Pimsleur Language Program Spanish II

I am very happy with my purchase/

I highly recommend Pimsleur Spanish for those with no previous experience who want a good basis in speaking the language. I studied German in Jr High and High School, and felt like I had virtually no ability to speak it after 3 years. At this point I have finished Pimsleur Spanish 1 and 2, and have just returned from a vacation in Mexico where I had a chance to try it out. I got a lot of compliments on my Spanish (and importantly, my accent). It may be that the early Pimsleur courses focus on things commonly said in the course of travel or business, but I found I was able to say 75% or more of what I wanted to communicate, and was understood in almost all cases. If you really think about this it is impressive- the courses cover roughly 15 hours of audio time each. Admittedly I listed to each lesson 2-3 times before moving on, but 30 hours of instruction can get you to the point where you can get your ideas across. I would not claim to be fluent by any standard; more like an advanced beginner. I have a lot of trouble understanding the rapid-fire speech of native speakers, and I'm certain my grammar could use a lot of work as well. But I did this while in my car driving to work each day, so there was virtually no time commitment outside of my normal routine. Another down-side is that you don't get much experience in reading. When I look in my daughter's Spanish book I am consistently shocked at how things are spelled. However, I think that actually helps with pronunciation, as you have no preconceived notion of what the word should sound like based on its spelling. Since you only ever hear native speakers say the word, my guess is that a person who studied a language via Pimsleur probably has a better accent than someone at a similar level who learned it in school the traditional way. I have already purchased Pimsleur Spanish 3, and am planning to go on through all 4 courses. Again, I do NOT expect to be fluent by the end, and I think those claims are a bit of a reach by any standard. However this is a great way to start, especially if you don't have the time/money to invest in a course at your local college.

The best self-study language program I've come across. Each session builds on previous lessons to improve fluency and vocabulary. You can learn a language while doing other tasks (household chores, etc.)

I bought this level II course after completing the level I course. I had borrowed a lot of different Spanish learning CDs from the local libraries, and liked this one the best. But when I decided to purchase it I thought it was too expensive, so I signed up for a community college class instead. The college course did not fit my needs, most of the students were 30 years yonger than me and not very enthusuastic about learning. So I bought the tapes. I liked the freedom of learning at my own speed. The 27-29 minute lessons are perfect, for me, since my commute is 1/2 hour. I really had to concentrate when I listened to the CDs in order to say the correct responses. I found that I really was remembering the vocabulary, and the word order - which seemed confusing at first but now is starting to feel more natural. The tapes gave me enough self confidence to try to say a sentence or two to people at work who are native speakers, they seem happy to help since I am really trying. I do not use the CDs on the commute home, I can not learn when I am tired. On the way home I listen to Spanish singing tapes, from the library. The Enrique Iglesias Quizas CD is my current favorite.

Many years ago, after considerable research, I bought a Pimsleur language CD course. I paid the full price, then ~$250 dollars, as it is now. The material is easy to follow and soon I was thinking in the beginning terms of a new language. So I tried another language a few years later. Pimsleur uses the same template for the different languages which makes it easier to learn and to remember. Just recently, I am considering learning Latin American Spanish. Mmm. Tamales, rellenos,... The usual research brought me to the Talking Bookshop. I liked the name, the reviews and I already knew that I liked the Pimsleur method. The price- well less than half, for a used set. The 18 CDs came in a durable zippered wallet with protective sleeves and a different labeling on the discs- but it has been so many years. Same format, native speakers, same results. I'm happy. I contacted the seller and they are very gracious. Of all of the reasons to learn another language, this is a good start. I have in mind, at this price, the next language that I want to add.