Product Description

The concept simple though it is, represents a breakthrough in language learning methodology. The approach is motivating, enjoyable, convenient and highly effective - Listen and learn, any time anywhere, in the car, jogging, at the gym or on the plane. No previous knowledge of language learning is necessary.
The issues of intonation and syntax are subtly dealt with, without resorting to explanations. After a few listenings these become self-explanatory.
Volume 1 deals with the essentials for a visit abroad, looking at typical situations like; taking a taxi, at the hotel, at the restaurant, requesting, polite phrases, finding your way, numbers, dealing with problems and so on.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #158895 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-15
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Audio CD
• 20 pages

From the Publisher
A break-through in language learning!
This new, unique accelerated learning method is based on recent scientific research into memory enhancement, using melodic patterns to burn words, phrases and grammatical structures into the long-term memory. The Earworms learning method not only anchors words and phrases into your memory in a very short time, it also fits in with busy lives, saving time. You can learn in a traffic jam, on the Underground, while jogging, doing the ironing…where and when you want to. Ease of use and genuine effectiveness are two of the founding principles of the Earworms Musical Brain Trainer approach to language acquisition. You take control and you can be using your newfound knowledge within hours. By the enthusiasm of the feedback that we have had it seems that the earworms approach is on the way to changing the face of language learning as we know it. It recently reached No.1 in the US iTunes audio book charts, knocking ‘The Da Vinci Code off the top spot!Try it out: earwormslearning.com/demo_Chinese.html

From the Author
You know the phenomena of those catchy tunes or 'earworms' that you just can’t get out of your head? Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? Well, we at Earworms mbt have put this phenomena to positive use. Gone are the days of learning pressure and frustration at not being able to remember, the experience of many on conventional language courses. In combination with music, the phrases you need are automatically anchored deep into your memory, ready for instant recall.
Earworms adopts the so-called lexical approach to language, as opposed to first concentrating on grammar. In essence, this means we look at language in terms of whole meaningful chunks, then break these down into their component bite-sized, easily digestible, easily absorbable parts and then reconstruct them.
You not only learn complete, immediately useful phrases, you also pick up the correct accent and intonation and intuitively learn something about the structure (the grammar) of the language.
This approach (as expounded by Michael Lewis in his book "The Lexical Approach") is now recognised as an important breakthrough in language learning.

Customer Reviews

Excellent CD
My Husband has had this great idea of learning Chinese in time for a trip to the 2008 olympics in China. He's starting early as I bought him this Cd for a gift. He loves it and it's even got our 2 and a half year old asking for a coffee in chinese!
An excellent buy, I really recommend this series of CDs. We've also got the German, Italian and French ones. Can't speak highly enough of them. Can't wait for volume two to come out.

lack of pronounciation help a big problem
I very much enjoyed the learning experience and found it stuck but then when speaking to Chinese (mandarin speakers) they couldn't understand me. The tape doesn't focus on the tones and intonations needed for Mandarin. I switched to a Harold Goodman audiobook and found I was much more understood because of the focus on the correct intonations. Maybe these tapes work well with other languages as the music in the background does seem to help the learning experience but I found them of little use for Mandarin.

Fantastic!
After reading the reviews above and some consultation with other sites, I decided to buy this Rapid Chinese Volume 1 book.

I always thought learning a language so different to our own would prove difficult and even frustrating. I have to say my opinion is quite the contrary: within minutes you can speak short phrases and piece together sentences that are actually useful! I simply cannot express how pleased I am with this book and audio CD...it has worked brilliantly and you can listen to it any where!

But (sorry, I hate doing a big 'but') the way this advertisement puts itself across is as though you learn the chinese language through song. No. Actually, you simply have a man and a woman talking and teaching you chinese with music in the background -the speech has no particular rhythm and the music really just makes it more entertaining.

I don't know how it works -neither do I want to- but something about this book and CD really works. I have been studying French for three years and German for 2 years, and I think it is fair to say that my language lessons and nothing compared to this marvellous book. You can remember everything you learn and that is saying something...I have the memory of a seive and can still learn and remember key phrases.

I can't speak highly enough of it, but beware, this is more of a business book than a pleasure book (meaning you learn how to order tickets, book things, and use a taxi, not talk about yourself and what you like).

Fantastic!