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jerezano

Jul 20, 2007, 10:14 AM

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Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Hello all,

Has anybody experience with the Pimsleur approach to learning Spanish? They are now advertising 4 compact disks with free shipping (USA only?) for only $19.95 usd. Of course the claim that one can speak Spanish in 10 days WITHOUT an accent is absurd. But before I buy the set for a friend who can't speak more than four or five words in Spanish (all related to foods) I would like some advice from people who have used the disks.

Thanks. jerezano.

Rolly

Jul 20, 2007, 11:13 AM

Post #2 of 15 (10459 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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I bought and sort of used the first (of 3) Spanish cassette series and found it very effective, but it was expensive. The company is still selling the 3 courses at a pretty high price -- US$274 each. http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/learn-spanish.asp There is no mention of the low-cost CD set on this website.

But on this site it is listed http://ww3.pimsleurapproach.com/...01.asp?learn=Spanish

It is unclear to me what the difference is except a very big cost. Personally, I am skeptical about the usefulness of the low-cost set vs the more expensive series.

Rolly Pirate

husker

Jul 21, 2007, 9:38 AM

Post #3 of 15 (10437 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Hola Jerezano,
I have sent you a private message concerning Pimsleur. However I also have visual link basic course and there verb module that will get your friend off and running. Thus I am also willing to "share" these as well as the others I mentioned.

Rolly might be the perfect vehicle to transfer these files. He would need to share space on his site to uplaod the files.

Just a thought. I have invested a little in these but, again, I am willing to "share" for the ultimate good.

maylane

Jul 23, 2007, 8:15 AM

Post #4 of 15 (10402 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Hello Jerezano, yes I used (and am still using) Pimsleur, The 4 disk set (8 lessons) you are referring to is their lost leader if you will, I bought it and it is basic, so I then bought the first course, of 30 lessons, and guess what , that course starts out with the first 8 lessons I had previously purchased, so for 300usd, I got 22 lessons. But I am now working on the 2nd set of 30 lessons, so I think it is helping me. Joyce

husker

Jul 25, 2007, 10:34 AM

Post #5 of 15 (10367 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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For those of you that are interested in basic communication Visual Link is a good place to start, thier verb module is more advanced but worth the money. They also publish a weekly email (2) a basic and an enhanced one it will help with learning vocabulary as well as cultural topics.
I will post part of one for those interested.

Also worth a look for 1.95

Start learning Spanish with the Free Spanish Language CD-ROM!

Through next Monday, July 30th, you can get the Free Spanish Language
CD-ROM from Visual Link Spanish(TM) for only $1.95 S/H for both U.S.
and International orders! This saves you $5.00 off the regular
Shipping/Handling Fee.

Here at Visual Link Spanish(TM), we believe in letting you "try
before you buy." That's why we've place some of our lessons for free
on our website, and why we created our Free CD-ROM. Normally, you
can order the Free CD-ROM on the website for just the shipping and
handling cost of $6.95.

We'll lose money by doing this, but we know that once you see how
easy and fast you learn Spanish, you will come back for more.
Remember, the complete course also contains 10 audio CDs, 200+
interactive computer lessons and a conversation manual.

This is NOT a subscription or a club. We will not keep sending you
CDs and you will not be billed for anything other than what you
order. We also have a very strict policy on the use of information
that we receive from our users. We will NEVER sell or give the
information away to anyone outside our company!

Click the link below for both US and International orders and get the
Spanish CD for only $1.95:

http://www.learnspanishtoday.com/order/freeCD.htm

husker

Jul 25, 2007, 10:39 AM

Post #6 of 15 (10367 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Words of the Week -----
Words taken from the complete Visual Link Spanish™ course

English
Spanish
lunes
to sound, ring
sonar
lunes
to appear
aparecer
martes
to attract
atraer
miércoles
to drive (Spain)
conducir
miércoles
to establish
establecer
jueves
to offer
ofrecer
jueves
to produce
producir
viernes
to protect
proteger
viernes
to recognize
reconocer
sábado
to thank
agradecer
sábado
to translate
traducir
domingo
to be right
tener razón
domingo
to be worth
valer
bonus
to be worth it
valer la pena
bonus
it's worth it
vale la pena

