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Product Reviews:
Spanish FSI Basic Course Platiquemos Version Vol 1 (8 CD's and Book) |
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: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Cinco Estrellas Para Platiquemos!!
Comments: The Platiquemos method is based on the best-selling FSI (Foreign Service Institute) method. I feel that I am qualified to give this review not only because I am the Founder of the Learning Spanish Like Crazy method however also because I have absorbed e FSI Spanish course on the market. That Comes with FSI quick Course Spanish, FSI Programmatic Spanish 1 and 2, Barrons Mastering Spanish 1 and 2 (aka FSI Spanish 1 and 2 as opposed to FSI "Programmatic" Spanish), and FSI Spanish 3 and 4. In fact, I credit the FSI method for giving me the building blocks that enabled me to learn to speak Spanish so easily. After studying with the FSI method, the Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone Spanish courses were a piece of cake for me.
The original FSI method was developed by the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. Government's Department of State decades ago. My1and only complaint with the original FSI Spanish lessons is that the method requires you to use text simultaneously with the audio. When the original FSI courses were maked decades ago and before we were inundated with many other options such as Internet, cell phones, Cable T.V. and mp3 players and we simply had more time on our hands, the FSI method was ideal. however with the advent of many distractions finding the time to use a textbook may be somewhat of a challenge except for the almost all dedicated student of Spanish.
However, Don Casteel, the Editor of Platiquemos, has ingeniously solved this problem by re-creating the FSI method so that1can easily master Spanish with or without the text. I only used the text with less than half of the course, however even without using the text, it is was clear to me that the Platiquemos method completely embodies the same effective learning system developed by the Foreign Service Institute. The audio lessons were excellent for achieving proficiency in Spanish. And the text that I did read seemed ample for achieving literacy in Spanish.
I also found that the native speakers in Platiquemos spoke at a pace that was ideal for both listening comprehension and speech emulation for developing an authentic Latin American accent.
One of the things that I like almost all about the course was that each Unit ended with a Latin American song. I have always told people that the quickest way to learn Spanish is to not only expose yourself to the language, however also to the culture. After I completed each Unit, I found that the song that ended the Unit was always a relaxing and pleasant way to finish each Unit, especially when accompanied with a cold "cerveza" in my hand.
In addition to using music to immerse the student in Latin America culture, Don supplies the student with illustrations and captions about the indigenous people of Latin America, including the Incas and Aztecs. Not only did these cultural and historical tidbits supply visual relief for me, I also found them entertaining.
One of the greatest benefits of investing in the course is that the editor, Don Casteel, a former Foreign Service Officer with over20 years in the Foreign Service of the U.S., is available to answer questions that you have about Latin American Spanish and culture -- however within reason, of course. As someone that has not only dedicated a lifetime to public service, however someone that is also fluent in several languages (Spanish, German and Finnish) and is presently living in Latin American, Don is more than qualified for the task.
So long as Don does not personally attempt to sing any of the Latin American songs that end each Unit, I strongly endorse Platiquemos Spanish.
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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. |
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