Chinese (Mandarin): Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Quick and Simple) [ABRIDGED] [AUDIOBOOK] (Audio CD)

~ Pimsleur (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Q&S Mandarin Chinese includes the first 8 lessons from the Pimsleur Comprehensive Level I. 4 hours, audio-only, effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions.

About the Author

Dr. Pimsleur devoted his life to language teaching and was one of the world's leading experts in applied linguistics. After obtaining his Ph.D. in French from Columbia University, he taught French Phonetics and Phonemics, and supervised the language laboratory at UCLA. He went on to become Professor of Romance Languages and Language Education, and Director of The Listening Center 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. 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 that is based on two key principles: the Principle of Anticipation and a scientific principle of memory that he called Graduated Interval Recall. This program incorporates both of these principles to provide you with the most simple and effective learning method possible.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Pimsleur; Abridged edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671790331
• ISBN-13: 978-0671790332
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #622,945 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun start to a challenging language, February 21, 2002

By	Rob B. "Rob" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

I'm over half way through the program now and can happily say that I'm not discouraged! I had heard from others who do speak Mandarin that learning outside of an immersive Chinese environment is not possible. I'm no longer convinced that this is true. Mind you, I haven't tried conversing with Chinese co-workers yet (I'm waiting to learn more), but I'm certain that this day will come. I'll be signing on for the 30-tape epic when I'm done with this mini-course.

Oh, get a good book with pinyin in it as a companion. The Basic Chinese (I think -- tall & red) book seems great. I used Lonely Planet & I'm not impressed -- a lot of the terms differ from what Pimsleur is teaching.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars if you really care, just get the instant conversation, March 7, 2005

By	Smuend (Baltimore MD) - See all my reviews

the first four cds of instant conversation are the exact same as the quick and simple cds.
dont waste your money buying both if you really want to learn chinese

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Introduction to Pimsleur, May 30, 2002

By	Luke Martin (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chinese (Mandarin) (Audio Cassette)

Anyone who thinks he can learn a language in four tapes is of course a fool. The real purpose for these introductory tapes is determining whether the Pimsleur method is going to work for you -- before dropping a couple hundred dollars on the Comprehensive volumes. Certainly, over the course of the four tapes you'll get some basic vocabulary, the ability to construct a few simple sentences, and good practice on pronunciation.

I give these tapes five stars because 1) I had fun going through them, 2) I love the fact and the challenge that the course is purely audio, 3) I got to jump start my mainly book-learned and non-conversational Chinese, 4) and they confirmed that the Pimsler method works for me.

If you already know that you like the Pimsleur method, then go ahead and get the Comprehensive I set -- which contains these four tapes.