Quantity Not Quality, September 23, 2001
　

The chosen words and phrases are useful. However... To start, the 30 second sales-pitch/self-raving at the beginning is annoying because you have to wait through it everytime you want to replay the first lesson. They also blurt out the words so fast that it makes it very difficult to hear the correct pronunciation. I think the Pimsleur series does a lot better job breaking down phrases into components - with clear instructions on how to pronounce and hear them. I also think the Pimsleur approach is better because by explaining the components better and discussing grammar more, they teach you how to understand rather than memorize. This CD is like someone handing you a tool box with no explanation of the tools. Quantity, not quality.


　

I own this and have found it to be almost useless. There are many free resources that are far better. Almost any of the other similiar products available through Amazon would be better. This product gives a very rapid fire one time recitation of Mandarin phrases. Very few people can learn a language that way. Certainly don't think that you are going to learn anything meaninful on your flight over to China!

useless, March 9, 2005
　

Crap, crap, crap. How many people need to know the phrases, "Can I buy that online?" and "I'd like that in small bills." during their first hour with a language?

This doesn't even qualify as language instruction because they don't attempt to actually teach you anything.

Excellent pronounciation - a few good phrases, February 9, 2005
　

This CD carries a few good phrases and is a good starter on Mandarin. A leaflet on the basics of Pinyin with all the phrases on the CD in pinyin are included in the CD. In order to learn the phrases, you have to listen to the CD over and OVER. If you copy your pronounciation to be --Exactly-- like the speakers, then you will be understood.

2+ years I know ten phrases., November 14, 2004
　

I purchased this cd/book more than 2 years ago, and I am still struggling with it today. If you really want to learn a language, I don't think these type of quick and easy CDs work. The marketing behind this CD is that if you listen to it on your 18 hour flight to China, you will be able to speak basic Chinese when you land. -- With general phrases you need to get around in Chinese. I would highly reccommend you not do that. While I have gone through the cd dozens of times, even taken a couple of cross country flights with it, and tried leaving one chapter on for hours, I have only picked up a few phrases, such as Hello, how are you?, and numbers. At this point, I am converting everything to notecards. As another reviewer pointed out, it is basically all blind memorization, and Chinese is hard to memorize. Another note, this CD does not include anything regarding written Chinese only Pinyin.