French III : 1st Rev. Ed. Euro

Rating:
Summary: Yes, expensive, but if you can afford it, well worth it ....
Review: It's too bad that the cost of the Pimsleur system almost makes it prohibitive to use, because it really is an excellent system. Pimsleur Level III continues the approach of focusing on a basic, high-frequency vocabulary and engaging the listener in using what he or she has learned. I have acquired quite a few cassette learning systems in my attempt to learn French on my own and the Pimsleur approach is probably my favorite. Because virtually all of my time is spent while driving, I very much appreciate that I don't have to refer to a book and that I'm not constantly rewinding a tape.

I also appreciate that it is about as interactive as a cassette tape can be ... the listener responds with material that he or she has learned in prior tapes and gradually and solidly acquires a substantial number of language building blocks. Although there is repetition, it is varied and subtle, and is not the mind-dulling lists of phrases, vocabulary or sentences that seems to be the norm in the language tape business.

It is important, however, to place the Pimsleur system in context: if you want to understand the theory of the grammatical rules of what you are learning, you must find that elsewhere. For example, if you'd like to see the rules on how present tense "-er" verbs are conjugated, that's not here. You would in fact be learning to do it, but you wouldn't "see" it on paper or read the rules on how it's done. Or if you want to increase your skill in understanding a native speaker talking a full speed, that's not its strength either. But, if you want to develop a working command of some core phrases and vocabulary that will be yours and stick with you, there is no better approach.

Let's put it this way: I was sorry when I finished it and I wish there were a Level IV, V, VI .... and so on.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, expensive, but if you can afford it, well worth it ....
Review: It's too bad that the cost of the Pimsleur system almost makes it prohibitive to use, because it really is an excellent system. Pimsleur Level III continues the approach of focusing on a basic, high-frequency vocabulary and engaging the listener in using what he or she has learned. I have acquired quite a few cassette learning systems in my attempt to learn French on my own and the Pimsleur approach is probably my favorite. Because virtually all of my time is spent while driving, I very much appreciate that I don't have to refer to a book and that I'm not constantly rewinding a tape.

I also appreciate that it is about as interactive as a cassette tape can be ... the listener responds with material that he or she has learned in prior tapes and gradually and solidly acquires a substantial number of language building blocks. Although there is repetition, it is varied and subtle, and is not the mind-dulling lists of phrases, vocabulary or sentences that seems to be the norm in the language tape business.

It is important, however, to place the Pimsleur system in context: if you want to understand the theory of the grammatical rules of what you are learning, you must find that elsewhere. For example, if you'd like to see the rules on how present tense "-er" verbs are conjugated, that's not here. You would in fact be learning to do it, but you wouldn't "see" it on paper or read the rules on how it's done. Or if you want to increase your skill in understanding a native speaker talking a full speed, that's not its strength either. But, if you want to develop a working command of some core phrases and vocabulary that will be yours and stick with you, there is no better approach.

Let's put it this way: I was sorry when I finished it and I wish there were a Level IV, V, VI .... and so on.

Rating:
Summary: Too pricey and too limited
Review: The reviewer from Ireland expressed it well. What you are taught, you are taught well, but for the price you should expect to be taught much more.

The FSI courses, althought they can be boring, are much better value.

Rating:
Summary: good but far too pricey
Review: This language learning CD is aimed at the notoriously very difficult to assess and highly variable "intermediate" level...where performance in one area such as grammar may be far ahead or behind other areas such as pronunciation and vocabulary. This is very characteristic of the asymmetrical performance of the "intermediate" group.

The course is a good product, no doubt., but it is extremely overpriced particularly in the context of it having 6 levels you can potentially purchase, 1a, 1b, 2a, etc.

A better choice would be to rent this from places such as Recorded Books.

Rating:
Summary: good but far too pricey
Review: This language learning CD is aimed at the notoriously very difficult to assess and highly variable "intermediate" level...where performance in one area such as grammar may be far ahead or behind other areas such as pronunciation and vocabulary. This is very characteristic of the asymmetrical performance of the "intermediate" group.

The course is a good product, no doubt., but it is extremely overpriced particularly in the context of it having 6 levels you can potentially purchase, 1a, 1b, 2a, etc.

A better choice would be to rent this from places such as Recorded Books.