Pimsleur Chinese (Mandarin) Conversational Course - Level 1 Lessons 1-16 CD: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs Audio CD – Unabridged, November 1, 2005

I recently started a graduate program in which all the other grad students and about half of the faculty are Chinese speakers. I realized that I would never have a better chance to learn Mandarin and it would help me connect with my new colleagues. I bought these Pimsleur CDs and, having completed the first six lessons, feel like I'm ready to write a review.First let me say that I think any of the commercial language programs probably work if you actually follow the program. In this case the program is to listen to the CDs for half and hour per day, every day. The process is very interactive. You are asked to repeat phrases and answer questions in Chinese. The nice points about the Pimsleur method are that you have your hands free and that it only takes half an hour a day. I think I will be far less likely to blow this program off than I would if it required writing or computer work or took more time per day.I have been doing most of the lessons first thing in the morning while I drink my coffee. You are supposed to repeat each lesson until you get 80% of the responses correct. So far I have averaged three repetitions on each lesson.Progress: After a little over two weeks I find myself understanding a fair number of phrases and words when my colleagues are talking in Chinese. My overall listening comprehension is only about 5%, but that's progress. I have tried out several sentences on them and they seem impressed. The night before last I actually carried on a halting conversation with a waitress in a Shanghinese restaurant and she said my accent was "very good". I don't know if I believe her, but she said it in Chinese and I actually understood it! Overall I am very satisfied.I will probably buy the rest of the disks after I finish this set. I plan to visit China some time this year, so I want to be as far along as possible with the language by then.

Let me first state that I recommend this product to anyone with no prior experience with Mandarin or someone who wants to casually learn a little. Here are the pros and cons.Pros:1) CD format is great2) Lessons are short and easy3) You can learn very quickly IF you dedicate the time4) Lessons learned in the previous section are reinforced in the next.Cons:1) There is no pin yin to go with the CDs. I had a hard time distinguishing between, for example, "ni" and "yi". This is probably because I listen in my car instead of at home. Your best bet is to listen through your home stereo system or walkman.2) The words and pharases you learn are not necessarily the ones you want. For example, in Lesson 4 you are taught how to say "Where is Long Peace street?" Who needs to know this??3) There is no discussion of sentence or phrase structure so that you can form your own. For example, the sentence "You speak Mandarin very well" is structured "You Mandarin speak very well". The serious learner needs lessons on sentence structure.Overall this is a good beginner product. If you're a serious learner, you'll need additional resources like a dictionary, phoenitics guide, and phrase book.

This is the best audio language program I have used for a very challenging language. Unlike other audio programs that cram in much vocabulary and too little response time, Pimsleur Mandarin limits the vocabulary but teaches the beginner how to organize sentences. They do this through repetition and substitution. It was so subtle that I didn't realize how much grammar I learned. Used in combination with a book that provides Pinyin spelling and tones, it is even more useful for continuing at the intermediate levels. My only complaint is with how Simon and Shuster markets the set. I thought this was the complete Mandarin I course. It is only the first 16 lessons. To complete Mandarin I, you will need to purchase another set with 14 more lessons. The price is $175 or more depending on coupons and discounts. The problem is, this set includes the first 16 lessons that you already own and you have already mastered. This makes it redundant and expensive. I completed Mandarin I by finding a complete set on cassette(not CD as I preferred) at the library. Now, I just bought Pimsleur Mandarin II in CD and hope it is complete. None of this should detract from the fact that the curriculum is highly effective.

I would highly recommend Pimsler to anyone learing beginning Mandarin because it uses effective teaching techniques. For example, it teaches you words, and then phrases, and helps you to retain them by asking questions that require you to employ them. I listen on my IPod as I commute on the train, and it's a plesaurable, engaging way to pass the time.I have received several curious looks, particularly from Chinese folk, after speaking poor quality Mandarin aloud, but my accent is slowly improving. At first, I was utterly uninteligible. Then, after just 6 units of Pimsler, I actually was able to carry on a brief conversation with a Mandarin speaking telemarketer last night.In Mandarin, I said, "Hi." I asked her if she spoke English. I told her that I didn't speak that well. I told her I didn't understand her (even though I did). Perhaps more importantly, I understood most of her responses! I asked her if she knew where College Road was when I started running out of things I knew how to say. She seemed a bit puzzled by that, so I just said, "Thank you," and hung up.If you've ever been intimidated by the prospect of learning Mandarin, you don't have to be. It does require you to use your brain, but, as long as you can take some time to listen (e.g., while commuting), you can learn.Enjoy!