Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am learning Norwegian because I will be moving to Norway in the future. I have every introductory self-study audio and/or book-based course available for Norwegian (including some only available from Norway). Pimsleur is by far the best way I have found to start learning a new language. I was amazed at how fast I progressed in learning a basic vocabulary. Most importantly, Pimsleur is unquestionably the best self-study method of mastering pronounciation. Expensive, yes. Indispensable, yes. Supplement the course with a good grammar text (like Janus') and you will get a fun, fast start to learning the basics of speaking and understanding the world's most important language.

I took 3 months of classroom lessons in Norwegian, and I did not learn half as much as I have learned from these CDs. My main objection to classroom lessons is that, most of the time, you will be listening to your classmates speaking in a language they do not master. I believe this is a huge waste of time.

The Pimsleur method is incredibly effective. This is the closest you will get to a private tutor, without paying for a private tutor. I actually look forward to my 30 minute lesson every day. After only a few weeks, I find myself initiating simple conversations in Norwegian.

Ok, Norwegian is an easy language to learn especially when you already speak English, right?

WRONG!! The sounds and intonation of this particular and lovely language requires the most of your attention. Repeating several times after the lecturer is fundamental if you want to sound natural. I found this course very helpful because the words, phrases and conversations are pronounced by different speakers (males and females) in different circumstances and times. The narrator emphasizes paying attention to the most demanding parts of the sentences. If you find some part hard to follow, the course itself takes you to the point "just like magic" helping you master the hearing and speaking skills progressively and in a natural way. I previously studied other courses and I can tell you that this time the grammatical structures finally made sense WITHOUT STUDYING GRAMATICS! As other costumer said, "...this is the closest you will get to a private tutor..." and I will add: You don't have to pay extra if you want to take an extra class.

Learning foreign languages is a huge hobby of mine. But Norwegian is the most near and dear to my heart because I am half Norwegian. I have all the Norwegian learning products out there (and there isn't much!) and nothing beats Pimsleur. I was speaking in simple sentences almost immediately and understanding how to pronounce Norwegian words (very different than English). I keep google translate open when using Pimsleur for the few times I get a little lost or confused or something. I also make flashcards after my lessons are over to review during other times.

My only complaint is that there is no Norwegian 2 or 3, not even in the works. :( Also this program isn't as "easy" as I thought it would be. I have to really concentrate during lessons. No way I could be cooking or driving or anything while doing this if I wanted to get the full impact of the lessons. It takes a lot of concentration, and sometimes I get stuck on a lesson for days before being able to honestly move on. But once you know something, you seem to remember it forever. :)

I now have a Norwegian tutor, and I say Pimsleur is just as good as a tutor for a beginning language learner. It really is worth every penny.

We have probably every learning product out there in the english language for Norwegian, and this is by far the best one to get you speaking and understanding and going, not just learning phrases but actually using the language, then we use the others to add vocabulary. We often have it playing in the background and it is amazing how much we have picked up just doing that.... We started knowing zero Norwegian, and now my husband can understand and communicate with his cousins confidently and if I ever get over there I feel I'll be on the same page...

Done deal. This has got to be the best way to learn ever. Been listening to the CDs on while I'm driving. These folks are VERY good teachers.

This is a great start to learning Norwegian, but I must agree with the other reviewers who complain that there is no Phases 2 or 3. There are significant gaps in vocabulary and some of the choice of conversations seems a little bizarre for beginners (why teach us how to say "my daughter is grown up" before "I would like a train ticket" etc?) I contacted Pimsleur and they said they have no plans for a Phase 2 as they don't think there is the demand. Great pity.

I found the course excellent in the beginning. I was making great progress and then I got to the last lesson of phase 1 only to discover phase 2 doesn't yet exist. Now I am left stuck in no man's land looking for another course. Be warned before you buy that after lesson 30 there is nowhere left to go. But up until the end of lesson 30 it's a great course.

About three months before my recent trip to visit family in Norway I started with the 30 lesson CDs. I listened on my way forth and back to work. I found myself looking forward to the half hour ride. When I arrived in North Norway my cousins were very impressed. Even though they all speak English I was able to communicate in Norwegian. This made my trip even more fun. I found this program perfect for me.

This course is a fantastic starter course for this wonderful language. I have visited Norway on a number of occasions and this course is a great beginning course for Bokmal - the principal dialect of Norway. I have purchased a good number of texts and CDs from a number of the many universities offering Norwegian in the US and have learned more of the conversational language from Pimsleur than in any one source I have previously explored. The only weakness is a general lack of availability of level 2 and level 3 courses for Norwegian. If Pimsleur determines this to be a valued project they would be heroes in the eyes of those desiring to experience more of the Norwegian language and my many Norwegian friends. I also believe that if more Norwegian language students saw more advanced levels of learning in this language made available from Pimsleur then they would be more likely to invest in the program. Great job on this level 1 course Pimsleur. Your technique is a pleasure to experience in language learning.