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Product Reviews:
Spanish FSI Basic Course Platiquemos Version Vol 1 (8 CD's and Book) (Spanish Edition) |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: Upated Review After 1 Year of Use
Comments: I have been using Platiquemos just over 1 year (after had spend 1 years messing around with the 90 units in Pimsleur) and in the last 3 months wasted $2500 on a 1 week Spanish Emersion with Berlitz. Worth while was a 2 week vacation to Uruguay and just in the past few weeks investing in 15HRS of 1 on 1 instruction. I am still only considered an Intermediate-Middle level learner because I was initially self-taught without any HS or College instruction. That was actually a problem because to be the almost all efficient self-learner you really should understand the subject points taught in school (a similar method to what Platiquemos uses). Let me explain how this all made sense to me.
The method Platiquemos uses (in terms of format) is a similar foundation to the way you will be taught in school. you will basically start learning basic greetings present tense verbs then gradually move into more advanced areas like past/future verb constructions and the subjunctive.
However, before beginning Platiquemos or Pimsleur for that matter I wish I had a great understand of what those elements were and why they were being taught in the specific order. If I had I would have been more proficient and along much further.
I finally just identified a wonderful way of improving my Spanish. My personal instructor was using "Repaso" with me as a review and introduction to new Spanish elements (subjunctive). 1day I put2and2together I could use both Repaso and Platiquemos together. By understanding the order of how things are taught in Platiquemos I can link Repaso up along with my Platiquemos levels. For example, when you are on Unit 17 (Past I) in Platiquemos you can use Repaso Chapter 4 (preterit). Repaso will teach you to read, write, give you a better explanation of the "main lecture" points, build grammar, and Platiquemos will train your listening and speaking skills. The author of Platiquemos actually mentions this on his website. He also endorses watching the Destino's Series (free online)...just type Destino's into google and sign up for the free account. To find Repaso just do a search on Amazon and pick the 500 page book up for like $30.00.
I would endorse having finished at least level 1 of Platiquemos or some previous Spanish coursework because Repaso is meant as a review for intermediates.
TIP: Go to the Platiquemos website and review the section under "content" which will explain what is being tought in each section so you can link up your instruction with the Repaso book.
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Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: great course, however
Comments: It's a great way to learn to speak the language on your own, especially given the extensive drills; however, the sound quality is fair to poor at times making it occasionally difficult to use in the car. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: This course isn't for sissies
Comments: If you are looking to pick up a little Spanish for a trip abroad, then this isn't the course for you. However, if you are serious about learning Spanish and are committed to working at it, then this is your ticket to success!!
The debate over too quick/too slow here is absurd. I have spent time in Latin America and have heard the natives speaking...if they spoke at that rate on these lessons, none of us would ever become proficient. Through clear and concise pronunciation you are able to hear the correct pronunciation and repeat it. I find that as I have mastered a phrase I speak much quicker, however if I had not heard it at a more normal pace in the beginning, I would not be pronouncing it correctly now. In order to be understood by native speakers, you need to be clear in your pronunciation...and practice makes perfect. I also agree with those that have said that if you cannot repeat the phrases in the time allotted, you are not ready to move on to the next unit. You need to be able to speak without thinking about it too much.
Level1was more of a review for me, however it also refreshed some things I had forgotten over the years. Ahora para los niveles dos, tres, quatro, cinco, seis, siete y ocho (Now for levels 1-8). I purchased all8levels and find that I can do about a unit or2per day in each level, based upon what I am doing at work that day.
I highly endorse this course if you are serious about learning to speak Spanish and not just order una cerveza on your next trip south of the border. Buena suerte en su viaje. |
Rating: 3 (out of 5)
Summary: NOT AS great AS THE ORIGINAL, however MADE FOR A SERIOUS LEARNER!!
Comments: As someone who gained fluency in Spanish by studying it for the past 10-years, as well as through my travels, I am constantly analyzing the various Spanish language programs that are out on the market today. I have used the original FSI Spanish program as well as the Platiquemos updated FSI Spanish program and have opinions and endorseations for both.
1stly, the Platiquemos course is ideal for anyone who wishes to honestly study Spanish with the intentions of gaining fluency with future practice. The grammatical expalanations, samples and lessons for the student are vast. The FSI program is designed to give the learner a ton of practice, which is an essentail aspect when considering a self-guided study of Spanish.
However, Platiquemos, which is an udated version of the original Foreign Service Institute program is not as sophistacted or complete as the purchaseer would expect it to be...especially for the price!! The recordings are fair and are of poor quality since they mix some of the old recordings with the newer ones. The speed the native speakers use is slower than natural speech, which defeats the purpose if you want to gain an "ear" for natuaral spoken Spanish. Also, too much of the old FSI content is used unchanged.
It is not worth $200!! I endorse, if you want to try it out, download it!! See for yourself, however do not have too high of expectations in regards to the overall quality of the course textbook and accompanying sound recordings. Platiquemos is not the best course, however is great for simply practicing grammar. The original FSI course has a more natural speed of speech used by the native speakers and the same grammatical aspects covered. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Platiquemos is a complete course for speaking Spanish
Comments: I have tried a several courses and books for learning Spanish. Some promise the easy way. As far as I can tell, there is no easy way. It takes a lot of time and discipline to really learn a foreign language. I am talking about knowing the language well enough to understand movies, TV, and converse with native speakers. Platiquemos is1of the few courses that can take you from the beginning to the end - fluency. It is an 8 level course.
I purchased the download edition from the platiquemos-letstalk website. It has over 47 hours of audio, and 1400 pages of text. You cannot finish the course in 47 hours though. It's really a 600 hour course. you will need to listen to each lesson several times, and that is a great thing. Some course like Pimsleur offer 50 hours of audio, however you only have to listen to lesson once or twice because they're so easy. In the end, they have about 100 hours of instruction. The U.S. Foreign Service Institute maked the course Platiquemos is based upon. They train diplomats and other people to be able to communicate professionally in language languages. They have found it takes about 600 hours to learn Spanish if you have effective materials. They actually maked a course to teach people with no previous experience in Spanish to communicate well. This is that course, updated with modern typesetting.
Although you will be glad you have all the text in the course, 90% of the time, you can study away from the written materials. That's great if you commute. The course will teach you how to read though, so you will not be illiterate when your done. you will be able to speak, read, and understand Spanish. |
