Ukrainian: Pimsleur Compact (Pimsleur Language Program) [Audio Cassette]

Pimsleur Language Method (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997 | Series: Pimsleur Language Program (Book 5)

With Pimsleur Language Programs you don't just study a language, you learn it -- the same way you mastered English! And because the technique relies on interactive spoken language training, the Pimsleur Language Programs are totally audio -- no book is needed!

The Pimsleur programs provide a method of self-practice with an expert teacher and native speakers in lessons specially designed to work with the way the mind naturally acquires language information. The various components of language -- vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar -- are all learned together without rote memorization and drills. Using a unique method of memory recall developed by renowned linguist, Dr. Paul Pimsleur, the programs teach listeners to combine words and phrases to express themselves the way native speakers do. By listening and responding to thirty minute recorded lessons, students easily and effectively achieve spoken proficiency.

No other language program or school is as quick, convenient, and effective as the Pimsleur Language Programs.

The Comprehensive Program is the ultimate in spoken language learning. For those who want to become proficient in the language of their choice, the Comprehensive programs go beyond the Basic Programs to offer spoken-language fluency. Using the same simple method of interactive self-practice with native speakers, these comprehensive programs provide a complete language learning course. The Comprehensive Program is available in a wide variety of languages and runs through three levels (thirty lessons each) in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. At the end of a full Comprehensive Program listeners will be conducting complete conversations and be well on their way to mastering the language. The Comprehensive Programs are all available on cassettes and are also on CD in the six languages in which we offer the Basic Program on CD.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Pimsleur Intl Inc (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067157955X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671579555
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 10.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,375,111 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

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pimsleur is the best, October 27, 2000

By 

"cdebois" (Lawrenceville, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ukrainian: Learn to Speak and Understand Ukrainian with Pimsleur Language Programs (Audio Cassette)

After trying many tape language series in several different languages over the years with minimal success I landed upon the Pimsleur Method. Absorbing the high cost of the comprehensive Ukrainian I eagerly began my lessons. It absolutely exceeded my expectations. I did supplement it with a dictionary and grammar book but those pale in comparison to the value I recieved from the tapes. The product must be diligently used in compliance to the prescribed regimen on a daily basis, if done, you will learn. My Ukrainian contacts were very pleasantly suprised by my grasp of the language and I am frequently complimented on my pronunciation. I wish that Pimsleur had a follow up course to this first level. You end up with only basic skills after the 30 days but fully confident that you can learn more.

Since my success with Ukranian I have also tried my hand at Pimsleur's Hindi; again with great results. Unfortunately Hindi is only available in a 10 lesson series which leaves you wishing for more. If your language needs are covered by Pimsleur 30 lesson programs they are worth the money

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ukrainian: Pimsleur Comprehensive, May 11, 2000

By 

Mark Gordon (Springfield, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ukrainian: Learn to Speak and Understand Ukrainian with Pimsleur Language Programs (Audio Cassette)

If Pimsleur can teach me a language, they can teach anyone. And, they are teaching me.

Four years of high school and college Spanish and I can barely say hola! But, after listening to the Pimsleur Ukrainian tapes while driving to and from work for the past year, I'm actually starting to get it!

I even got compliments on my pronouciation when I was in Ukraine earlier this year.

I'm a long way away from striking up a casual conversation, but at least I know I can make it through necessary transactions (ordering food, buying souvenirs, finding a bathroom, getting some basic directions, etc.) That's important because, unlike much of Western Europe, English speakers are still in the minority in Ukraine.

Pimsleur teaches you phrases you may actually need. The "cut and paste" style of learning which allows students to string together words and phrases into increasingly longer and more complex thoughts is very well thought out.

Unlike many foreign language tapes that seem to have little or no thought behind them, the Pimsleur tapes are carefully crafted with clear goals in mind.

They're expensive, but they work. I only hope that by the time I'm done with the first 15-tape package, the folks at Pimsleur will have produced the second level.

11 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No real alternatives, May 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Ukrainian: Learn to Speak and Understand Ukrainian with Pimsleur Language Programs (Audio Cassette)

Ok. Pimsleur won't get you very far, is expensive as hell, and is somewhat cumbersome to work with. So the rest of this review will be about how in hell did I get to giving it five stars. There are several ways to go about when wanting to learn a language in an audio-only manner. You can get the "Learn in your car" from Penton Overseas. You can get the audio-only course from Living Language. Or you can take Pimsleur. From the lot, Pimsleur would be the ONLY decent answer for the utter beginner, with the other options, you will find yourself replaying the tapes a couple of times. Does any language course that is a self learning course worth this kind of money? No. That's why we have the next paragraph.

Money. First of all, by all means get it used. It is an audio course that I recommend going through only once. So if you're lucky enough to find a CD version used, it will be exactly the same (of course - assuming that the seller is decent enough to sell unscratched CD-s). As for used audio cassettes, well, as much as we want to hear the correct pronounciation, we have to remember - this is not Mozart, it is only recorded speech. However even if you don't find it used, you can buy it, and after completing the course, sell it as used. As this is suitable for first time learning, and is too much for review purposes (perhaps the other audio-only courses will be better for review).

One last thing. Usability. I'll talk technology, but it's essential here. When I bought the heavy package, the first thing I've done was to move it to MP3. So then I had the entire audio collection on a single CD. In such a way you take a single disc to your car, play it with a mobile MP3 player, and stock the valuable course in your closet for backup. In that way, when you finish with the course, the originals stay in a good enough state to be sold as used. However, if you won't convert to MP3, the need to each time take another cassette/CD to your car would be a serious drawback, since storing the entire course in your car doesn't sound as a sensible alternative to me.

To wrap it up, buy it, MP3 it, learn it, sell it.