Customer Reviews

Chinese (Cantonese), Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand Cantonese Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Instant Conversation)

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've never written a review before, especially since I borrowed this product from the library rather than actually buying it (I was surfing to find the rest of the lessons). The only review of this product is extremely unfair. This learning system is amazing for learning in the car, while jogging, doing laundry etc. I can see why the previous reviewer might have a problem with this product due to having difficulties with distinguishing tones, however, that's the hardest part of Cantonese. I work in NYC Chinatown with primarily Cantonese speaking co-workers. Before I was there, I only spoke Mandarin. This product does a great job at pointing out the tonal differences between very similar sounding words (ones that I couldn't tell the difference between at work when actual people were speaking to me). You also feel like you progress quickly through learning with conversations, which is the most natural way to learn a language. I've tried learning french with CD's before with another brand to supplement class and it was mind numbingly boring. This goes fairly quickly. Mandarin speakers who want to learn Cantonese, this is the product for you, look no further. People learning Chinese for the first time, this is a great starting point.

Don't buy this product if you really want to learn correct pronunciation. There are no easy shortcuts to language learning, especially Cantonese! I bought the product, and all it consists of is CD's that have recordings of Cantonese that the listener is supposed to imitate. There's no text at all. Unless you are incredibly competent in tone discrimination, you can learn, at best, to say some phrases that sound like Cantonese.