French, Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand French with Pimsleur Language Programs
by admin on January 14, 2010
Review
“Pimsleur programs provide plenty of positive reinforcement that will keep learners on track, and we found that Pimsleur gave us more proficiency and confidence in speaking the new language than any of the other language programs we reviewed.”– AudioFile Magazine”EXTREMELY ACCESSIBLE…each section within the lessons is short enough to hold our attention, and there is enough repetition to teach even those who consider themselves slow learners…Pimsleur [programs] are extremely thorough and easy to use — quite lively!”– Boston Herald”Learn French while commuting, German while jogging, Spanish (or Russian, Italian, and Japanese) while cooking all with NO WRITTEN MATERIALS!”– New York Daily News”Designed for the ear [Read More...]
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I got the basic tapes to see if I would even care to learn French. I can now greet people, ask for things, and have a enough basic understanding to be able to have a very simple conversation. Now I want more. They make my one hour commute through Los Angeles fly by. Once you’ve learned a few phrases find a dictionary to look up how the words are spelled. (maintenent sounds like mahntnah spoken through your nose; aussi sounds like o,c) I think it’s amazing that anyone learns to read French, but I’m learning to speak it.
I have used several different language programs in the past and this one is hands down THE WORST. On the first 9 of 10 lessons (I just couldn’t listen to the 10th) I have learned maybe 50 words: the numbers 1, 2, 8 and 9 (3? 4? 5?) and have been asked to repeat the phrase “quelque chose” approximately 750 times - not an exaggeration - since there is no vocabulary to practice (I’d like to eat SOMETHING. I’d like to drink SOMETHING. I’d like to buy SOMETHING). As for the somethings - eating has no vocab, drinking eventually got to “some wine” and “some beer” (where’s the water?) and, you guessed it, nothing to buy. It consists of 2 conversations - “Do you speak or understand French or English?” and “Would you like to eat or drink something?” I don’t know the pronouns yet, nor the conjugations for the verb “to be.” If I need to ask for directions, the only responses I will understand is “It is here, it is not here, it’s down there, it’s not down there.” How about if it is down 2 blocks and turn left and across the street? I guess I will just get lost. Incredibly frustrating to use if you have any aptitude or pressing need to learn French. Essentually, I can express the basic pleasantries when I walk into a store, but that is about all. THERE ARE NO TRAVEL REFERENCES - words like tickets, train, airport, etc. are completely missing. Instant Immersion DESTROYS this program.
there are definitely strength and weaknesses about these CDs. first of all, it does not come with any written material. If you can’t see how a word is spell, how can you memorize it efficiently? The syllabus is very restricted. There are you and I, but how about he, she and they? The strength is that they repeat themselves over and over again, so by the end, you’ve heard it enough times that it does start to stick. They do emphasize on the correct pronunciation, which is very helpful. I’d give it a 3 star at best.