Product Description

This exciting new edition includes a 60-minute Travelogue DVD of the relevant destination countries for each language. This added feature will enrich the learning experience and add that extra stimulus to motivate users with their studies. New material in this second edition includes a variety of internet and digital media/technology terms. It includes nine 60-minute CDs; full text listening guide; zippered CD carrying case. The Level 1 offers: Introduction to key words, numbers, phrases, sentence structure, and basic grammar; Level 2: More challenging vocabulary, more grammar, and more complex sentences to generate confidence in your ability to comprehend and converse; and, Level 3: Expanded vocabulary, advanced grammar and complex sentences to expand your conversational skills.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62151 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-01
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 11
• Binding: Audio CD

Customer Reviews

Good value
This course covers much more ground than the Michel Thomas course. After completing the MT 8-Hour and Language Builder, I found I was learning new material even in the introductory level of the "in your car" course. The package also includes intermediate and advanced levels, so if you complete the whole lot you will have learned probably ten times as much vocabulary as in the whole of MT.
How do they do it? Simply by cutting all the waffle. The CDs contain nothing but listening and speaking exercises. They soon get quite hard,and you will have to work through each one several times (unlike the MT course, which you would only want to use once). Complete transcripts and explanations of the grammar are in the accompanying booklets.
Unlike Michel Thomas's approach, you are not expected to use the pause button. The CDs have pauses for your responses, and these are deliberately quite short. You have to learn to respond quickly without stopping to think. Personally I approve of this, although I can understand those who say that this is mere "rote learning".
By the way, ignore the manufacturer's description of "leather CD wallet". It's plastic, obviously. Oh, and you may want to transcribe the CDs onto MP3 tracks for listening on the move, in which case you can convert to mono and avoid the irritation of "English in the left ear, Italian in the right".
Even at the new higher price, this is still good value, and will take your skills further than Michel Thomas at less cost. (MT is still a good introduction, though, and it's not a bad idea to use both courses: MT first, then this.)

You learn so quickly
A course that teaches you just through listening and repeating that you can easily do in the car. You do however have to revise the lessons if you want to continue to the next level but this is easy as each lesson has its own small book (that you can easily put in a small handbag or pocket!!) which is simple to follow. The course does go very fast though and if you havent learnt another language before it may be difficult to follow after the second cassette. Overall good for people who are used to learning languages

Dull and not all that useful really!
I bought these CDs second hand thinking they would help to supplement other learning materials as I am studying for the Italian GCSE, but in comparison to other audio courses I found this very dull and not a good way of learning at all. It is just words and phrases which you are given a very short time to repeat and that's the last you hear of them!! As mentioned before, you are given no chance to repeat again so nothing goes in (I found!). It's not fun at all and could send me to sleep which is never a good thing when you are driving!! I am working my way through 'Pimsleur speak and read essential Italian I, II and II' and they are simply awesome. You wouldn't use them in the car because you do need to concentrate and use the pause button but I have learnt so much from them in just a few weeks. I can also recommend the Michel Thomas language course and Linguaphone All-Talk (this latter is perfect for the car). I'm sorry to be negative but language learning needs to be stimulating and fun and this really wasn't.