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Top Tools for Advanced French Students
Most language experts agree that immersion is the best way to learn a language,
and this is doubly true for advanced French speakers. Upon reaching an advanced
level, it's essential for students to use
authentic, French-only materials whenever possible: a grammar book with
explanations in French, a French-only dictionary, and plenty of audio of French spoken at normal speed. The following resources are written
by (and often for) native French speakers. I myself use nearly every one of them
daily.
 Champs-ÉlyséesChamps-Élysées is a monthly audiomagazine aimed at intermediate and advanced French students. The audio is done by native French-speaking broadcasters and journalists, which makes it an excellent source of authentic French listening practice, at home or in the classroom. A perfect gift for advanced French students. Read review Publisher's site Le Bon Usage Originally published in 1936, this is the bible of French grammar - the most thorough French grammar book that exists. It has been republished more than a dozen times and is a must for fluent speakers. This is the book that native speakers refer to when they want to understand or explain some aspect of French grammar. French only Vendor's site
Le Nouveau Bescherelle : L'Art de conjuguer Subtitled « Dictionnaire de 12 000 verbes, » this is best French verb conjugation reference, bar none. Instead of wasting space with hundreds of identical conjugations, Bescherelle has pared down the conjugations to the bare minimum: one page each for regular -er, -ir, and -re verbs; a page apiece for passive and reflexive conjugations; and then 77 pages of irregular verbs. Once you memorize these 82 patterns, you can conjugate virtually every French verb that exists. French only. 
HarperCollins Robert French English Dictionary This is the largest and best bilingual dictionary, with more than 2,000 pages. Entries include slang, regionalisms, and expressions. There's also a useful section on "language in use," with vocabulary and expressions grouped by categories such as suggestions, advice, business correspondence, and much more. In my opinion, this is the only option for fluent speakers and translators. Read Review French or Foe?, by Polly Platt An indispensable guide for anyone planning to live or work in France. With case studies and plenty of humor, Ms. Platt adroitly explains why other cultures have such a hard time dealing with the French. If you travel to France without reading French or Foe?, you may end up wishing you'd never gone. In English. Read review
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