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World War II in Simple French: Learn French the Fun Way with Topics that Matter
***FOR LOW- TO HIGH-INTERMEDIATE LEARNERS***
***Black and White Interior Edition****
Improve your French and expand your vocabulary with topics that matter.
When it comes to mastering a foreign language, reading around your interests makes all the difference. But finding books designed for language learners can be hard! This book fixes that. For the first time, you’ll learn to improve your French while reading about the history of World War II.
“I love Olly’s work - and you will too!” - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers
Told through short, manageable chapters in intermediate French, you’ll become confident in the words, phrases and expressions you need to speak about the topics you care about.
World War II in Simple French gives you all that you can wish for from a real history book without the tough academic terminology which may be difficult for intermediate learners. The story does not focus only on the main events of the conflict, but rather it includes the less-known aspects of WWII from the famous battlefields to the social aspects of life between 1939 to 1946 to the international French-speaking stage.
Over 40 engaging and informative chapters, you’ll immerse yourself in the history of WWII and master French in the process.
Here’s what you’ll 47 chapters in simple French, so you can learn about WWII without the struggle of reading an academic text.Helpful key facts at the beginning of each chapter to help guide you through.Chapters that are carefully written to be accessible for intermediate learners (CEFR B1-B2), so you can read purposively, at your level.Word lists with English definitions in every chapter, so you can get instant translations of any difficult words. This means you can focus on enjoying the history rather than wasting time in a dictionary (Kindle & Paperback only).Fun-facts at the end of each chapter, so that you can dazzle your friends with interesting facts about the WWII period.The chapters are written in Parisian French. However, since the text uses mostly “neutral” French, you’ll have plenty to learn, whether you’re learning the French of France, Quebec, or North Africa.
Created by Olly Richards, language teacher and author, World War II in Simple French gives you an experience in real French that you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll be better prepared for using French in the real world, speak with more confidence, and take a giant leap towards fluency in French!
SCROLL UP AND GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!
“[Olly’s] techniques have made a world of difference. I was able to learn more in 9 months with his techniques than I did in the 6+ years in school” - Courtney Baird, successful language learner
***Black and White Interior Edition****
Improve your French and expand your vocabulary with topics that matter.
When it comes to mastering a foreign language, reading around your interests makes all the difference. But finding books designed for language learners can be hard! This book fixes that. For the first time, you’ll learn to improve your French while reading about the history of World War II.
“I love Olly’s work - and you will too!” - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers
Told through short, manageable chapters in intermediate French, you’ll become confident in the words, phrases and expressions you need to speak about the topics you care about.
World War II in Simple French gives you all that you can wish for from a real history book without the tough academic terminology which may be difficult for intermediate learners. The story does not focus only on the main events of the conflict, but rather it includes the less-known aspects of WWII from the famous battlefields to the social aspects of life between 1939 to 1946 to the international French-speaking stage.
Over 40 engaging and informative chapters, you’ll immerse yourself in the history of WWII and master French in the process.
Here’s what you’ll 47 chapters in simple French, so you can learn about WWII without the struggle of reading an academic text.Helpful key facts at the beginning of each chapter to help guide you through.Chapters that are carefully written to be accessible for intermediate learners (CEFR B1-B2), so you can read purposively, at your level.Word lists with English definitions in every chapter, so you can get instant translations of any difficult words. This means you can focus on enjoying the history rather than wasting time in a dictionary (Kindle & Paperback only).Fun-facts at the end of each chapter, so that you can dazzle your friends with interesting facts about the WWII period.The chapters are written in Parisian French. However, since the text uses mostly “neutral” French, you’ll have plenty to learn, whether you’re learning the French of France, Quebec, or North Africa.
Created by Olly Richards, language teacher and author, World War II in Simple French gives you an experience in real French that you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll be better prepared for using French in the real world, speak with more confidence, and take a giant leap towards fluency in French!
SCROLL UP AND GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!
“[Olly’s] techniques have made a world of difference. I was able to learn more in 9 months with his techniques than I did in the 6+ years in school” - Courtney Baird, successful language learner
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2022
125 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 19, 2025
Compared to other volumes in Richards' (and companions') series, which focus on climate change and western philosophy, this was definitely the driest and most tiresome read. In lieu of the discussion basis on which the others are developed, this text is presented as sections with sub-chapters in an explanatory mode. In other words, the focus is straightforward but also quite informative. This degrades the fluency and made it a bit more of a chore. As far as the history goes, this is bird's eye view stuff, essentially simplified and edited encyclopedia articles strung together.
