The books are famous for their lighthearted drawings, which help illustrate the context of the dialogues.
Starting at lesson 50, the course introduces a "reverse" exercise. You must translate the English translation back into French without looking at the original text.
Created in 1929 by Alphonse Chérel, the Assimil method is based on the principle of . Unlike traditional classrooms that start with verb conjugations and noun genders, Assimil mimics the way a child learns their native language: through exposure, context, and daily repetition.
Pause the audio after every sentence and repeat it. Imitate the native speaker's accent, rhythm, and intonation as closely as possible.
If you download an but ignore the MP3 audio files, you will fail. The method is 50% reading and 50% listening. The audio tracks are recorded by native French speakers at a natural, but slightly slowed, pace. They teach you:
You can purchase the course in various formats depending on your preference for paper or digital learning: Physical Book + Audio Packs: Available at retailers like Multilingual Books ($195–$199) or ($219) for new sets. Digital E-Course: Assimil offers an e-method app
Yes, there are digital copies (PDF scans) of the New French with Ease book circulating online. These PDF files usually come from older editions (such as the 1998 publication) and can range in size from 9 MB to as high as 173 MB for scanned versions.
Linguistically, yes. The grammar and core vocabulary haven't changed. However, you will learn outdated terms (like un magnétoscope – a VCR) and miss modern slang. If you want to speak like a 2020s Parisian, buy the 2022 edition (blue cover).
Here are a few tips for learning French with Assimil and PDF resources:
