Spanish II [AUDIOBOOK] (Audio CD)

~ Pimsleur (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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 CD
• Publisher: Pimsleur (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671315935
• ISBN-13: 978-0671315931
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 11.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,469,313 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly effective!!!, November 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Pimsleur Spanish / English Level II: Full Course 2nd Edition 30 Lessons (Audio Cassette)

I have just completed the first sixty lessons (Spanish I - 30 lessons, Spanish II - 30 lessons) of this 90 lesson course and tonight placed my order for the last 30 lessons (Spanish III).

This course follows the teaching method of the late Dr. Paul Pimsleur and is, without a doubt, the most effective method I have found for learning a new language. Having done some preliminary reading on Dr. Pimsleur before ordering the first course, I was struck by the wisdom of his "graduated interval recall" method.

What's interesting is that, as you go through the taped lessons, you are actually learning Spanish (or Japanese, German, Italian, etc.) in much the same way you learned your native language. Think about it! We all learned to speak our native language YEARS before we ever learned to write. We learned by listening, watching, and emulating. The advantage you have with these tapes is that, understanding English, you can now be clearly TOLD what each word means, rather than having to learn by watching and associating like we did as small children. Simply by listening, the tapes feed and TEST you on an ever increasing list of phrases, gradually increasing the length of time between testing until, finally, you LEARN. At the same time, you are forced to recombine the words you learn into NEW phrases, further testing and reinforcing your new knowledge. Additionally, as you progress through the tapes, the native speakers gradually increase their speed. Not surprisingly, your ability to understand increases with it!

It is already amazing how far I have come. I am now comfortably (if somewhat haltingly) speaking in present, past, AND future tenses, with a large set of commonly used verbs, nouns and adjectives. I am really excited to "dig in" to the last 30 lessons.

One final note: This course is only intended to teach you to SPEAK the language. Reading practice is extremely limited. The fact is, I have almost NO IDEA how to write or spell most of the words I'm using (again, just like children). For me, that is not a problem. I am told by native speakers that my pronunciation is EXCELLENT! For now, that feels like a huge success!

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More of the same (which is very good), June 22, 2000

By A Customer

If you liked Comprehensive I, you will like Comprehensive II. Interesting, interactive lessons add new vocabulary while reviewing the old. Conversations are at normal speaking speed. This helps your brain learn to cope with real speech, but if you need to pause and review frequently, it can make the lessons take much more than a half hour.

This set of lessons covers informal usage, the past tense, the conditional tense (could, would), should and must, and ends with the present progressive (am talking, etc.).

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Effective and therefor a good value, March 12, 2002

By A Customer

After working through Pimsleur I and II I can now with confidence have a conversation in Spanish, feeling like I am being not only understood but courteous. This has been useful in my work (legal) and in traveling. The 30 minute lesson length fit my attention span and ability to retain new material. It also, fortunately, fit my commute. Yes, it is relatively expensive, compared to other available books. It is very inexpensive compared to tuition at a local community college, plus it is much more interesting, and I was much more motivated to actually complete the sequence than I would have been had I signed up for a course across town two nights a week. A very fair price for the results obtained, in my opinion. The only downside is that I have not listened to NPR news for the last three months, because I have preferred to listen to these CDs in my car.