and culture.