This approach works well for my learning style, but I could understand why other learners might not be a fan of the series.
I also like to try out what I’m learning as a part of language exchanges. I can then go back and review what I need with the text. The way that I use the course, the active stage starts when I repeat the lessons with the audio alone to see how much I’ve really mastered. I personally work through the lessons, reading the dialogues out loud before shadowing them once more along with the audio. The lessons intentionally avoid going into great depth on grammar, instead offering a collection of simple dialogues with detailed footnotes on rules as they appear as well as notes on the culture tied to the language. Together with the translation that conveys the meaning of the text, a literal translation is included so that you get a feel for word order and vocabulary without needing vocabulary lists or grammar exercises. There are also exercises that give you the opportunity to use the material you’ve learned. Plus, the accompanying audio offers you the chance to hear how the words sound so you don’t feel like you’re guessing.Įach chapter includes a brief dialogue (although these grow longer as you progress) and notes on content. While I could have slowly worked my way through Korean texts, I really appreciated having the transliteration printed below the dialogues so that I could focus on speaking and listening comprehension, rather than my reading skills. Following the introduction, the course dives right in.įor languages with different writing systems, such as Chinese, Japanese or Korean, transliterations are included in Assimil’s courses. Each book includes a thorough introduction to the language with tips on pronunciation, the writing system if there is one, and general features of the language. There aren’t any fancy introductions or extra banter from the speakers that you have to endure to get to the real “meat” of the program.Īssimil’s Sans Peine courses are created with beginners in mind, and it’s very easy to get started. What’s more, I like that the audio is to the point. I really like that both the audio and book are available as a complete package, especially because the audio is directly related to the text. The courses are available in 148 language combinations, although only 16 of these are for English speakers while 49 are for French speakers.
#DOWNLOAD ASSIMIL NEW FRENCH EASE PDF READER SERIES#
Assimil Korean with Ease: Getting StartedĮach course in Assimil’s Sans Peine series includes both a book and four audio CDs (and/or an MP3 disc or USB key). Having completed the course, here are my thoughts. I had dabbled in the language, but my Korean reading was precarious at best, my vocabulary extremely limited and my understanding of grammar non-existent. So for this review I decided to take on the challenge of studying a language in which I was a beginner: Korean.Īssimil’s Korean courses are only available in French, so I choose to work through Assimil Coréen Sans Peine to see how I would do.īefore I started using Coréen Sans Peine, I’d categorise myself as a “false beginner”. In the past, I have used Assimil to study languages I already had a foundation in – Chinese and Croatian. The method hasn’t changed much since its original release in the 1920's.
While in the active stage you not only listen to and read the lessons, but attempt to translate the dialogues on your own.Ĭompared to the apps and podcasts that many learners use these days, Assimil arguably offers an “old fashioned” approach. In the passive stage you complete the lessons by reading and listening. The Assimil Sans Peine courses are a combination of dialogue-based texts and audio where you learn by working through passive and active stages. It publishes several different series, their most popular being Sans Peine or With Ease. What is Assimil?Īssimil, a French company, was created by Alphonse Chérel in 1929. Dubbed “The Magic Books” by NPR, Assimil is quickly approaching both 100 years of language teaching, and 100 languages in their catalog of courses. This is clearly illustrated by the 4+ star reviews on Amazon for the majority of the available courses.Īssimil has a range of courses available in a variety of languages, but is geared primarily towards French speakers.
0 kommentar(er)
