Mandarin Chinese: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Pimsleur (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Quick & Simple Mandarin Chinese includes the first 8 lessons from the Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese 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: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English, Mandarin Chinese
• ISBN-10: 0671790331
• ISBN-13: 978-0671790332
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #821,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars if you really care, just get the instant conversation, March 7, 2005

By 

Smuend (Baltimore MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mandarin Chinese: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) (Audio CD)

the first four cds of instant conversation are the exact same as the quick and simple cds.
dont waste your money buying both if you really want to learn chinese

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun start to a challenging language, February 21, 2002

By 

Rob B. "Rob" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mandarin Chinese: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) (Audio CD)

I'm over half way through the program now and can happily say that I'm not discouraged! I had heard from others who do speak Mandarin that learning outside of an immersive Chinese environment is not possible. I'm no longer convinced that this is true. Mind you, I haven't tried conversing with Chinese co-workers yet (I'm waiting to learn more), but I'm certain that this day will come. I'll be signing on for the 30-tape epic when I'm done with this mini-course.

Oh, get a good book with pinyin in it as a companion. The Basic Chinese (I think -- tall & red) book seems great. I used Lonely Planet & I'm not impressed -- a lot of the terms differ from what Pimsleur is teaching.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for the price, but it has it's problems!, March 14, 2005

By 

Paul Hann (Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mandarin Chinese: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) (Audio CD)

I have had this Pimsleur product for some time now, and have tried to use in conjunction with assistance from my wife who is a native Mandarin speaker and teacher. It starts well, with lessons 1,2, and 3 teaching you useful greeting, and phrases, but when you get to lesson 4, it goes of at a tangent and starts to teach you how to ask directions to college rd, and longpeace street!This continues until lesson 5, by which time you are thoroughly bored stiff!Then in lesson 6 the pace rapidly speeds up, to a point where you are completely confused.
Many of the phrases are only spoken once, and at normal conversational speed, this is far to fast to be able to comprehend, and to get the pronunciation right, which is very important in Chinese. Some of the phrases are repeated slowly starting at the end of the sentence, word by word, but this is not useful. It would be far better if the phrases were just spoken very slowly, and then again at normal speed.
Personally I do not recommend this product, save your money and put it towards a course that will teach you useful phrases at a more sensible speed, so that you can learn to speak accurately in pronunciation and tone quality. When you live amongst Chinese people as I do, you realise very quickly how important tonal accuracy is!