Rating: 
Summary: great basic instruction
Review: This is the course if you're one of those people(like me) who have difficulty learning language or who can learn to write and read but are always stymied in trying to speak. You won't learn a lot of vocabulary or all the verb tenses, but what you learn you will really understand, both in understanding and being able to express yourself. If language comes easily to you - don't get this course, you'll be dissapointed. If you had Spanish 20 years ago and only remember a few words, go ahead. It's the first time I've felt that I don't have to struggle to say what I know how to say. Now, I don't know how to say much, but what I know, I know. I'm getting the French course next. I've had 2 years college French, but cannot speak worth anything. With Pimsleur, I know I'll be able to.
Rating:
Summary: Spped Spanish
Review: This program is excellent. After approx 2 weeks, I can Understand conversations in basic spanish. I can get the jist of what someone is saying without a translator, and can call on the phone and commuincate. After I am done, I will try the comprehensive, cause this is great. I wish I would have got this program before going to Columbia. I got other programs, but this is the fastest and best even though it is more money.
Rating:
Summary: Spanish I: Pimsleur Comprehensive
Review: The Pimsleur language tapes are the best language audio tapes that I've found. I have tried several different kinds in the past, but the Pimsleur language program is by far the best around. I listen to the tapes while I'm driving to work. The comprehension level is amazing. And the one thing that is so great about it is that you don't need to study a book. If I don't feel like I learned the lesson well enought the first time, I just listen to it again. If your time is very limited or if you don't like reading a manual, the Pimsleur language tapes are definitely for you. Even if you do prefer visual learning, you would benefit greatly from this system.
Rating:
Summary: The best way to learn a foreign language!
Review: [Subtract one star if the inclusion of written material is essential to you.]I've tried many methods over the years to learn Spanish including audio tapes from other trainers, but nothing has worked as well as the Pimsleur Method. The Pimsleur Method is designed to teach you a foreign language the way you learned your native language: by listening, active listening. When you were a child and you learned your native language, you weren't reading books or writing phrases, you were actively listening to the people around you and learning to respond. These courses are structured in the same way. I first encountered the Pimsleur Method with a small set of tapes (what's called on Amazon.com as the "basic" set) which I used once daily on my 35-mile commute to and from work. I found a retained more Spanish than at any time before in my many attempts. Since the basic set was working out so well, I went on to purchase the full, unabridged set that you're investigating right now. I like the CD format because it's more durable and it gives me the ability to create tapes and MiniDiscs of the lessons for my use outside the home. The lessons are a half-hour daily and the course is designed that you spend only that half-hour listening and responding. If you can stick to the program, you'll find yourself fluent and understanding in a short time. I'm currently working on "Pimsleur Spanish II" and I'm hoping to become more fluent as time passes. If you want to learn a foreign language, give these courses a try. If you're really unsure you want to make a heavy financial commitment, try the Basic Set first and see if Pimsleur works as well for you as it's working for me.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST way to learn Spanish
Review: After trying tons of other methods, this is without a doubt the only way to actually learn to speak spanish. The method causes you to actually start rearranging the words in your head to form practically any sentence, which is what people do who are native to any language. This is the way.
Rating:
Summary: Great program
Review: If you enjoyed Spanish in high school, you probably won't like this course. This one is easy on your mind, fast, and doesn't require repetition of the same old stuff over and over... and over. I used the course while commuting and was surprised at the amount of retention in just a short period of time. Get a vocabulary book or dictionary at the same time, since the course is limited.
Rating:
Summary: Great for self-paced learning
Review: I was given this as a gift and was stunned by how well the tapes work to reinforce the vocabulary and grammar. You really don't need to do any "studying" -- you learn by using the tapes. I'm a very visual learner, so I was somewhat frustrated at first by the lack of transcripts of the tapes. I found I could compensate by repeating a lesson twice in a day. Anyway, I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to start learning Spanish.
Rating:
Summary: I really did it!
Review: This program is not cheap, but it really worked for me. I loved the fact that you don't need a book -- I listened to the tapes in the car. Because I was driving, I listened to most lessons twice: once in the A.M. commute and once in the P.M. The speakers are clear and reasonably easy to understand. I did eventually buy a book so I could look up words (and because a few times I had a hard time distinguishing between "d" and "t" on the tape, for example). However, you don't need to study -- just do the tapes. The lessons will repeat and reinforce the words as you learn. I liked this so much that I bought the next two levels as well. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to learn to speak a language. I was a definite beginner with Spanish; now I speak more and better than my husband who took Spanish for years in school. So far, I have spent 3 months in the program, listening to an average of 4 lessons each week.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great program, and ...
Review: Pimsleur programs may be most valuable for people who are having hard time pronouncing words correctly - and when you're learning languages with which you are completely unfamiliar.
Pimsleur program will make it practically an effortless experience.
In this basic Pismleur program you learn some basic sentence structures, how to tell the time, how to count, how to find your way around and how to meet some of your very basic needs.
On the other hand, if you'd like to learn more and faster, you may also consider Platiquemos program - it is less expensive and will get you much further.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but know what you're buying...
Review: I've gone through 6 days of the course and have made good progress. It is actually fun. BUT, I bought mine at B&N for under $50!. I could not believe the prices I was seeing here. (If they allow this to be posted I will be very surprised.)
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