No real alternatives, May 28, 2001
Reviewer: A reader
Ok. Pimsleur won't get you very far, is expensive as hell, and is somewhat cumbersome to work with. So the rest of this review will be about how in hell did I get to giving it five stars. There are several ways to go about when wanting to learn a language in an audio-only manner. You can get the "Learn in your car" from Penton Overseas. You can get the audio-only course from Living Language. Or you can take Pimsleur. From the lot, Pimsleur would be the ONLY decent answer for the utter beginner, with the other options, you will find yourself replaying the tapes a couple of times. Does any language course that is a self learning course worth this kind of money? No. That's why we have the next paragraph.

Money. First of all, by all means get it used. It is an audio course that I recommend going through only once. So if you're lucky enough to find a CD version used, it will be exactly the same (of course - assuming that the seller is decent enough to sell unscratched CD-s). As for used audio cassettes, well, as much as we want to hear the correct pronounciation, we have to remember - this is not Mozart, it is only recorded speech. However even if you don't find it used, you can buy it, and after completing the course, sell it as used. As this is suitable for first time learning, and is too much for review purposes (perhaps the other audio-only courses will be better for review).

One last thing. Usability. I'll talk technology, but it's essential here. When I bought the heavy package, the first thing I've done was to move it to MP3. So then I had the entire audio collection on a single CD. In such a way you take a single disc to your car, play it with a mobile MP3 player, and stock the valuable course in your closet for backup. In that way, when you finish with the course, the originals stay in a good enough state to be sold as used. However, if you won't convert to MP3, the need to each time take another cassette/CD to your car would be a serious drawback, since storing the entire course in your car doesn't sound as a sensible alternative to me.

To wrap it up, buy it, MP3 it, learn it, sell it.

Pimsleur is the best, October 27, 2000

After trying many tape language series in several different languages over the years with minimal success I landed upon the Pimsleur Method. Absorbing the high cost of the comprehensive Ukrainian I eagerly began my lessons. It absolutely exceeded my expectations. I did supplement it with a dictionary and grammar book but those pale in comparison to the value I recieved from the tapes. The product must be diligently used in compliance to the prescribed regimen on a daily basis, if done, you will learn. My Ukrainian contacts were very pleasantly suprised by my grasp of the language and I am frequently complimented on my pronunciation. I wish that Pimsleur had a follow up course to this first level. You end up with only basic skills after the 30 days but fully confident that you can learn more.

Since my success with Ukranian I have also tried my hand at Pimsleur's Hindi; again with great results. Unfortunately Hindi is only available in a 10 lesson series which leaves you wishing for more. If your language needs are covered by Pimsleur 30 lesson programs they are worth the money

Ukrainian: Pimsleur Comprehensive, May 12, 2000

If Pimsleur can teach me a language, they can teach anyone. And, they are teaching me.

Four years of high school and college Spanish and I can barely say hola! But, after listening to the Pimsleur Ukrainian tapes while driving to and from work for the past year, I'm actually starting to get it!

I even got compliments on my pronouciation when I was in Ukraine earlier this year.

I'm a long way away from striking up a casual conversation, but at least I know I can make it through necessary transactions (ordering food, buying souvenirs, finding a bathroom, getting some basic directions, etc.) That's important because, unlike much of Western Europe, English speakers are still in the minority in Ukraine.

Pimsleur teaches you phrases you may actually need. The "cut and paste" style of learning which allows students to string together words and phrases into increasingly longer and more complex thoughts is very well thought out.

Unlike many foreign language tapes that seem to have little or no thought behind them, the Pimsleur tapes are carefully crafted with clear goals in mind.

They're expensive, but they work. I only hope that by the time I'm done with the first 15-tape package, the folks at Pimsleur will have produced the second level.