If you’re seeking a substantive resource to enhance your intermediate-level French, I’d like to recommend Enjoy French: Intermediate to Upper Intermediate Course by Marie-Thérèse Bougard and Denise de Rôme. I’ve found this book to be not only comprehensive but also highly applicable to my own language studies as a French brusher-upper!
This volume belongs to the indomitable Teach Yourself series, a brand that has been fostering self-directed learning for over 80 years across a multitude of subjects—from mathematics and the arts to languages. The heritage of the Teach Yourself brand adds a layer of credibility that has been tested through generations of learners. The Teach Yourself Enjoy… range takes over the mantle of previous intermediate level Further… titles in the old Teach Yourself range, like Further French, and it’s been given a whole new look. They’re much larger than the old Teach Yourself books, in more of a school textbook format – I personally love this, as they’re so much better for desk study.
French Language and Culture
The authors have structured Enjoy French expertly to serve those who have crossed the beginner threshold and are striving for greater fluency and understanding. They cover myriad themes using authentic texts, taking in French culture, society, history, politics, and arts; this connects the language content to real life wonderfully, making the title feel relevant and truly useful.
You get ten thoughtful units, each opening with a warm-up activity aimed to activate prior knowledge. Subsequent sections include reading or listening exercises with comprehension questions, a focused grammar section, and tasks aimed at either speaking or writing. It culminates with a review section to reinforce learning and gauge progress. Throughout, the authors have adopted a ‘Discover’ system of learning; they actively encourage you to explore and learn.
One of the book’s notable features is its companion app, which grants access to audio materials and interactive quizzes. The facility to record oneself offers a practical way to fine-tune pronunciation, an aspect I have personally found invaluable.
Overall, Enjoy French is a robust course for those serious about advancing their language skills and understanding of culture through authentic texts. I don’t hesitate in recommending it to fellow rusty speakers!