The Pimsleur® Method: the easiest, fastest way to learn a new language. Completely portable, easily downloadable, and lots of fun. You’ll be speaking and understanding in no time flat! Each lesson in Units 1 to 5 provides 30 minutes of spoken language practice, with an introductory conversation, and new vocabulary and structures. Detailed instructions enable you to understand and participate in the conversation. Each lesson contains practice for vocabulary introduced in previous lessons. The emphasis is on pronunciation and comprehension, and on learning to speak Mandarin Chinese.
Download the accompanying reference guide.
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"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)
"Very useful!"
I'm writing this review on the beginning units so it will be of use to anybody contemplating trying these lessons. I have all three phases and have been in China and I would highly recommend this course. For me, these have been very useful tools for laying the ground work for speaking Mandarin. With only these lessons I have been able to get around in China and generally convey what I need.
"Somewhat Disappointing"
The first segment of the audio describes the Pimsleur method. I'd like to say that it is as revolutionary as claimed, however I'm not sure that it is. Perhaps I'm slow, however I had to go over and over the first lesson just to remember the basics. Then, after much practice, I tried out my only sentence or two on a class of visiting Chinese professors in Sydney last week. At the conclusion of my presentation, one came up to me and said, "Your teaching was great but your Chinese was terrible." So, that's it for me Mr Pimsleur and your method. In the traditional Chinese way, I lost face and you are to blame!