Hebrew, Q&S: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Pimsleur (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001 | Series: Pimsleur Quick and Simple (Book 1)

Quick & Simple Hebrew includes the first 8 lessons from the Pimsleur Hebrew I, 30-Unit program. 4 hours. Effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Paul Pimsleur devoted his life to language teaching and testing and was one of the world’s leading experts in applied linguistics. After years of experience and research, Dr. Pimsleur developed The Pimsleur Method based on two key principles:  the Principle of Anticipation and a scientific principle of memory training that he called “Graduated Interval Recall.”  This Method has been applied to the many levels and languages of the Pimsleur Programs.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Pimsleur; 8 Lessons edition (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671790854
• ISBN-13: 978-0671790851
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #812,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Paul Pimsleur (b. 1926, d. 1976) devoted his life to language teaching and testing and was one of the world's leading experts in applied linguistics. He was fluent in French, good in German, and had a working knowledge of Italian, Russian, Modern Greek, and Mandarin Chinese. After obtaining his Ph.D. in French and a Masters in Psychology from Columbia University, he taught French Phonetics and Linguistics at UCLA. He later became Professor of Romance Languages and Language Education, and Director of The Listening Center (a state-wide language lab) at Ohio State University; Professor of Education and Romance Languages at the State University of New York at Albany; and a Fulbright lecturer at the University of Heidelberg. He did research on the psychology of language learning and in 1969 was Section Head of Psychology of Second Language Learning at the International Congress of Applied Linguistics.

Dr. Pimsleur was a member of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), American Educational Research Association (AERA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and a founding member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

His many books and articles revolutionized theories of language learning and teaching. After years of experience and research, Dr. Pimsleur developed a new method (The Pimsleur Method) that is based on two key principles: the Principle of Anticipation and a scientific principle of memory training that he called "Graduated Interval Recall." This Method has been applied to the many levels and languages of the "Pimsleur Programs."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars you can't go wrong with Pimsleur, November 26, 2003

By 

Shelley Gammon "Geek" (Kaufman, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hebrew, Q&S: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) (Audio CD)

If you're thinking of learning Hebrew but aren't ready to commit the big bucks for the 30-lesson course by Pimsleur, this 8-lesson set is just the encouragement you need. When I ordered mine, there was a $20 discount coupon inside toward the unabridged lesson set, so if you decide to upgrade, it's like you get this 8-lesson set for free.

An English-speaking announcer introduces you to the program and two native Israeli speakers demonstrate the correct intonation and pronunciation of Modern Hebrew as it is spoken today.

I am a visual learner and didn't think I would do well with an audio course, but it came so highly recommended, I gave it a shot.

There is no comparison to the Pimsleur method of aural learning. I only hope that the publishers eventually come out with a 2nd and 3rd volume like they did with Spanish, German & French.

With just the eight 30-minute lessons, I felt confident enough to know that if I was dropped off in the middle of Israel without a guide and even if I couldn't find an English speaker around, I could still communicate enough to get food, water and shelter, as well as to have a modicum of a conversation with the locals. This is an awesome, easy-as-pie system for learning Modern Israeli Hebrew.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn Hebrew the Easy Way - It's So Much Fun, July 9, 2003

By 

L. Curtis "Millicent Y. Curtis" (Memphis, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hebrew, Q&S: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) (Audio CD)

I have nothing but praise for Pimsleur's Quick and Simple Hebrew. For years, many scholars have racked their brains trying to learn such a complicated language. Studying Hebrew with the Pimsleur method was such a joy and I was able to retain most of what I've learned after listening to each CD. It simply amazes me that after a few lessons, one would be able to carry a basic conversation in Hebrew. I found this language course to be very helpful with my biblical studies too. Also a couple of days ago, I spoke with a person who studied Hebrew for a whole year and I was still able to carry a better conversation. I told him that next time he should buy a set of Pimsleur CD's and save his money. So if your a beginner studying Hebrew, buy these CD's. You'll definitely see progress.

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars good foundation - but insufficient, March 15, 2004

By 

Anil Philip (Olathe, KS. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hebrew, Q&S: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) (Audio CD)

I have done the upgrade and longer Pimsleur 30 lesson course, and this set of 8 lessons is (I believe) a subset of it. The Pimsleur set of lessons (even the level 1 set of 30 lessons) is too basic and insufficient - will not really teach you what you need to learn. It also takes too much time.
Since then, I have tried to learn at a synagogue from a teacher using an excellent book with comic cartoon stories and cassette tapes and have learnt much more. The book is "Haveyeth Ushma" ("Express and Learn") by Judith Case and Paul Anokh but unfortunatlely is published in Israel - the copy my teacher has is in Russian and Hebrew. Is there an English edition? I wish some publisher here would publish it. Even so, we are able to learn with a little translation from our teacher because the cartoons are rich with clues. You learn the different verb forms almost subconsciously and the level of conversation is much higher than with other products. It is both visual and aural. The conversations in the book are also witty, warm and authentic (exactly the way real people speak, not 'staged'). It is better than Pimsleur.

Learning a new language (especially with a non-English script), to the point where you are fluent in it, is very difficult. It takes a lot of persistence, motivation, time, sweat and effort. Most language systems boast that they deliver quick results easily - dont believe it; it is easy to over-estimate your progress (as I perhaps did when I was learning Pimsleur and others).