Since it was first published, French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and CultureThe Capretz Methodhas been widely recognized in the field as a model for video-based foreign-language instructional materials. The third edition has been revised by Pierre Capretz and Barry Lydgate, and includes new, contemporary illustrations throughout and more-relevant information for today's students in the Documents sections of each lesson. A completely new feature is a journal by the popular character Marie-Laure, who observes and humorously comments on the political, cultural, and technological changes in the world between 1985 and today. The new edition also incorporates more content about the entire Francophone world. In use by hundreds of colleges, universities, and high schools, French in Actionremains a powerful educational resource, and the third edition updates the course for a new generation of learners.

Pierre Capretz is the creator of French in Action and a pioneer in video-based foreign language instruction. He taught French at Yale University from 1956 to 2003 and was director of the Yale Language Laboratory from 1963 to 2000. Barry Lydgate is professor of French at Wellesley College.