Review of PIMSLEUR.com
CD+MP3, No pronunciation scores, Expensive, ★
Pimsleur teaches a limited vocabulary in 56 languages, entirely by ear, with CDs or downloaded MP3 files. 55 languages are taught, with explanations in English, and English is taught, with explanations in 14 languages. Standard pricing is $22 for five 30-minute lessons, $120 for 30 lessons, $335 for 90 lessons. Pimsleur for a few common languages can be bought for much less by joining Audible for $15 per month, which entitles you to one free audiobook (30 lessons) each month. Or check Amazon.
The free introductory lesson for each language teaches about 20 words in 28 minutes. It breaks down each sentence into syllables, and starts teaching with the last syllable, until you have the whole sentence, which is effective.
Speaking seems too fast and indistinct for complete beginners. For example in a Chinese word starting with a strongly aspirated consonant, it is not possible to tell whether this is h, p, or t. Consonants at the ends and in the middle of words are also indistinct.
Intonation is mentioned for example in the Chinese and Indonesian lessons, but without saying which words have which intonation, and a complete novice cannot tell. An Indonesian phrase is described as having a rising intonation, but sounds as if it rises then falls.
Amazon reviews mention some of these same problems and say that after all 90 lessons you have just an introductory knowledge. You could learn the Chinese tones with the free FSI or BBC courses, or from the graphs in the cheap Transparent course, then return to Pimsleur if you prefer. Transparent would be equally helpful for Indonesian, which is not taught by the others.
They teach most languages in English. They teach English in 14 languages: Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Farsi, French, German, Haitian, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese.
CD+MP3, No pronunciation scores, Expensive, ★
Pimsleur teaches a limited vocabulary in 56 languages, entirely by ear, with CDs or downloaded MP3 files. 55 languages are taught, with explanations in English, and English is taught, with explanations in 14 languages. Standard pricing is $22 for five 30-minute lessons, $120 for 30 lessons, $335 for 90 lessons. Pimsleur for a few common languages can be bought for much less by joining Audible for $15 per month, which entitles you to one free audiobook (30 lessons) each month. Or check Amazon.
The free introductory lesson for each language teaches about 20 words in 28 minutes. It breaks down each sentence into syllables, and starts teaching with the last syllable, until you have the whole sentence, which is effective.
Speaking seems too fast and indistinct for complete beginners. For example in a Chinese word starting with a strongly aspirated consonant, it is not possible to tell whether this is h, p, or t. Consonants at the ends and in the middle of words are also indistinct.
Intonation is mentioned for example in the Chinese and Indonesian lessons, but without saying which words have which intonation, and a complete novice cannot tell. An Indonesian phrase is described as having a rising intonation, but sounds as if it rises then falls.
Amazon reviews mention some of these same problems and say that after all 90 lessons you have just an introductory knowledge. You could learn the Chinese tones with the free FSI or BBC courses, or from the graphs in the cheap Transparent course, then return to Pimsleur if you prefer. Transparent would be equally helpful for Indonesian, which is not taught by the others.
They teach most languages in English. They teach English in 14 languages: Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Farsi, French, German, Haitian, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese.
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