Customer Reviews

Michel Thomas Method Spanish Advanced, 5-CD Program (Michel Thomas Series)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this CD set, as well as his "Basic" version. Michel Thomas is criticized for his non-Spanish accent and the errors of the students he uses on the CD (it immitates a classroom setting where you are the third of three students). HOwever, he always corrects and repeats whatever has been said wrong, and you learn from others' successes and failures. Native Spanish teachers say my pronunciation after using this method is quite good - better than their other students. You begin constructing sentences almost immediately, and he teaches this construction without using grammar terms. There is no rote memorization or "repeat after me" boredom, and you aren't stuck learning "Buenas noches, como esta" for half a CD as I have been with other methods (not kidding). You absolutely must pause the CD player as he instructs, however, and try to construct each sentence yourself, then hit play. You cannot learn passively with this set. I found it ideal for long trips or Washington DC traffic jams. I've tried *so* many products, but this is the one I come back to whenever I need a refresher. This set, along with some work with tutors, has made me capable of getting around and conversing reasonably well in Central America - which is terrific!

I've learned a lot from this series. However the the students that babble and stumble through the process drive me crazy (especially the woman that monopolizes most of the answers). A much better purchase is the Advanced Booster CD (2 disk set) It features only Michel Thomas (which is much better). I like the 5 disk set- but I would learn 1000 times faster if the 2 students weren't constantly giving wrong answers.

If you haven't experienced the Michel Thomas methodology before, it make take you awhile to adjust, because its not at all the way language is taught in schools and colleges. (I wish it were, because then maybe it wouldn't have taken me so many years to learn Spanish.) But if you hang in there, it is worth getting used to. Everyone has different learning styles, of course. I lent my CDs to a friend, and she couldn't get into it, although I'm not sure she gave it a fighting chance. For me, I've tried all the major brands, and I recommend Michel Thomas the most highly. If you are trying to become advanced, I have no doubt this course will help you acheive it. Or if you are already advanced, like me, this is a GREAT refresher. Not only do you learn the essentials of advanced grammar, but Michel's explanations actually help you to understand the "why" behind the grammar rules, which in turn, helps you to remember them. I agree, the 2 students can be annoying, especially if you want to listen repeatedly. But if you're trying to learn the material for the first time, their mistakes can be very instructive, and help you remember not to make them yourself. Overall, this course is excellent and I haven't found a better commercial product. I recommend Michel Thomas in Italian and French, too.

Caution: This course will amplify your grammar tremendously, but don't count on it for improving your vocabulary. For that, I would supplement this course with Berlitz Advanced Spanish Workbook/CD. Michel's Spanish Booster also gives a decent amount of vocabulary. Even better, read spanish magazines/periodicals and watch t.v. and movies in Spanish. Buena Suerte!

I'm continually trying to improve my Spanish and I found this set helpful. Yes, the students in these sets are not always the perfect choices but this is offset by Thomas simple methods. He doesn't wade into 'double object pronoun' mumbo jumbo. Instead, he simply teaches you how to carry a conversation, which is what you really need. Thomas has the clarity of mind that I value in a teacher.
The only drawback is that the course is verb-heavy. I need work on grammar and I wish there were more of that. However, it was still worth the money.

I have all 3 of these Michele Thomas CD sets now, and I'm EXTREMELY pleased with the results. The format is of learners with Michele Thomas teaching them (except in the Vocabulary booster, where there's a female teacher and no learners). You are asked to pause the CD at each question and attempt to answer it yourself before you unpause the button. The course focuses on structure, and you'll have the entire verb structure of the language by the end of the Advanced set. The familiar "you, plural" conjugations aren't covered, but I think that's good because it makes the rest managable. Explanations are clear and pneumonics are regularly given to help you remember how to do things.

Naturally some people may or may not enjoy the personalities of the teachers/pupils used. I personally don't much like the teacher in the Vocabulary Booster. I find her a little irritating since she wants to make cute comments all the time, and she emphasizes her worship of Michele Thomas to the point where it's nausiating. HOWEVER, I learned a LOT from that set also, and the irritation is worth it. The Vocabulary Booster emphasizes words which convert easily from the familiar English to Spanish. There are many conversions where only endings are changed, sometimes with predictable spelling changes. This is due to shared Latin roots for the two languages, and can improve your recognition of meanings ENORMOUSLY.

After doing the sets (actually more than once...which I recommend)I am now reading [...] news stories and also Voltaire by Candide (cheating a little by reading the English version side by side..Spanish first, of course, to see how much I can pick up without help). I don't understand everything I read, particularly when there are random lists of careers or emotions, but I can get the gist of a pretty big percentage of it. The subjunctive tenses are even in it.

One thing I do find the series a little weak on is preposition usage. It teaches the basics, but I am still regularly looking up these to help my comprehension. It's fair to say that I've gotten to this point within 3 months of work in the car (it's a long commute) and with reading at night when I couldn't sleep.

I've taken language courses (mostly French and German) in high school and college before, and am amazed at how much easier this is. (Apparently the course contents are patented, by the way, so the method probably won't hit your local high school any time soon.) The only actual Spanish I've ever taken was a semester of high school spanish in about 1982.

Michel Thomas will give you the tools you need to speak a language. For practical, language learning I have seen no other program that comes close to the Michel Thomas method.

Michel Thomas Method Spanish For Beginners, 10-CD Program (Michel Thomas Series)
This is one of the best programs that I have ever purchased or even listened to. Although the teacher has an accent, he is very easy to understand, and his method of memorization is so easy. I am so eager to get started on the second CD in this advanced series. This set even comes with its' own zippered leather CD sleeve case, which was a nice surprise. If you are serious about learning Spanish, this is the course for you!!

I purchased the Spanish Advance Series after completion of the French one and I am still amazed at how much have I learned in such a short time! It's worthy every penny, and more. My review of the French Series applies to this one too. I feel I can learn ANY language with this method, just like with the Pimsleur that I also love, but for different reasons. Both methods are great if you are as busy as I am and learn while you drive, or exercise, or are on the plane, or in any other spare time you may have. You can't go wrong with Michel Thomas Method.

The CDs are pretty odd. They are hard to get used to. It sounds like Micheal needs a drink of water the entire time. There are two people that Micheal is working with that apparently did not speak Spanish before so you have to listen to them struggle their way through the learning process.
I speak Spanish fairly well and found that they were a good review. Once I have gone through them I will probably sell them.