Pimsleur Russian: A Comprehensive Review
What is Pimsleur Russian?
Pimsleur Russian is a language learning program designed to teach Russian, a Slavic language spoken primarily in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and other countries of the former Soviet Union. It is part of the Pimsleur language learning series, which includes programs for over 50 languages.
The program consists of 30 lessons, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. It follows the Pimsleur Method, which emphasizes active participation, repetition, and graduated interval recall. The goal is to help learners quickly acquire practical language skills through conversation-based instruction.
Is Pimsleur Russian good?
Pimsleur Russian has received generally positive reviews from language learners. Many users appreciate the program's focus on conversation-based instruction, which helps them quickly acquire practical language skills. The Pimsleur Method's emphasis on repetition and active participation also helps reinforce learning and build confidence.
One advantage of the Pimsleur Method is that it helps learners develop good pronunciation from the beginning. This is important for Russian, which has several unique sounds that can be difficult for English speakers to master. Pimsleur Russian's emphasis on listening and repeating helps learners develop accurate pronunciation and intonation.
Another advantage of Pimsleur Russian is that it provides a good introduction to Russian grammar. Learners will develop a basic understanding of Russian grammar, including verb conjugation and noun declension, through the course of the program. This is important for building a solid foundation for further language study.
Is Pimsleur Russian worth it?
Whether Pimsleur Russian is worth it depends on your individual learning needs and preferences. If you're looking for a comprehensive language learning program that focuses on practical conversation skills and provides a solid foundation in grammar, Pimsleur Russian could be a good choice.
The program is relatively expensive compared to some other language learning resources, such as language learning apps. However, many users find the investment worthwhile due to the quality of instruction and the rapid progress they are able to make.
Five things users like about Pimsleur Russian:
- Focus on practical conversation skills
- Emphasis on active participation and repetition
- Graduated interval recall helps reinforce learning
- Develops accurate pronunciation and intonation
- Provides a good introduction to Russian grammar
Three things users do not like about Pimsleur Russian:
- Limited vocabulary range
- Some users find the program too repetitive
- Not suitable for advanced learners or those seeking more in-depth language study
How a frequency dictionary would complement Pimsleur Russian:
While Pimsleur Russian is a comprehensive language learning program that provides a good introduction to Russian grammar and conversation skills, it has a limited vocabulary range. A frequency dictionary could complement Pimsleur Russian by providing additional vocabulary words and phrases that are commonly used in Russian.
A frequency dictionary is a resource that lists the most frequently used words in a language, usually based on a corpus of written or spoken language. By focusing on the most common words and phrases, learners can quickly build a functional vocabulary that will allow them to communicate effectively in real-world situations.
By using a frequency dictionary in conjunction with Pimsleur Russian, learners can build a more comprehensive vocabulary that will help them communicate more effectively in a variety of situations. They can also use the dictionary to reinforce and expand on the vocabulary they have learned through the Pimsleur program.
Conclusion
Pimsleur Russian is a comprehensive language learning program that provides a good introduction to Russian conversation skills and grammar. While it has a limited vocabulary range, it can be complemented by a frequency dictionary to provide additional vocabulary and reinforce learning. Whether Pimsleur Russian is worth the investment depends on individual learning needs and preferences, but many users find it to be a valuable resource for language learning.