Spanish News -----
(The news in this section is for language learning purposes only. The view of this news paragraph(s) may not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Institute of Languages. This article is not necessarily deemed true and factual although it most likely is. It also may have been taken from articles written sometime in the past.)
Spanish
"Amplían plazo para salvar a los coreanos"
Dan 24 horas más para el canje de milicianos capturados
Un presunto vocero talibán dijo el domingo que la milicia religiosa había decidido ampliar en 24 horas el plazo para que el gobierno de Afganistán canjee milicianos capturados por 23 rehenes surcoreanos.
English
- "They Expand the Deadline to Save the Koreans"
They give 24 hours more for the exchange of captured militia individuals
A supposed Taliban spokesperson on Sunday said that the religious militia had decided to expand by 24 hours the deadline for the Afghani government to exchange militia individuals captured by 23 South Korean hostages.
Excerpt from a Mexican newspaper called "Pulso".

Culture ----- Dinner in Latin America Part II
Vocabulario de la semana - Weekly Vocabulary
debes tener - you (informal) should have
acerca de la importancia - about the importance
me gustaría compartir - I would like to share
yo vivía en - I was living in
llegué a ser - I became
pata de chancho/cerdo - pig's feet
como siempre - as always
esta vez - this time
un poco como - a little like
pero no pude - but I couldn't
un plan ingenioso - an ingenious plan
en una servilleta - in a napkin
para comer más tarde - to eat later
regresó - returned
y lo va a botar afuera - and he's going to throw it away outside
y ofendido/a - and offended
con mi comida - with my food
traté de explicar - I tried to explain
lo peor que se hizo - the worse it became
en cualquier momento - at any moment
lo malo fue que - the bad part was that
de pedir disculpas - of apologizing
como puedes ver - as you (informal) can see
si alguien te invita - if someone invites you
si tienes - if you (informal) have
disfrutarás la experiencia - you (informal) will enjoy the experience
te encantaría ir pero - you (informal) would love to go but
si te gustaría comunicarte bien - if you (informal) would like to communicate well
en verdad funciona - it really works
After last week, debes tener a pretty good idea acerca de la importancia of food in Latin America. With that in mind, me gustaría compartir an experience that happened to me. Yo vivía en a city called Vista Alegre and every evening I would eat with the Silva family. Llegué a ser good friends with the Silvas and Mrs. Silva became like a second mother to me.
One night Mrs. Silva made us pata de chancho. Como siempre, she beamed as she presented the food to us. Esta vez, she left our food and went into a different room while we ate with her children. This was the first time I had ever eaten pig's feet and they looked un poco como mushy gelatin. I put a fork full in my mouth and tried to swallow pero no pude. The texture was a little bit too slimy and I gagged as I tried to swallow it. I felt horrible because I had been able to eat all of the culturally different foods up to that point. I then took a bite of bread, took another bite of the pigs feet and tried to chase it down with water. Again I gagged. I tried a couple of different techniques to swallow the pig's feet but without success; I then began to worry. I physically could not eat the pig's feet, but at the same time, I could not offend Mrs. Silva.
I sat in this dilemma for quite some time until I devised what seemed to be un plan ingenioso. I put the pigs feet inside of my rolls, rolled them up en una servilleta and then planned to take them back to my apartment to secretly dispose of them. I made the children think I was going to take them back to my apartment para comer más tarde as a snack. Everything seemed to be going well and I had the packages neatly tucked away into a bag. Then Mrs. Silva regresó and one of the children instantly, in a tattle-tale sort of voice said, "Mom, he put the pigs feet in a napkin y lo va a botar afuera!"
I was devastated. Mrs. Silva was instantly hurt y ofendida that I was going to do this con mi comida. Traté de explicar that I was going to take them back to my apartment, but the more I explained, lo peor que se hizo. Finally, I left after saying "sorry" ("lo siento") about twenty times and Mrs. Silva looking like she was going to burst into tears en cualquier momento.
Lo malo fue que I had to go to her home every morning and evening for the next two months to have breakfast and dinner there. It took me about two months de pedir disculpas to finally get on her good side again.
Como puedes ver, food and mealtime in Latin America is an important part of life. Si alguien te invita to dinner at their home in Latin America, here is what I suggest. Si tienes a strong stomach, go for it, disfrutarás la experiencia and be culturally enriched. If you don't have a strong stomach, tell them that te encantaría ir pero won't be able to make it.
Remember, si te gustaría comunicarte bien with the family you are going to eat with, be sure and order your complete Visual Link Spanish™ course that has been successfully taught at the university level and at major US corporations. En verdad funciona - Guaranteed!
Sneak Peak at Next Week: Food Part III - "Huevitos"
¡Hasta luego! ("Until later")
David S. Clark -- President / Director
Visual Link Spanish™
Fun, Interactive Spanish Courses
http://www.spanishprograms.com
dave_c@spanishprograms.com

