Assimil Chinese - any good? (Language Programs, Books & Tapes) Language Learning Forum

Assimil Chinese - any good?
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13 messages over 2 pages: 1 2 Next >>

COF
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Message 1 of 13

05 June 2012 at 6:08pm | IP Logged

I've read that it is not a patch on the likes of Assimil French, and will not get you to a comparable high level as it does for the European languages.

Is this true?
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newyorkeric
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Message 2 of 13

06 June 2012 at 4:03am | IP Logged

I don't understand the first half of your question. What does "it is not a patch on the likes of Assimil French" mean?
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Wulfgar
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Message 3 of 13

06 June 2012 at 7:24am | IP Logged

edit: I got this mixed up with FSI

Edited by Wulfgar on 09 June 2012 at 8:12am
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Jinx
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Message 4 of 13

07 June 2012 at 5:46pm | IP Logged

Wulfgar wrote:

newyorkeric wrote:

What does "it is not a patch on the likes of Assimil French" mean?

I think that's pirate talk.

No, that's a common English expression meaning "it's not nearly as good as".

In response to the original poster, I've only just started Assimil Chinese but I like it so far. I think it's only natural that it wouldn't be able to teach as much to someone who speaks a European language as a course for another European language could. The Assimil course that I have for Chinese, however, consists of two books on the spoken language and one on the writing, for a total of three. I think that's quite respectable.

Hopefully someone who's actually completed the course will see this thread and leave their opinion as well.
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geoffw
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Message 5 of 13

07 June 2012 at 5:59pm | IP Logged

Jinx wrote:

Wulfgar wrote:

newyorkeric wrote:

What does "it is not a patch on the likes of Assimil French" mean?

I think that's pirate talk.

No, that's a common English expression meaning "it's not nearly as good as".

Common where??
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dbag
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Message 6 of 13

07 June 2012 at 7:02pm | IP Logged

geoffw wrote:

Jinx wrote:

Wulfgar wrote:

newyorkeric wrote:

What does "it is not
a patch on the likes of Assimil French" mean?

I think that's pirate talk.

No, that's a common English expression meaning "it's not nearly as good as".

Common where??

Seriously?
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egill
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Message 7 of 13

07 June 2012 at 9:41pm | IP Logged

I haven't heard it before either so I looked it up:

Cambridge Idioms Dictionary wrote:

not be a patch on somebody/something (British & Australian)
to not be as good as someone or something else It's a reasonably entertaining film but
it's not a patch on 'Bladerunner'.

Macmillan Dictionary wrote:

not a patch on something BRITISH INFORMAL
much less good than something

There were a couple more, but I think the point is clear.
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dbag
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Message 8 of 13

07 June 2012 at 11:21pm | IP Logged

Wow! It never ceases to amaze me how different British and American English can be.

OP:
I have seen a few threads asking about this, and they seem to fizzle out quickly. I
don't think that many on the forum have much experience with the course.
However, New York Eric has a fairly detailed thread about it, and there's a guy called
Bobby E who has one too.

I haven't used it and don't study Mandarin, but I seem to recall reading that there are
"only" about 700 characters across both volumes, so on that score you will need to use
something else eventually.

I bet it's great in terms of idioms though.

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