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With Pimsleur Language Programs you don't just study a language, you learn it -- the same way you mastered English! And because the technique relies on interactive spoken language training, the Pimsleur Language Programs are totally audio -- no book is needed!
The Pimsleur programs provide a method of self-practice with an expert teacher and native speakers in lessons specially designed to work with the way the mind naturally acquires language information. The various components of language -- vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar -- are all learned together without rote memorization and drills. Using a unique method of memory recall developed by renowned linguist, Dr. Paul Pimsleur, the programs teach listeners to combine words and phrases to express themselves the way native speakers do. By listening and responding to thirty minute recorded lessons, students easily and effectively achieve spoken proficiency.
No other language program or school is as quick, convenient, and effective as the Pimsleur Language Programs.
The Comprehensive Program is the ultimate in spoken language learning. For those who want to become proficient in the language of their choice, the Comprehensive programs go beyond the Basic Programs to offer spoken-language fluency.
Using the same simple method of interactive self-practice with native speakers, these comprehensive programs provide a complete language learning course. The Comprehensive Program is available in a wide variety of languages and runs through three levels (thirty lessons each) in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. At the end of a full Comprehensive Program listeners will be conducting complete conversations and be well on their way to mastering the language. The Comprehensive Programs are all available on cassettes.
Reviewer: Steven S. Reilley from Houston, TX USA
I have nothing but great things to say about this program. It was extremely helpful.
Speaking even the most basic Polish phrases seemed impossible when I started, but each word was broken down so cleverly and the the lessons were structured so logically that it became quite easy. As with many of the other reviewers, my only regret is that there is not another series of tapes to move on to.
Perfect your accent & fluency while you commute
Reviewer: Linda M. Dudzic from Petaluma, CA USA
I've bought 3 other audio courses on Polish... I wanted something I could use in the car while commuting. This should have been the first one! It is 100% audio. They teach you to speak and understand the way those skills should be taught. They repeat every phrase 3 times for the first 7 lessons. That means you never have to rewind the tape in order to get enough practice before moving on. They use "backwards build-up" to help you master longer sentences. They teach you proper word order by sticking with the same vocabulary and varying the sentence structure, for example, starting with a statement in the first person, then converting to a question in the third person, then converting it from a masculine to a feminine subject, then adding a direct object, then an adverb, then a prepositional phrase, and so on. This course will not teach you to read and it won't teach you formally about the noun conjugations and verb declensions. But it goes a long way toward getting you accustomed to the sounds/patterns of the language so that when you're ready to tackle the written language or want to expand your knowledge, you will have a comfort level that comes with a solid feeling for the language. My only complaint is that there doesn't seem to be a next level course.
Reviewer: a New Jersey Pole from Mahwah, NJ
Pimsleur's Polish 1 provides the student with a graduated series of Polish conversations. While the content is composed mostly of words and phrases useful to tourists and business travelers (and a lot of stuff that would be helpful for a guy trying to score a date in Poland!), the covert introduction to grammar is universally helpful. These lessons are convenient and enjoyable and can be listened to many times, always offering an opportunity for improvement. However, I don't prescribe to the pie-in-the-sky notion of purely inuitive, drill and memorization-free language learning. This is a great place to start, but the next step should be a more grammer intensive program.
Reviewer: Phil Swanwick from Kingston, Ontario
I am now well into the program and feel this is helping build basic grammar and syntax at least as fast as one on one tutoring. I recommend this program to anyone wishing to learn or improve their Polish, and I hear it is equally effective for other languages.
