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Which course took you furthest? (B1+) | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
 jeff_lindqvist Diglot Moderator SwedenRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6908 days ago 4250 posts - 5711 votes  Speaks: Swedish*, English Studies: German, Spanish, Russian, Dutch, Mandarin, Esperanto, Irish, French Personal Language Map | Message 25 of 51 19 June 2013 at 1:11am | IP Logged |
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When we're speaking of FSI, I assume it's the two volume sets (typically 12 units in each, 24 in total). I have completed FSI German and Assimil German with Ease, and while I liked the Assimil content more, I'm pretty sure my grammar got more solid with FSI.
And there's no way that anyone studying the full Chinese with Ease will get further than someone who has finished the nine (!?) modules of FSI. 4 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Crush Tetraglot Senior Member ChinaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5864 days ago 1622 posts - 2299 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Mandarin, Esperanto Studies: Basque | Message 26 of 51 19 June 2013 at 6:11am | IP Logged |
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I've also found the FSI courses much more comprehensive. The FSI Spanish course in particular is one of the most comprehensive courses i've seen (or at least that i've done). I can't say if it took me to a B2 level, but before i'd even finished it i had no trouble speaking with/understanding native Spanish speakers and after a few months of vocabulary study i could read books without a dictionary, watch TV/movies without any trouble, etc. Altogether it took about a year to get to that point. What's best about the FSI courses is that you generally can actively use what you've just learned. With Assimil it's more up to you to make what you've learned active.
I like both courses, but when available i tend to prefer the FSI course. Honestly i don't think you can even compare Assimil to FSI. Your standard FSI course has so much material: thousands of pages, hundreds of hours of audio. I'd like to see a thousand-page Assimil course :P 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Serpent Octoglot Senior Member Russian Federation serpent-849.livejour Joined 6596 days ago 9753 posts - 15779 votes 4 sounds Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish | Message 27 of 51 19 June 2013 at 6:51am | IP Logged |
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I'd like to see an FSI course whose sound quality doesn't make me vomit.
4 persons have voted this message useful | |
| DevonAero Newbie United States Joined 4181 days ago 34 posts - 38 votes Speaks: English* | Message 28 of 51 20 June 2013 at 1:49am | IP Logged |
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I liked FSI, but I can't find a good technique to use with it. Plus, I don't think
shadowing is for me. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| DaraghM Diglot Senior Member Ireland Joined 6150 days ago 1947 posts - 2923 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French, Russian, Hungarian | Message 29 of 51 20 June 2013 at 10:25am | IP Logged |
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I haven't used it, but I've heard very good reports about Destinos for Spanish. As far as I know, the programs are shown quite regularly in the US, and are also available on the Annenberg website. I've taken a look at the programs and they go quite far in Spanish and cover all the dialects from Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The programs are designed to be used with a book and further audio on CD. I'm not sure if the answers are included with the book though. Perhaps somebody whose used the course could add more details.
2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Crush Tetraglot Senior Member ChinaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5864 days ago 1622 posts - 2299 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Mandarin, Esperanto Studies: Basque | Message 30 of 51 20 June 2013 at 11:42am | IP Logged |
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I admit sometimes the quality is really bad, but i much prefer that to the super slow super clear speech in most other courses. When switching over to native material it's hardly ever the speed of speech that's the problem. Assimil claims to go up to a native speed, but even in the last lessons i've never heard anyone speak so slowly and clearly in real life, pausing slightly every few words to let the listener catch up. Unless they were talking to someone who couldn't understand their normal rate of speech, of course.
Maybe the first time you do an FSI course the audio can be distracting but i quickly got used to it. And besides, when you're actually using the language you're not going to be listening to crystal clear words delivered directly to your earbuds. As long as you have the books to reference you're good to go. That being said, i think Assimil courses tend to present a really good selection of vocabulary to learn. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Serpent Octoglot Senior Member Russian Federation serpent-849.livejour Joined 6596 days ago 9753 posts - 15779 votes 4 sounds Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish | Message 31 of 51 20 June 2013 at 12:49pm | IP Logged |
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Listening is the most important skill for me, so I can't stand that anyhow. I would lose my motivation completely if I tried FSI. BTW I admit the problem is not limited to it - some recordings on GLOSS also sound "strained" and disgusting. But the amazing content helps me tolerate those 2 mins of listening to the audio (the poor recordings only occur with lessons that focus on reading).
1 person has voted this message useful | |
| tarvos Super Polyglot Winner TAC 2012 Senior Member China likeapolyglot.wordpr Joined 4706 days ago 5310 posts - 9399 votes Speaks: Dutch*, English, Swedish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Afrikaans Studies: Greek, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Korean, Esperanto, Finnish | Message 32 of 51 20 June 2013 at 8:03pm | IP Logged |
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I have just tried Gloss for Russian - excellent resource.
2 persons have voted this message useful |
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