Pimsleur Polish [AUDIOBOOK] (Audio Cassette)

by 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 Cassette
• Publisher: Pimsleur; 4 csst, 10 lessons edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671579428
• ISBN-13: 978-0671579425
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.7 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,635,435 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tak! This is the one., March 9, 2003

By	Eds Word (El Paso, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This is definitely the way to start learning Polish on your own. Like all Pimsleur programs its expensive and is not geared towards building a large vocabulary but it is unsurpassed in helping you develop a good speaking proficiency and you will remember what you've learned for a longer period of time compared to other methods of instruction. Use this course as a starter and follow it up with Boleslaw Mazur's Colloquial Polish (with cassette accompaniment) to further develop your vocabulary, reading, and grammar skills.

If you've used Pimsleur tapes before the format will be familiar to you. Among other things you'll learn some key words (please, thank you, etc), how to ask for directions, and how to set up a lunch or dinner date. Its not much but you'll learn it well. Polish is full of awkward consonant combinations and none of the other courses is better than Pimsleur in helping you deal with these. This is only a 10-lesson course (about 30 minutes per lesson) which is far too brief. Hopefully the Pimsleur folks will put out a Comprehensive Program (30 lessons) for Polish as they have for other languages.

Do not purchase this program if you are going to Poland soon and just want to know a few key phrases for the trip. There is little provided in this regard and youll be better off with a travel-oriented phrasebook. If you already know some Russian you should also skip this one and start with Mazur. But if you are keen on developing a speaking proficiency that, with some follow-up work, will impress a Pole, this is the place to start.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect your accent & fluency while you commute, March 22, 2002

By	Linda M. Dudzic (Petaluma, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I've bought 3 other audio courses on Polish... I wanted something I could use in the car while commuting. This should have been the first one! It is 100% audio. They teach you to speak and understand the way those skills should be taught. They repeat every phrase 3 times for the first 7 lessons. That means you never have to rewind the tape in order to get enough practice before moving on. They use "backwards build-up" to help you master longer sentences. They teach you proper word order by sticking with the same vocabulary and varying the sentence structure, for example, starting with a statement in the first person, then converting to a question in the third person, then converting it from a masculine to a feminine subject, then adding a direct object, then an adverb, then a prepositional phrase, and so on. This course will not teach you to read and it won't teach you formally about the noun conjugations and verb declensions. But it goes a long way toward getting you accustomed to the sounds/patterns of the language so that when you're ready to tackle the written language or want to expand your knowledge, you will have a comfort level that comes with a solid feeling for the language. My only complaint is that there doesn't seem to be a next level course.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Launchpad to Further Study, March 7, 2002

By	Marcus O'Reilly-us (Mahwah, NJ) - See all my reviews

Pimsleur's Polish 1 provides the student with a graduated series of Polish conversations. While the content is composed mostly of words and phrases useful to tourists and business travelers (and a lot of stuff that would be helpful for a guy trying to score a date in Poland!), the covert introduction to grammar is universally helpful. These lessons are convenient and enjoyable and can be listened to many times, always offering an opportunity for improvement. However, I don't prescribe to the pie-in-the-sky notion of purely inuitive, drill and memorization-free language learning. This is a great place to start, but the next step should be a more grammer intensive program.