|
I was looking for a way to start learning Spanish for a recent trip and did not really have the time or money to invest in classes, and Pimsleaur came highly recommended by a friend.This is a very good, straightforward way to start learning as phrases are introduced and the further expanded in each lesson. In a few days I realized that I was doing fairly well based on the incremental approach and that earlier material started becoming familiar.A very good purchse for the price if you are interested to see how the teaching style will work for you.
I have tried almost every foreign language tool on the market. the patterns of repetition work. Pimsleur makes an excellent product. Easy, easy to learn. You will be speaking Spanish before you know it. I swear by all Pimsleurs products.
Oh, and you can say "here" "not here" and "over there" in Spanish.over and over and over. It drills and drills about the most basic phrases, but repeats so much that you feel like you only learn one sentence per 30-minute lesson.
It's not bad, but it is far from great. This is Pimsleur's Level 1 beginner 4-disc Spanish series, 4 hours of interactive audio lessons.
This is only for the barest of beginners. It is extraordinarily slow and repetitive.
I had three years of Spanish in high school and college, so I thought this would be a good review. At the end of four hours, all you have learned to say are things like "I don't understand Spanish well," "You speak very well," "I have two dollars," "You have 300 pesos back at the hotel," and "Quiero beber una cerveza" (I want to drink a beer).
After sampling this $10 CD series, I scoffed at Pimsleur's $300 price tag for the rest of the series, and instead went for Rocket Spanish, which is $99 and gets rave reviews all over the web.
While I like the Spanish lessons, I am very unhappy with Pimsleur marketing. A brochure comes along with the CD stating that in 30 days you will receive another set of CD's for a "free trial." I called immediately to stop this, but still received them and will be bill $59.95 per month. In order to send them back you have to call a number, but you are on hold for so long you want to give up. So be aware that you are getting yourself in a bit of hassle if you order this CD.
I like the Pimsleaur products and the Quick and Simple ones are reasonably priced.Enough to get started with the language and be polite wherever you travel and the Spanish is one I enjoyed.If you travel it is worth to pick up this (or perhaps another quick guide) since it makes trips more enjoyable by having some basic words down. If you find yourself going to the same places often the Quick and Simple work well to see if you would like to get the full versions.
|