Don Moore

Jul 25, 2007, 11:03 AM

Post #7 of 15 (10362 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Hi Mel,

I have heard very good things about Pimsleur, but have not used it because I do not need to.

But, as a former teacher of English as a Second Language and as one who learned Spanish and a couple of Philippine languages in small classes with a live teacher who gave feedback on pronunciation, etc., I still believe strongly that the best approach is to have a skilled live teacher face-to-face. Otherwise, it is hard to know whether one is saying things correctly or not. NOTE: I said SKILLED, not just anyone who speaks the language. That would be an informant, but not a teacher.

Of course, some people do not have access to, or can not afford a skilled teacher in a small class setting. And some may not want or need that level of intensity. In that case, tapes are OK. So it depends on one's goal and one's access to a teacher.

Buena suerte,
Don Moore

jerezano

Jul 26, 2007, 5:40 AM

Post #8 of 15 (10346 views)

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Re: [Don Moore] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Hello all,

Don Moore said:>>
But, as a former teacher of English as a Second Language and as one who learned Spanish and a couple of Philippine languages in small classes with a live teacher who gave feedback on pronunciation, etc., I still believe strongly that the best approach is to have a skilled live teacher face-to-face. Otherwise, it is hard to know whether one is saying things correctly or not. NOTE: I said SKILLED, not just anyone who speaks the language. That would be an informant, but not a teacher.<<

Don is absolutely right. No doubt about it. But a resident tutor can be more expensive than most of us can afford. Also, a qualified school with one-on-one instruction can be a bit expensive. However, I have found this option to be affordable and very useful if considered as a vacation.

I usually try to take a week yearly as a live-in with a Mexican Family through a well-qualified school. For example, this year I spent a week in Mérida at the Institute of Modern Spanish with 5 hours daily of one-on-one instruction. A very interesting vacation, a delightful and inexpensive week with a charming, intelligent, resourceful, and sharing hostess. While she didn't teach me Spanish, she told me in excellent Spanish a lot about Mérida where her paternal grandfather established a Henequin plantation, her father a Liquor factory, her education in a religious school where she established a friendship with the family of the Governor, and legends and history of Yucatán. Whether she speaks English or not never came into question although her daughter does. As for the school, the instructors were both teachers in various Spanish schools for Meridenses and my grammar teacher was the most qualified teacher I have yet found in my various school experiences.

By the way the paternal great-grandparents of my hostess were assassinated while making a carriage paseo in Mexico City at the onset of the Mexican Revolution.

The most expensive part of the whole vacation was air fare to and from Zacatecas.

Did I enjoy my vacation? Yes! Did I learn anything at the school? Yes! Will I go to another school next year? Yes!

Don's recommendation should be considered as the ideal way to learn Spanish.

Adiós. jerezano.

(This post was edited by tonyburton on Jul 26, 2007, 7:41 AM)

jerezano

Jul 26, 2007, 5:50 AM

Post #9 of 15 (10345 views)

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Re: [husker] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Hola a todos,

miércoles
to drive (Spain)
conducir

Here in México to drive is manejar (to manage is the basic definition).

miércoles This should be read as miércoles. Some sites have problems putting the necessary accents into their hml texts. This is [was] evident throughout the post. Just insert an accented vowel where the word becomes unintelligible and you're home free.

