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Summary: a few tips
Review: I'm currently using Pimsleur to learn Japanese and Cantonese, and I'm thrilled with my progress. Pimsleur has a truly effective system for learning language painlessly and effectively. I've noticed, though, that on many Pimsleur reviews here on Amazon, people say they needed to listen to each tape 4-5 times before they felt they knew the material. Fortunately, that's not necessary. Here's how to make progress just as well on one listening: Each time you're prompted to come up with an answer on your own, *stop the tape* and give yourself time to think before you get interrupted by the soundtrack. If the tape gives you the answer before you've come up with an answer yourself, you haven't learned anything. Also, as much as I love Pimsleur courses, they're still wildly expensive, even with Amazon's sometimes-substantial discounts. And then sell them after you're done. You won't need them anymore.
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Summary: Absolutely Unbeatable
Review: My first reaction to the Pimsleur system was "wow, that's expensive." After having tried it, along with many other programs, I can say that it's the only one that is not a collosal waste of money!
I took four years of high school Spanish, and two semesters of University level Spanish. I spoke daily every Summer with Mexicans who I worked with on a maintenance crew. In one month of the Pimsleur program, I had about doubled my Spanish abilities! I then purchased levels 2 & 3. Since then, I have done Portuguese (Brazilian), French, German, and will be starting Russian soon. I can comfortably converse with anyone in any of those languages (except Russian of course).
Native speakers have routinely been shocked & all swear that I don't even sound American. When they hear that it only took about 3 months, they often won't believe me.
If you're concerned with the price, pick up on of the "Quick & Simple" Pimsleur courses. It has the first 8 lessons of the Level 1 for any of the languages. It will give you a great feel for how the system works. Just make sure you have some money set aside. You'll be hooked like I am!
Good Luck!
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Summary: Simply the Best
Review: I read the reviews, researched, and finally bought Pimsleur Spanish I. I agree this is the best program for self instruction. You will find the 30" audio tapes are not really 30" but much longer as one stops and repeats. I found myself replaying them two to three times and was able to feel I had a good knowledge of the vocabulary and grammer. I had two years of high school Spanish several decades ago but it helps in that Pimsleur teaches you converstion but not reading and writing. My knowledge of h.s. Spanish was helpful in feeling comfortable in reading and writing what I had learned. You don't need any other aid to learn but I found myself buying a dictionary and a few other helpful books. I am on to Pimsleur 2.
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Summary: Great for learning a new language
Review: I was a little hesitant about the effectiveness of learning a new language through CDs rather than going to classes, but I have found this to be a very effective way of learning. I agree with one of the earlier reviewers that after using these CDs (Spanish 1 anyway) you probably will not be able to understand Spanish soap operas or gather what native speakers are saying at a normal speed very easily. (Maybe after the other 2 levels that will improve.) That being said I have found that when using these CDs, I am easily able to recall whatever I have learned and can understand simple conversations (and, at least, understand parts of longer conversations, though my vocabulary is pretty limited after just one level). One thing that I have found especially useful is that after using the CDs for some time, one should try and be around (or listen to) Spanish speakers as then you will be better able to understand what you have learned when spoken at a normal converstational speed by a native speaker. The method of teaching (conversational) is effective and the CDs do help considerably in one's pronounciation. I have tried speaking what I have learned to some of my friends who are native speakers and they assure me that my pronounciation is good. I highly recommend these CDs and will be getting the other 2 levels of courses.
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Summary: Phrase cards are also available for Pimsleur Spanish I!
Review: The Pimsleur Spanish language programs are outstanding. If you are using or about to purchase Pimsleur Spanish I, though, and feel that you could benefit from seeing things in writing, find our "Phrase Cards for Pimsleur Spanish I" in the zShops. Of course the Pimsleur Spanish courses are very, very good, but we think you can enhance your learning experience by also using our phrase cards. ¡Buena suerte!....END
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Summary: Phrase cards are also available for Pimsleur Spanish I!
Review: The Pimsleur Spanish language programs are outstanding. If you are using one of the courses, though, and feel that you could benefit from seeing things in writing, find our "Phrase Cards for Pimsleur Spanish I" in the zShops. Of course the Pimsleur Spanish courses are very good, but we think you can enhance your learning experience by also using our phrase cards. ¡Buena suerte! ...