Speaking linguistically, the uniqueness of this volume is that it brings the passe simple into focus, which was welcome. Otherwise there was many fewer examples of conversation to learn from - I keenly missed the student discussions of the western philosophy text, for example. Definitely read the others first (au moins, selon moi).
Speaking linguistically, the uniqueness of this volume is that it brings the passe simple into focus, which was welcome. Otherwise there was many fewer examples of conversation to learn from - I keenly missed the student discussions of the western philosophy text, for example. Definitely read the others first (au moins, selon moi).
July 6, 2022
A good guide for reading French
I feel my French reading has already improved by reading this book.
The author suggests not trying to understand every word but try to understand in context. Each section does have a little vocabulary covered but his advice on how to read and reading that which interests you, is worth the price of the book.
I feel my French reading has already improved by reading this book.
The author suggests not trying to understand every word but try to understand in context. Each section does have a little vocabulary covered but his advice on how to read and reading that which interests you, is worth the price of the book.
April 7, 2022
Great material!
I love Olly’s language learning method, and this book is just as fantastic as the classes are! The introductory material alone is fabulous. Olly’s five steps for reading are a great way to approach any new material that is challenging, and I have learned to just follow the instructions and see all I can learn this way. I am still making my way through the contents, but from experience I am confident that little by little all the pieces will connect while I have fun reading.
Thank you for such wonderful learning material!
I love Olly’s language learning method, and this book is just as fantastic as the classes are! The introductory material alone is fabulous. Olly’s five steps for reading are a great way to approach any new material that is challenging, and I have learned to just follow the instructions and see all I can learn this way. I am still making my way through the contents, but from experience I am confident that little by little all the pieces will connect while I have fun reading.
Thank you for such wonderful learning material!
November 29, 2024
Great book for intermediates
I really enjoyed reading this book. I haven't really read a great deal on WW2 since school, except Memoirs. This book serves as a basic refresher. Each chapter is short enough to be digestible in a few minutes. I am a low intermediate level, I believe, and understood 90+%, so I would say if you're A2/B1+ you'll be able to read this. I haven't learnt anything about literary tenses yet but was still able to figure things out.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I haven't really read a great deal on WW2 since school, except Memoirs. This book serves as a basic refresher. Each chapter is short enough to be digestible in a few minutes. I am a low intermediate level, I believe, and understood 90+%, so I would say if you're A2/B1+ you'll be able to read this. I haven't learnt anything about literary tenses yet but was still able to figure things out.
August 5, 2022
These Olly books are just excellent. I probably listened to the entire audio 5-7 times and read the book twice and the 2nd time was quite easy. It's a lot of repetitive work but it's the grind we sign up for if we're serious.
August 17, 2022
M.Richard's book is an impressive if selective synopsis of WWII and excellent exercise for French learners. Of course, he doesn't criticize the French as much as Hitler and the Germans, and USA is criticized more as well: Yes, it was ironic that the code talkers helped so much after the US govt tried to eliminate native culture and language, but so did the Catholic church. Criticizing 200 yrs of subjugating native Americans is a detour for a book about WWII. US troops were fighting in Africa since Nov 1942, after El Alamein.
I'd hoped a French interpretation would explain 1940 but it remains surprising that the single battle loss at Dunkirk led to Paris falling and the French surrender. But I guess you can't continue to direct a war if the central government is gone. Didn't French civilians also prefer surrender?
Germany's Russian campaign is given more analysis, which was lost but not Berlin.
I'd hoped a French interpretation would explain 1940 but it remains surprising that the single battle loss at Dunkirk led to Paris falling and the French surrender. But I guess you can't continue to direct a war if the central government is gone. Didn't French civilians also prefer surrender?
Germany's Russian campaign is given more analysis, which was lost but not Berlin.
December 6, 2022
A great and fun challenge for lower and middle intermediates
I am certainly glad I read this book as it gave me confidence in my French language skills. This is the longest and most complex book I've read in French to date. I presented some chapter summaries to my French class.
I am certainly glad I read this book as it gave me confidence in my French language skills. This is the longest and most complex book I've read in French to date. I presented some chapter summaries to my French class.
May 5, 2025
C'est un bon livre pour apprendre le français car il contient des phrases répétitives qui aident à apprendre les mots et à s'en souvenir. Je suis devenu courant en lisant français après avoir lu cet livre.
May 28, 2022
Very enjoyable. Included the mandatory woke perspective near the end.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews