Customer Reviews

Hebrew II, Comprehensive: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster's Pimsleur)

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

 

 

I've only had this a couple of days and have worked only with the first two lessons, but can already tell it's excellent. Whereas the Pimsleur I uses helper verbs (such as rotze and yaHol) with the infinitives, level II starts with verb conjugations in present and past tense.

Not sure how well it would work as the only Hebrew course, as I've already studied some Hebrew grammar and am familiar with basic verb conjugation, but it is great for easy conversational practice. It's like having a private teacher. I listen to it on my iPod while walking, after having converted to .m4b format so the tracks can be bookmarked and changed in speed.

I agree that these courses are expensive, unless you research sources that sell them for less. (Other courses like Rosetta Stone and Linguaphone are even more expensive, of course.)

I think that, when used in conjunction with a good outline of the structure of the language, though, these courses are wonderful. I wanted practice in SPEAKING and UNDERSTANDING the language. I did NOT want to spend time puzzling out written material I wasn't sure I was even pronouncing properly.

Many linguists agree that, with a language with a radically different writing system like Hebrew, it's much more EFFICIENT to learn orally, or with a transliteration. Later, when you have a good mastery of how it all works, that is the time to learn how it's represented in writing. Otherwise the learner bogs down when swamped with unnecessary details.

I have Hebrew I and II, and will be buying III as soon as it's available. This was exactly the kind of material I needed.

Another reviewer says: "They intentionally teach what most experts deem 'lazy Hebrew'. This is especially noticeable in the negative. Essentially they teach one to say 'I no want' instead of 'I do not want' etc. It gets the point across but it is incorrect and must be unlearned later."

I disagree strongly with this. If you've lived in Israel as I have, and have spoken with native speakers, you'll find that this so-called "incorrect" form is what virtually all native speakers actually USE in informal conversation. They say "Ani lo rotse" for "I don't want" -- and if you use a supposedly "correct" form like "Eyneni rotse" you get raised eyebrows and chuckles, because it sounds so stiff and formal.

And speaking of so-called "correct" usages, learners are constantly being taught forms that sound stilted and pedantic to the average native speaker. I don't think this helps the learner at all. Unless you're a radio announcer or a professor, for example, you don't say "u-vi-shkalim", you say "ve-be-shkalim".

I really like the Pimsleur course. However, I've completed the Hebrew I course (of course), and find that several words are being "retaught" -- and they're not difficult words. (e.g., "gar" -- he lives) Also, the reading lessons, instead of assuming you've been through Hebrew I's reading lessons, start off assuming you need to learn the alphabet (again), rather than picking up where Hebrew I left off.

Still a decent product, but would be much better if it "flowed" better from Hebrew I.

This is a review of both Pimsleur Hebrew I and II. I feel that I have wasted enough time with this course. I do not want to waste more time writing a separate review for both levels.
I bought these courses based on the good reviews that they received. I, like most people, am not independently wealthy. I do not like to waste my money. I was willing to spend the money to buy these courses because I had the reasonable expectation that they would teach me an adequate amount of Hebrew to offset the cost. I was wrong.
My problems with these courses:
1. Limited vocabulary. After both levels I still only have a very limited vocabulary. I augmented the vocabulary with other courses.
2. Bad grammar. They intentionally teach what most experts deem "lazy Hebrew". This is especially noticeable in the negative. Essentially they teach one to say "I no want" instead of "I do not want" etc. It gets the point across but it is incorrect and must be unlearned later.
3. Random gender. In Hebrew the male and female conjugations of verbs are different. This course tells one to translate "I want" "I am" etc. without bothering to tell you if you are to translate it as a male or a female. Sometimes you start a practice conversation as one gender and then finish it as the other! They attempt to correct this about halfway through the second level. However then you still have random gender. This is frustrating when attempting to give the correct answer. Example: "You are in a cafe and you want to buy something......." in this exercise you really need to know if you are acting as a man or as a woman to conjugate the verbs correctly but they seldom bother to tell you.
4. Repetition. Some words and phrases are reviewed to a frustrating degree. Some repetition is necessary for any student. However, I spent an hour and a half reviewing the phrase "my car is not running very well".The opposite of this is also true. They say a word one time and then never review it. They never seem to get it right. They review a word so much that you swear at your CD player or they only say it once and never go back to it.
5. Review of words they never taught. Several times they would ask "how do you say........?" The noun that they were looking for had never appeared in the course. The first time this happened I thought it must have been my fault. However, upon review, I figured out that the error was theirs. This happens several times throughout the course.
6. Random conjugation. Some of the verbs you learn past, present and future tense in both masculine and feminine forms. Most of them, however, are only partially taught. If that. Some you learn the masculine form only. Some the feminine form. Some the future but not the past. Some the past but not the future. Some you just learn the infinitive. Some you learn a conjugation but not the infinitive. This haphazard approach is at best frustrating, at worst damaging.
7. Variations in pronunciation. Some of the speakers on the programs pronounce words very differently from some of the others. This is partially explained by some Hebrew letters having more than one pronunciation. This should have been acknowledged and explained. Needless to say, it was not.
8. Value for money. Very low. These courses are quite expensive. After having completed both of them I am very disappointed. For the amount of time and money that I spent on these courses I expected much more. I have extensive experience learning and using other languages. This is by far the most incomplete course that I have ever used.
9. Pimsleur claims to be a leader in language acquisition. However this product does not show any signs of professionalism in that area. This course is not designed with the learner in mind.
I take learning foreign languages seriously. I have worked hard to acquire near native proficiency in several languages in the past. I am willing to work hard to learn. I understand that hard work is necessary. Hard work must also be present in the teaching of a foreign language. Pimsleur obviously does not take teaching Hebrew seriously to have produced such a shoddy product.

If you are thinking of buying this course please reconsider. I believe that you will regret the purchase.