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Summary: Magnificent
Review: Ok. Pimsleur won't get you very far, is expensive as hell, and is somewhat cumbersome to work with. So the rest of this review will be about how in hell did I get to giving it five stars. There are several ways to go about when wanting to learn a language in an audio-only manner. You can get the "Learn in your car" from Penton Overseas. You can get the audio-only course from Living Language. Or you can take Pimsleur. From the lot, Pimsleur would be the ONLY decent answer for the utter beginner, with the other options, you will find yourself replaying the tapes a couple of times. Does any language course that is a self learning course worth this kind of money? No. That's why we have the next paragraph. Money. First of all, by all means get it used. It is an audio course that I recommend going through only once. So if you're lucky enough to find a CD version used, it will be exactly the same (of course - assuming that the seller is decent enough to sell unscratched CD-s). As for used audio cassettes, well, as much as we want to hear the correct pronounciation, we have to remember - this is not Mozart, it is only recorded speech. However even if you don't find it used, you can buy it, and after completing the course, sell it as used. As this is suitable for first time learning, and is too much for review purposes (perhaps the other audio-only courses will be better for review). One last thing. Usability. I'll talk technology, but it's essential here. When I bought the heavy package, the first thing I've done was to move it to MP3. So then I had the entire audio collection on a single CD. In such a way you take a single disc to your car, play it with a mobile MP3 player, and stock the valuable course in your closet for backup. In that way, when you finish with the course, the originals stay in a good enough state to be sold as used. However, if you won't convert to MP3, the need to each time take another cassette/CD to your car would be a serious drawback, since storing the entire course in your car doesn't sound as a sensible alternative to me. To wrap it up, buy it, MP3 it, learn it, sell it.
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Summary: How can you learn without a book? Look at the Price! Yikes!
Review: Okay, I do not have this product. However, it sounds crazy to me. First, learning correct spanish without a book is crazy. You can not learn a language just by listening to tapes, period. Second, 16 tapes for over $200 is also crazy. I would not put that much money in a product that babbles a language I do not understand.
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Summary: a fantastic *introduction* to the language
Review: I know from reading other reviews of Pimsleur language programs that people are sometimes taken aback by the rather basic vocabulary the program leaves you with and the lack of written material. Bear in mind, the Pimsleur program is an excellent *introduction* to a language. It can't be beat for helping you with pronunciation and with learning the "core" of a language. If you want to become fluent that is going to take work on several fronts besides the Pimsleur course (or any other tape course available), but Pimsleur delivers on what it's designed to do. My experience thus far is with Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I and with Pimsleur Spanish I, II and III. They are superb. When used in combination with vocabulary building work, a grammar book (preferably and old fashioned grammar book ), and practice with a native speaker, you will attain your goals of speaking the language in fairly short order. What can I say? Learning a language is a lot of work and if you're looking for a magic bullet that gives you fluency in "30 minutes a day for 3 months!" you're living in a dream world. But the Pimsleur program will get you well on your way. You will develop an ease for composing sentences, a great pronunciation and an introduction to the vocabulary with their system. After one level of Pimsleur Mandarin I, I've managed to astound a co-worker born and raised in Taiwan with my ability to speak her language. Granted my vocabulary is limited at this point since I haven't done much else besides the Pimsleur tapes in Mandarin, but what I do know, I know very well. Having completed three full levels of Pimsleur Spanish and having worked on vocabulary, grammar, and reading from other sources, my Spanish has reached a very conversant level in only three months. Living in Albuquerque, I have the opportunity to practice my Spanish frequently, and people have commented on how adept I've become. Pimsleur is one of the crucial language learning tools I have to thank for such praise. To sum up, I believe that Pimsleur programs can be used effectively by several different types of language learners, from those just wanting to pick up a smattering to those that want to become very conversant or even fluent. If you want to pick up some phrases and learn a small but useful vocabulary fluently as well as set up a solid foundation for future efforts, then all you need are the tapes. If you want, on the other hand, to really attack the language and master it, then you'll need more than just the Pimsleur tapes; but the Pimsleur tapes will constitute one of the most helpful tools you have in your language learning bag of tricks.
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Summary: It's a good system, but it ain't cheap or easy
Review: Last summer I was bored driving 50 miles to and from work so I decided to learn Spanish, and checked out all the different Spanish language tapes in the public library and listened (at least started to listen to} all 10 or 12 of them. The 8 lesson (four tapes) Pimsleur Spanish intro was the only one that really made any sense, especially going 65 mph. I bought Spanish I in September 00, and I am finishing up the set now in April 01. The lessons seem to work, & I am going to buy the second set soon, although it seems like too darn much money for 16 cassettes.
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