Phil I can thoroughly recommend Michel Thomas for learning Spanish.

As for favourite routes through France, from the chunnel we like
Calais
Boulogne
Rouen
Evreux
Dreux
Chatres
Chateaudun
Blois
Chateauroux
Limoges
Perigueux (where we stay the night at the excellent Ibis hotel)
Agen
Auch
Lannemezan
Montrejeau
(straight on down to) the Viehla tunnel
el Pont de Suert
Lleida
then Flix, Asco etc

this route avoids most tolls and is scenic but with good straight roads. You can practically draw a straight line down from Calais to Tortosa.