Pimsleur Russian Level 1 MP3: Learn to Speak and Understand Russian with Pimsleur Language Programs

by Pimsleur Language Programs (contributor)

The Easiest and Fastest Way to Learn Russian With Pimsleur you’ll become conversational in Russian — to understand and be understood — quickly and effectively. You’ll learn vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation together through conversation. And our scientifically proven program will help you remember what you’ve learned, so you can put it into action. Why Pimsleur? Quick + Easy – Only 30 minutes a day. Portable + Flexible – Core lessons can be done anytime, anywhere, and easily fit into your busy life. Proven Method – Works when other methods fail. Self-Paced – Go fast or go slow – it’s up to you. Based in Science – Developed using proven research on memory and learning. Cost-effective – Less expensive than classes or immersion, and features all native speakers. Genius – Triggers your brain’s natural aptitude to learn. Works for everyone – Recommended for ages 13 and above. What’s Included? 30, 30-minute audio lessons 60 minutes of reading instruction to provide you with an introduction to reading Russian and designed to teach you to sound out words with correct pronunciation and accent in total, 16 hours of audio, all featuring native speakers A digital Reading Booklet What You’ll Learn In the first 10 lessons, you’ll cover the saying hello, asking for or giving information, scheduling a meal or a meeting, asking for or giving basic directions, and much more. You’ll be able to handle minimum courtesy requirements, understand much of what you hear, and be understood at a beginning level, but with near-native pronunciation skills. In the next 10 lessons, you’ll build on what you’ve learned. Expand your menu, increase your scheduling abilities from general to specific, start to deal with currency and exchanging money, refine your conversations and add over a hundred new vocabulary items. You’ll understand more of what you hear, and be able to participate with speech that is smoother and more confident. In the final 10 lessons, you’ll be speaking and understanding at an intermediate level. More directions are given in Russian, which moves your learning to a whole new plane. Lessons include shopping, visiting friends, going to a restaurant, plans for the evening, car trips, and talking about family. You’ll be able to speak comfortably about things that happened in the past and make plans for the future. Whether you want to travel, communicate with friends or colleagues, reconnect with family, or just understand more of what’s going on in the world around you, Pimsleur will help you learn Russian and expand your horizons and enrich your life.

Audiobook

First published April 1, 2010

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I "read" this as a supplement to the language class I am taking and woah am I glad I did. Where the textbook in class likes to introduce the cases one by one, Pimsleur is set up so everything is incorporated. You are learning normal speaking patterns right away. Because of the class I am able to recognize why words change in certain scenarios (case endings) and because of Pimsleur I am learning to speak more quickly and understand normal paced speech. Yay. Thank you Pimsleur!

As I haven't finished the entire series (and am also taking an in-person course), I cannot comment on whether this can "teach" a language effectively. I've already been introduced to most of the words being used in this first level and that has been quite a help in meeting the half-hour a day with only the final ten or so chapters being repeated for memorization and understanding. So far, they've done great at getting me to talk about certain things - eating, drinking, driving, directions, shopping - but then the vocab is still very limited at this point so I wouldn't recommend dropping yourself in a small country town in Russia thinking Level 1 was enough. On to the next!

[Mayor · Rating 4 out of 5]

After each of the lessons my brain was in full repetition mode, so if I happened to listen to a literary audiobook right after, my brain would just repeat random words from what was being said.

The lessons are good, well structured and trie to incorporate past vocabulary into the future lessons without becoming too abusive.

One issue was that at times the pronunciations was a tiny bit confusing (the slowed/separated syllables from the full word).
Also, I don't understand why the program preferred 'собираюсь' instead of 'буду'.

[J. Hord · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began my study of the Russian language with the Pimsleur course. It is, by far, the quickest way to gain simple conversational skills. Years later I added Duolingo to my studies. Pimsleur courses are 20-30 minutes in length and take more time per lesson than Duolingo but is still superior in building skills for conversation. Duolingo, with shorter lessons, is a good supplement with vocabulary and reading skills.

[Vlad Ardelean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pimsleur is the best method of learning languages (at least for me). With Russian, it's no exception.

[Clifford Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for getting you up and running in the new language in minimum time. I listened to all the lessons while driving which would have been mental downtime anyway. The vocabulary was common and useful and enabled me to pick words out of Russian conversations almost immediately and even respond on my own occasionally. As a linguist, I might have liked more grammar but as a language teacher myself I can appreciate the thoughtful design of the lessons, especially when compared with other somewhat unrealistic language programs I've tried.

[Andre Ayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to get going - too basic for where I am