107 of 110 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What can I say, but the Pimsleur Program is by far the best!, February 12, 2003
This review is from: French I - 1st Rev. Ed. (Pimsleur Language Program) (Audio CD)
I have been a strong supporter of the Pimsleur Language Programs ever since I first started learning languages. I recently purchased French I, II, and III and have found them to meet my needs. I have, in the past, used other audio programs (e.g., Berlitz and other less expense ones); however, I have found that Pimsleur provides the best overall value.
Many complaints about Pimsleur concern the inability to be able to speak well enough to hold a conversation or understand the radio or television after going through all three levels. It's important to realize that a year or two of studying French is needed to reach that level, and this level of proficiency cannot be reached through the use of cassettes or CDs alone. I've been studying Spanish for over three years (much of which was at intensive Spanish classes abroad) and am just reaching the point of understanding about 60-80 percent of what is said on the radio or television.
I find that there are many strengths associated with the Pimsleur French language Program, as well as weaknesses; however, I feel that the strengths more than make up for any weaknesses the program may have. Several of the key strengths include:
* Learning French in an interesting, interactive, and enjoyable environment. I hate to sit down and study, but by using Pimsleur, studying seems effortless and it's interesting.
* Being placed into somewhat realistic conversations and situations rather than just repeating words. I have found that the phrases and sentences used during the audio sessions form a good foundation on which to build your own.
* Practicing pronunciation with native speakers and in your car, so you can practice without worrying about sounding funny. French especially requires good pronunciation, and Pimsleur has really improved mine.
* Being able to remember better, since the situations are realistic, and being able to speak more fluently. You may not learn as many words as other tapes, but what you learn you remember and you actually use the words into sentences. I am currently taking private lessons, and my teacher is amazed at my progress and ease in speaking.
You will not, however, get the following with Pimsleur:
* A huge vocabulary. I find, however, that when just learning words, I actually remember less than when learning words through the Pimsleur Language Program.
* A course on grammar. I have supplemented Pimsleur with a private tutor to better understand grammar and sentence structure and to have live conversations.
* The ability to carry on a political, religious, technical conversation with a native speaker. You will be able to talk about basic stuff, but what you do say will be understandable and will be spoken with good pronunciation.
With Pimsleur you will be able to speak better than using other audio materials or books and will be able to finish all the Levels, since they are entertaining, easy to use, and can be listened to while riding in the car to/from work. I am about to finish Level III, and I wish there were a Level IV or above. If you are serious about learning French and speaking it fluently, you will, of course, have to supplement Pimsleur with one-on-one or classroom courses, which I am doing, plus an occasional trip to France.
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75 of 76 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The BEST, March 25, 2002
This review is from: French I - 1st Rev. Ed. (Pimsleur Language Program) (Audio CD)
Okay, if it's the best, why only 4 stars? Well, simply because Pimsleur is not complete in and of itself. It's only the best there is. I'm saving the fifth star for the language program that will make me fluent. I challenge anyone to produce it!
All that said, the progress you can make with Pimsleur is nothing short of miraculous. I wanted to return to my High School & have a few terse words with my language teachers after seeing how effective language learning can really be!
This program is fantastic for people at every level of language learning. I've gone through the French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, & Hebrew. I have no problem switching from language to language in a given situation. I just can't hold a normal conversation at normal speeds. This is because you don't gain enough vocabulary & verb conjugation skills from Pimsleur to reach the "Pot O' Gold" known as true FLUENCY!
But hey, you'll learn more of your chosen language through Pimsleur than in any other method by far! Trust me, I know of what I speak. If you want to learn another language, start at Pimsleur, then decide if you feel the need to learn more.
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63 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ca vaut la peine! (It's worth it!), June 29, 2001
This review is from: French I - 1st Rev. Ed. (Pimsleur Language Program) (Audio CD)
For the last few years I can't seem to get past beginner/introduction level of my French classes. Last April, I bought all three sets of the French comprehensive series. It's amazing how much you can learn from 30 minute lessons a day with Pimsleur. To start off, my Parisian colleague complimented me on my pronunciation. You know how snooty the French people are when it comes to their language. I'm almost done with French III and I'm all set to go on a 9-day vacation in France with Francophone Swiss kids in a month. You get more out of this set when you can actually converse with people as you go along. Native french speakers would be impressed at how you'd know "very french" turn of phrases. "Si nous allions prendre un café? I know the course does not recommend using other sources of language study, but I got a few french books anyway. Most outstanding of which is The Ultimate French Review and Practice. The book explains grammar in a clear and concise manner and then gives one lots of exercises for each grammatical point. These two sets complement each other quite well. You'd be talking well and writing correctly. Bon courage et bonne chance!
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