Spanglish--an indiscriminate mixture of English and Spanish. Personally, I hate it, but in a teaching environment it just might be useful. So that mix as quoted just might prove useful to a beginner. In a way anything that teaches new vocabularies and how the words are used can be useful. Even Spanglish....

Adiós. jerezano.

(This post was edited by tonyburton on Jul 26, 2007, 7:40 AM)

quevedo

Jul 26, 2007, 8:53 AM

Post #10 of 15 (10334 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Gracias a Dios

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Saludos, amigo Jerezano.

Quevedo

Don Moore

Jul 27, 2007, 4:59 PM

Post #11 of 15 (10300 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Mel,

I was thinking more of small classes, say 10 or fewer. That gives everybody a chance to speak one-on-one, but also reduces the cost through sharing. Group drills are a significant part of the experience, and a really good teacher can pick out who is and who is not speaking correctly, even a group of eight or so. Even this class size, though, is not cheap, of course. The question really is how much does one want to learn to what level of precision and how quickly.(and of course, how cheaply).

But there is good news for those who want to learn on their own with recorded lessons. The level of DESIRE AND COMMITMENT is a HUGE factor regardless of the method.
Don Moore

syndi_cation

Aug 8, 2007, 1:05 PM

Post #12 of 15 (10216 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Hello,

I puchased Pimsleur from a site offering cheap Pimsleur courses a few years ago. It's Pimsleur from the first edition compressed mp3 files onto CDs (I think it was 4 cds) you can play on your computer or download to mp3 player. I find Pimsleur to be an almost effortless and very enjoyalbe way to learn Spanish, but you will need to continue to learn Spanish on your own after you complete the course because you will need more vocabulary. It gives you a good base and is very helpful for pronounciation.

Cindy

pez222

Aug 10, 2007, 8:08 AM

Post #13 of 15 (10187 views)

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Re: [syndi_cation] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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About three years ago, I also bought a set of Pim's Spanish MP 3's on a long gone site. It has served me well on two trips to Maz' and one to PV. One can sometimes find them used and a lot lower priced on ebay. I also like the Spanish language books written by Margarita Madrigal.
I find nearly no native spanish speaking people here in So. Dakota. On my trips SOB, I take much pleasure in speaking with non-English speaking folks. pez222

theolog2003

Aug 10, 2007, 4:19 PM

Post #14 of 15 (10175 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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I have used Pimsleur extensively. When I went to Spanish School in Guanajuato, having gone through Pimsleur, I tested at the Intermediate High level. Afterward, I checked with Pimsleur to see if they intended to put out anything more advanced to which they said no, not at this time. However, I found this guy, and I can recall how, who had put together, and very professionally, two more levels using the exact Pimsleur method. I have wondered if he hired away some of the Pimsleur folks since his two-level course is exactly like Pimsleur using the identical methodology. The most unique thing is this course teaches the subjunctive using the Pimsleur method. This is called LEARNING SPANISH LIKE CRAZY and the head of this outfit is Patrick Johnson, an attorney from the East Coast.

Here's the link: http://www.zyworld.com/.../PlainTruth/Home.htm

Good luck!

Doug Bower

(This post was edited by Rolly on Aug 10, 2007, 5:40 PM)

jerezano

Aug 12, 2007, 5:58 AM

Post #15 of 15 (10146 views)

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Re: [theolog2003] Pimsleur Approach to learning Spanish

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Hello theolog2003

Thanks, Doug, for the reference. That "Learning Spanish like Crazy" looks like a good buy for $99. I just might try that. The promise to finally get through to me on the Subjunctive just might be the deciding factor. I just got through in June with a full week of 1 1/2 hour of one-on-one grammar in MÃ©rida where I learned a lot but I am still weak on that Subjunctive. A CD where I can go back from time to time and refresh myself sounds very attractive.

AdiÃ³s. jerezano.