German III [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Pimsleur (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0671315919 | ISBN-13: 978-0671315917 | Publication Date: January 1, 1999

With Pimsleur Language Programs you don't just study a language, you learn it -- the same way you mastered English! And because the technique relies on interactive spoken language training, the Pimsleur Language Programs are totally audio -- no book is needed!

The Pimsleur programs provide a method of self-practice with an expert teacher and native speakers in lessons specially designed to work with the way the mind naturally acquires language information. The various components of language -- vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar -- are all learned together without rote memorization and drills. Using a unique method of memory recall developed by renowned linguist, Dr. Paul Pimsleur, the programs teach listeners to combine words and phrases to express themselves the way native speakers do. By listening and responding to thirty minute recorded lessons, students easily and effectively achieve spoken proficiency.

No other language program or school is as quick, convenient, and effective as the Pimsleur Language Programs.

The Comprehensive Program is the ultimate in spoken language learning. For those who want to become proficient in the language of their choice, the Comprehensive programs go beyond the Basic Programs to offer spoken-language fluency. Using the same simple method of interactive self-practice with native speakers, these comprehensive programs provide a complete language learning course. The Comprehensive Program is available in a wide variety of languages and runs through three levels (thirty lessons each) in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. At the end of a full Comprehensive Program listeners will be conducting complete conversations and be well on their way to mastering the language. The Comprehensive Programs are all available on cassettes and are also on CD in the six languages in which we offer the Basic Program on CD.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Pimsleur (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671315919
• ISBN-13: 978-0671315917
• Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 11.8 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,427,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's no beating the Pimsleur interactive approach., July 28, 2000

By 

Kelly (Rockville, MD USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: German III (Audio Cassette)

Before I embarked on the 3 Pimsleur German levels, I was rather concerned as to whether I was making a wise investment (over $700) for a bunch of tapes sans accompanying textbooks. However, I realized very shortly into Level I that the interactive approach, which is the hallmark of the Pimsleur pedagogy, was well worth every penny of my hard-earned money. This is because going through the three levels was akin to my hiring a private German tutor to first teach me some basic grammar, word order, and vocabulary, and then tirelessly and effectively drill me on the newly learned material as well as reinforce previously acquired knowledge. I felt progressively more dejected as I was nearing the completion of Level III as I realized there wasn't a Level IV that I could advance to.

Completing all 3 levels gave me greater confidence and facility in my pronunciation, in addition to making it much easier for me to comprehend and retain German grammar and word order that I was studying on my own concurrent with the tapes. And, unlike quite a few other German audiotape programs I have purchased in the past, the Pimsleur tapes do not employ a Southern German accent with the tell-tale rolled "R" instead of the uvular "R." (Could you imagine spending so much money just to find out later that you speak fluent German but with a regional accent?) If anyone is ready to invest $700 or more in a self-study audiotape program, he or she should at least make sure that the program teaches a "proper" accent before making the investment, and the three levels of the Pimsleur program are definitely a wise investment. Viel Vergnuegen!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Single Program, June 26, 2002

By 

Lemuel Bannen "Someday Author" (Norwalk, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: German III (Audio CD)

I've read several reviews from folks slightly annoyed with what the Pimsleur course is lacking. If you are studying a language academically, and plan to become a book editor, etc. then they have a good point. Otherwise, language is first and foremost spoken and auditory. How did you learn your first language? BY LISTENING AND REPEATING! That is how our brains are wired.

The Pimsleur courses are the only ones to embrace this certainty and gear themselves toward our natural abilities. When you put aside your preconceptions about proper grammatical structure in the past imperfect tense (yada yada yada...), you realize that you could speak and understand your first language fluently before you could read a single word. This is the order in which languages should be learned.

Pimsleur can be used one of two ways. A) To give you an amazingly strong ability to communicate conversationally in a very short period of time. If you are planning a trip to a foreign country, I can't recommend Pimsleur enough to further enrich your experience. B) To be the first step in thoroughly learning a new language. You won't be a gramatical expert, nor will you understand all the rules simply from Pimsleur. You will, however, know what sounds right. You will have developed an ear for proper grammar, pronunciation, and conjugation. Further studies will be far simpler because the rules will make sense the minute you learn them.

This said, I've done several programs (I have a considerable commute) and can comfortably converse in all languages. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wait for the next version, October 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: German III (Audio CD)

I enjoyed German I & II, however I am having problems with German III. The flow is great between the previous CDs but the presentation leaves much to be desired.

In German I & II the conversations were great with inflection in the speakers voices that could lead you to believe you were listening to a real conversation. In German III it is obvious the speakers are reading sentences on a page and have no idea how their sentences are to be put togather.

The guy who says, "Sagen Sie" and "Fragen Sie" sounds like he is about to fall asleep. My CDs seem to have been made in 1998 by recording the cassettes from 1994 onto CDs. (You can hear the poor quality of tape compared to CDs.)

I recommend waiting until 2004 when the new version is out for this product. German I & II have a copyright after 2000.