Customer Reviews

Express Russian: Learn to Speak and Understand Russian with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Express)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can recommend the Pimsleur/Simon & Schuster Audio/4 audiocassette language course, which I also bought, but not this one. Lesson one of these two courses are virtually the same (learning how to say, in Russian, "Excuse me. Do you speak English? Russian? I don't understand Russian"), but this Russian Pimsleur Express CD then goes on to other lessons where the individual words aren't translated word-for-word, leaving a beginner without a clue.

If you are a beginner in Russian, this course will give you an inexpensive taste of the Pimsleur method so you can decide if you want to invest time and money into their more extensive courses. If you are an absolute beginner, I would recommend combining this course with the Earworms one (also sold on Amazon). I found that they work well together to help you break into this complex language. The only way to learn a language is to hear it over and over again, so every vantage point you can get helps. It is important to find out if you want to go further in Russian before you invest a lot of money, so this is a very good place to start. I hope to go on to their full courses. What I like about Pimsleur (I have used their French and Italian courses fairly extensively) is that it can all be done by listening. Of course you can look at the text from time to time but the bulk of the work is in audio (I load it on my iPod). That point has kept me from Rosetta - the bulk of their system is on the computer and I already spend all day on a keyboard. I want to learn while I walk/jog/run and fold clothes! With this very low price you have nothing to lose by trying this course.

Thought that there may be a bit more detail. Dont buy this product if you expect to learn to speak Russian before going there on holiday

This is not a CD for beginners. I have studied Russian at school 30 years ago and simply wanted to refresh my memory. This CD was perfect for that. Except for the first chapter, I wouldn't recommend it to people who are just starting to learn the language .