Dr. Blair's Mandarin Chinese in No Time: The Revolutionary New Language Instruction Method That's Proven to Work! [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Robert Blair (Author), Multiple Readers (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

Master the basics of the Mandarin Chinese language with Dr. Blair's tried and true methods.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Dr Blair's In No Time (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596590122
• ISBN-13: 978-1596590120
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1.2 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,587,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > Books on CD > Languages > Language Instruction > Japanese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible, November 14, 2006

By 

William Kerney (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dr. Blair's Mandarin Chinese in No Time: The Revolutionary New Language Instruction Method That's Proven to Work! (Audio CD)

It's very simple: if you're going to make a language CD, you should damn well know how to pronounce it correctly. The Chinese speaker on the CD is fine, but the American (Dr. Blair?) makes gross mispronunciations every sentence or two.

I'd rate it lower than one star if I could... if you pattern your speaking after him, the only people that will be able to understand your Mandarin (as my Chinese teacher used to say) is you and your dog. It's not just bad, but it's actively harmful to your efforts to learn the language correctly.

Only audio CD I've ever returned.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So much better than I even expected!, March 10, 2006

By 

T. L. Coons - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dr. Blair's Mandarin Chinese in No Time: The Revolutionary New Language Instruction Method That's Proven to Work! (Audio CD)

I am so impressed by this diminutive (in both size and price) package. I bought it for the price and internet reviews of Dr. Blair's courses (they are all filled with praise). I am now a believer because the method works in the most creative of ways. I'm not yet through lesson 2 but am able to innovatively think through the construction and translation of sentences.

This is an introductory package to the Power-glide method of language learning. It includes 3 audio CDs with 6 total lessons and 1 computer CD with the written (in Simplified Chinese characters and pinyin) and spoken vocabulary that you have learned organized by lesson, additional travel vocabulary, and a diglot written story which merges both English language and Chinese pinyin to practice with.

The audio CD portion uses a story-line to start immediate learning as you listen and practice along with 'the other students'. You have to listen many times to each section in order to really absorb what you are learning. For me, each lesson (6 total) takes at least a week to truly 'get it'. So, at $12 we're talking about $2/week for fairly intensive instruction. In combination with the computer CD resources, this package can lay quite a constructive foundation in the Chinese language. What a fantastic and inexpensive way to see if you enjoy learning a new language!

Because of my positive experience with this package, I have looked into buying the comprehensive Power-glide Mandarin Chinese course which Power-glide has yet to complete. It is due by the end of 2006 and it, too, will be a bargain (25%-30% cost of competitor products). I know that this is the language learning method for me.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great follow-up for Pimsleur, April 13, 2006

By 

Kafrin (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dr. Blair's Mandarin Chinese in No Time: The Revolutionary New Language Instruction Method That's Proven to Work! (Audio CD)

For an absolute beginner who is serious about learning Chinese, I would recommend starting with Pimsleur (the mini-series) to get the pronunciation and sentence rhythms pounded into your head. I've heard so many great reviews about Pimsleur from people who have used it and then traveled to China. Then when you're ready to expand your vocabulary and speaking skills as a quicker (and more fun) pace, "Dr. Blair" fits the bill for beginner stage 2. They don't hesitate to give you goofy mnemonic tips to help you remember the Chinese. i.e. "tou fa" for hair-- "With that crazy hairstyle, you've really gone tou fa!" or "peng you" friend. "Sort of sounds like "stung yo" but it's "peng you." "Dan shi" (of course) "Sounds a bit like "darn sure." A bit crude but very helpful to get the gist of the unusual Chinese sounds.