Learn French on your computer. If you aren't in France, and you don't have a good
French teacher, try using your computer! The better programs (and more expensive ones) have enough
flexibility and feedback to (almost) make up for not being in France and not having a good teacher.
It's very convenient to be able to boot up your computer any time and practice your French,
drill in vocabulary, take quizzes in grammar and hear your (improving) pronunciation.
And the computer won't raise its eyebrows when you murder the French "u" sound,
as in "tu". The better programs let you record your voice so you can compare it to a
genuine French voice.
There is a wide range of customer satisfaction with language learning software.
The inexpensive courses are generally good for reviewing and drilling the language,
while the more expensive ones from Rosetta Stone and Fluenz get good reviews.
Platform: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / XP.
This lets you see how you like learning French using software, at a low risk. Some of the other software courses involve a substantial outlay of money.
Published in 2013.
Inspect/order SmartFrench (paid link) from Amazon.com
Windows 8 / XP / Vista, Mac OS X.
There are video explanations in English given by a teacher.
With Fluenz, you learn first in English and relate basic French grammar and syntax to that of English,
At about $325 it seems to give the most value for the price.
Inspect/order Fluenz French 1+2 Windows (paid link) from Amazon.com
You can buy standard install-on-your-computer software, or you can download the course.
It is for Windows, not the Mac.
Seeing that there are good reviews, and that the price is very low, this looks like a very low-risk purchase.
Published in 2013.
Inspect/order Easy French Platinum 11 (paid link) from Amazon.com
For about $20 you get a handy dictionary for French and other languages.
The word "translator" is advertiser hype. There is no way that a pocket device can
translate.
Humans can translate. Machines can look up words and phrases.
Your web editor does not recommend carrying one of these around while traveling and using it to communicate
with people. Doing that will do nothing to convince people that Americans are not gadget-crazy, and ignorant of foreign languages.
Use it as a dictionary and as an aid for understanding the target language.
Inspect/order Franklin 5 Language European Translator (paid link) from Amazon.com