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Assimil - which edition to get? | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| cooljoe Newbie United States Joined 6340 days ago 18 posts - 19 votes Speaks: English* | Message 1 of 11 21 June 2011 at 6:05pm | IP Logged | ||
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Hello everyone, I have never used Assimil before and am a little confused about the different editions. From my searching on this forum, I gather that the older editions are superior to the newest editions. But I wanted to be sure before I commit to purchasing a few Assimil products; are the Assimil versions at the following Amazon links the ones I should go for, or are they too new?
http://www.amazon.com/French-Ease-Assimil-Method-Books/dp/27 00520130/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308672212&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Assimil-Language-Learning-Prog rams/dp/270051064X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308672230&sr=8-1 Also, I was wondering if anyone knows where to find German With Ease for a fair price? I have only found it selling for nearly 100 USD on Amazon. Thanks very much for your help. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| zekecoma Senior Member United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5343 days ago 561 posts - 655 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 2 of 11 21 June 2011 at 9:09pm | IP Logged | ||
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This is the newer version of Assimil French
http://www.amazon.com/New-French-Ease-Anthony-Bulger/dp/2700 502299/ref=pd_sim_b_3 I own it. The Italian version. They have the old ones, you would have to buy it from Assimil directly or from Amazon.co.uk. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Italian-with-Ease/dp/2700570286/ref= sr_1_1? s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308683361&sr=1-1 If you wait until next month (July), there should be a new version out (2011 edition) which I believe is based off the New French with Ease. The link I gave you for French. IMHO, while others might like the old versions. I like the newer simply because it has everything up to date pretty much, better built book, all the vocabulary in the back (only recent versions have it) and the idioms, currency, etc are up to date also. Edited by zekecoma on 21 June 2011 at 9:12pm 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Elexi Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5564 days ago 938 posts - 1840 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French, German, Latin | Message 3 of 11 22 June 2011 at 9:48am | IP Logged | ||
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I agree - many of the people who say that the old ones are 'better' are either deep polyglots who prefer their courses to packed with words and tables. I have done both French Without Toil and New French With Ease and, whilst I love Without Toil and would recommend it to anyone, it isn't for the modern beginner. New French With Ease is, however, and in my opinion one of the best Assimil courses ever written in any time.
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| tractor Tetraglot Senior Member Norway Joined 5452 days ago 1349 posts - 2292 votes Speaks: Norwegian*, English, Spanish, Catalan Studies: French, German, Latin | Message 4 of 11 22 June 2011 at 8:07pm | IP Logged | ||
I have both courses too. I completely agree. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| ilperugino Pentaglot Groupie Portugal Joined 5173 days ago 56 posts - 75 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English, Italian, Spanish, French Studies: Mandarin | Message 5 of 11 23 June 2011 at 2:17pm | IP Logged | ||
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I have some old and new ones (Assimil courses) and trust Professor Arguelles opinion on the subject: old Assimil is far better. More challenging, more material, less patronizing (or none at all). Get them old.
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| fanatic Octoglot Senior Member Australia speedmathematics.com Joined 7145 days ago 1152 posts - 1818 votes Speaks: English*, German, French, Afrikaans, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Dutch Studies: Swedish, Norwegian, Polish, Modern Hebrew, Malay, Mandarin, Esperanto | Message 6 of 11 23 June 2011 at 3:18pm | IP Logged | ||
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I have found there are benefits from both the old and new versions.
I like the old French Without Toil. It has an interesting story line, it teaches French customs and outlooks (from the forties and fifties) and has a good vocabulary. It has 140 lessons. It was my first introduction to Assimil - they used it as a textbook at evening classes I attended. New French With Ease is great. It doesn't have an underlying story. When I travel on long trips in my car I play both courses through my stereo system from my mp3 player. They both hold my attention, I find them both interesting to listen to, and I am revising the language. I think I prefer the new Russian courses to the old 1940s or 1950s course which I have. I have the 70s course in German and the new course in French. I have both old and new Dutch and I like them both. What I don't like about some of the new courses are the pauses in the audio. I agree with Elexi, the New French With Ease is one of the best Assimil courses but I have an emotional attachment to all that introduced me to a language. 7 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| tractor Tetraglot Senior Member Norway Joined 5452 days ago 1349 posts - 2292 votes Speaks: Norwegian*, English, Spanish, Catalan Studies: French, German, Latin | Message 7 of 11 23 June 2011 at 6:46pm | IP Logged | ||
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Assimil French:
I personally find the progression in French without Toil a little too steep. I would therefore recommend starting out with New French with Ease. However, French without Toil is very good, and I recommend getting both. Assimil German: I think German without Toil is much better than German with Ease. Still, I recommend getting both. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Elexi Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5564 days ago 938 posts - 1840 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French, German, Latin | Message 8 of 11 23 June 2011 at 9:13pm | IP Logged | ||
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I agree that German Without Toil is a superior course than German with Ease - and it is less of a steep learning curve than French Without Toil compared to New French With Ease. I just acquired some 45s records of audio files from the 60s and they, ironically, sound more modern than previous set of cassettes I had from the late 70s. Edited by Elexi on 23 June 2011 at 9:13pm 1 person has voted this message useful |
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