Stefani Posted May 31, 2007 at 05:39 PM Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 at 05:39 PM Where is the best place & price to buy Pimsleur CD? I am interested in brand new vs. used that I can get from ebay. TIA. Stefani. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flameproof Posted June 1, 2007 at 12:07 AM Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 at 12:07 AM I bought brand new on ebay a few years ago. I think most sets sold on eBay are new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woliveri Posted June 1, 2007 at 12:28 AM Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 at 12:28 AM I downloaded all three levels from the net and frankly, I'm glad I did because I don't think the quality/expansiveness of the content was NOT that great. Seems like level 3 wasn't that far of a departure from level 1. I haven't even used them after I reviewed them and having reviewed them I wouldn't buy them. I think you can get better results from: http://www.chinesepod.com and http://imandarinpod.com/hoola/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefani Posted June 2, 2007 at 05:13 AM Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 at 05:13 AM Thank you for your replies. I'll get it from Ebay or from pimsleurmarketplace then. Pimsleurmarketplace will buy a used Comprehensive Set, too, so if anyone has any to sell. Just using Pimsleur itself will not get me fluent, but I like the fact that I can play it in my car's CD player. I am supplementing it with Chinesepod and a local class. It will be nice if I can do a more intensive study of it, but at the moment, with work and family, I just have to do what I can. Xie xie! Stefani. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thph2006 Posted June 2, 2007 at 08:21 PM Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 at 08:21 PM Here's a reference point for you - I just sold the 3-level set (used) for $300. A quick scan of ebay suggests the going price is around $150-170 per level and $450+ for all three together. Regarding new vs. used I wouldn't even consider new if the used price was substantially lower. These are cds after all and will sound exactly the same whether new or used. --------------------------------------------------------- Some slightly off-topic extra information ---------------------------------------------------------- Regarding the effectiveness/completeness of the course - If you're just starting out it will be an excellent way for you to "cut your teeth". The emphasis on getting pronunciation right is invaluable and although you won't have a 1000 word vocabulary when you're done you'll have been exposed to the important basic structural aspects of the language. Try using it as a supplement to other material like the free FSI Mandarin course, downloadable here: http://fsi-language-courses.com/Chinese.aspx or Integrated Chinese, found here: http://www.cheng-tsui.com/series.cfm?sid=43819556I42003120607002H1180814424799M75J36J198J217K46314930X607&s=8, I wasn't really crazy about IC when I first tried it but eventually came to recognize the value of the structure it offers. There is also a tremendous amount of support material for the IC course online. Another thing I found really helpful for comprehension after getting a little mandarin under my belt was a 2-cd set called Making Connections, found here: http://www.cheng-tsui.com/product.cfm?sid=43819556I42003120607002H1180814424799M75J36J198J217K46314930X607&p=324&c=0 . It's recordings of natural speed conversations between two people using pretty basic vocabulary. I found by listening to it over and over I picked up more and more of the meaning but even more importantly I found I was getting much better at comprehending naturally spoken speech on the TV, Radio, etc. I guess I'm not a fan of ChinesePod as a learning system. At first I found the podcasts interesting but quickly concluded that the lessons had no real connection to each other or direction. Although the quality of the recordings is very good I get the impression CPod is learning how to teach mandarin as they go. iMandarinPod on the other hand is set up to be a learning supplement and not a learning system and I think for learners with some mandarin already under their belt it's useful. Actually, if you view CPod in that same way, their podcasts also make a very useful supplement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flameproof Posted June 3, 2007 at 03:56 AM Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 at 03:56 AM I have all 3 as original. If you are interested contact me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneEye Posted June 3, 2007 at 05:42 AM Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 at 05:42 AM thph2006, I actually wasn't impressed by the "emphasis on...pronunciation" in Pimsleur. My pronunciation was awful (and I didn't even realize it) and it wasn't until I started using FSI that it got better. I do like the Pimsleur approach as an introduction to the spoken language, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prodigal Son Posted June 12, 2007 at 08:04 AM Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 at 08:04 AM free, the internet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefani Posted June 12, 2007 at 04:13 PM Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 at 04:13 PM free, the internet Really? Where? Xie xie, Stefani. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woliveri Posted June 12, 2007 at 04:20 PM Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 at 04:20 PM Really? Where? There are plenty of resources out there for downloading illegal copies of software, music, etc. However, I think it's against this forum's rules and regulations to trade that information here. Ask your friends and neighbors. Anyway, there are much better "Free" resources for learning Chinese as I already mentioned (Chinesepod and iMandarinpod). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowdh Posted June 12, 2007 at 06:12 PM Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 at 06:12 PM http://fsi-language-courses.com/Chinese.aspx for the FSI series... and there are tons of other resources as well for listening and speaking and reading Chinese... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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