Best Audio Resources for Learning a Foreign Language

When you want to learn a new language, think beyond books. Books are just paper and ink, not real life. To learn a new langauge fluently, you will never succeed using written materials alone. Interaction with native speakers is the ultimate way to learn a new language, but great audio resources are next on the list! So if you really want to succeed in learning a new language, pull out your mp3, c.d. or tape player and get ready to pop in these great resources. Read on to learn more about my two favorite audio language-learning resources!

Pimsleur Approach -- www.pimsleurapproach.com

The Pimsleur website promises that you will start speaking the language within 10 days, and offers its materials in almost 40 different languages! While you certainly won't get fluent within 10 days (trust me, I've tried Pimsleur for several foreign langauges before traveling to various countries), you will be off to a good start. And what you learn through Pimsleur, you will learn well and be confident in speaking!

So how do the Pimsleur materials work? They work with a lot of repetition and review. The tapes or c.d.s tell you the phrase in English as well as in the language you're trying to learn. They build slowly, and instruct you as you go along what to say. Gradually, they test you with more and more of the pressure on you having to say the stuff on your own. But don't worry--if you feel like you need a review, just rewind and play the tape again! Unlike audio tapes that just tell you a phrase one time and then move on to the next phrase, Pimsleur is great at getting you to review and practice the material.

What will you learn to say with Pimsleur? It is ideal for learning phrases you will need while traveling. Learning to talk about your nationality and language proficiencies (or lack thereof), learning to ask for directions, and giving polite greetings are just a few of the things you will learn to do with Pimsleur. And I assure you that your pronunciation will be light years ahead of the pronunciation of people who have just been poring over a phrase book trying to learn some phrases in a foreign language!

The only downside to Pimsleur is that because the approach is so extremely thorough, the resources do not cover a great deal of material. Pimsleur is great for learning the basics and getting a head start in the language, but you won't be able to reach fluency just using the tapes or c.d.s

Learn in Your Car -- http://www.pentonoverseas.com/learn-in-your-car-cd-sets.htm

These audio resources produced by Penton Overseas, Inc. are absolutely fabulous. Like Pimsleur, the "Learn in Your Car" materials focus on audio and speaking/pronunciation skills, and allow for some repetition and review. However, they are not as review-focused as Pimsleur. With "Learn in Your Car," you will probably have to listen to each lesson several times to get the jist of it. However, this curriculum is superior to Pimsleur in that the course in its entirety teaches you MUCH more, so you can come much closer to fluency if you have the diligence to complete the whole program.

So, how is "Learn in Your Car" structured? The "Complete Language Course" includes nine hours worth of audio, which is organized into three basic levels (each with a small bok that has the words and phrases listed in it). Each level has three c.d.s that are chock full of information. The levels begin with basic phrases and grammar skills, with an emphasis on travel needs. Levels two and three add even more grammatical concepts, increase levels of vocabulary, and hone pronunciation ability.

One downside to the "Learn in Your Car" materials is that unlike Pimsleur, they are only available in six major languages--Spanish, Italitan, German, French, Russian, Japanese. But if you are learning one of these six languages, I strongly recommend these resources.

I love both of these programs and know that anyone who is willing to dedicate themselves to using either one will advance in ability to speak the foreign language! Try finding them cheaper than brand new at www.amazon.com. However, whatever program you use, you won't get anywhere if you aren't willing to commit yourself to it. If you have the desire to learn a foreign language, be persistent in your devotion. Study diligently, listen and repeat the phrases with focused attention, and you are sure to make progress in learning a foreign language!