Holy Bejibbity
May. 5th, 2007 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akujunkanBarron's is not fucking around anymore.
My local library had a acquisition bonanza recently, resulting in no less than 20 new "Teach Yourself [Insert Language of Choice Here]" audiocassette/CD sets. I was good and only signed out two of them.
The first--Barron's Learn Chinese the Fast and Easy Way--is what you might expect: a glorified phrasebook on a crapton of cassettes and lots of cheerful clipart in the workbook (where there's nary a character in sight). Still, it's good enough to use for practicing my tones.
But the other--Barron's Master Korean Unit One--oh my GOD it is not kidding. I don't think I've ever worked myself so hard, and I'm only on the first lesson! It's apparently based on the modules developed for the Foreign Service; I now understand how diplomats can go from zero to fluent in two months or whatever. This program is NOT KIDDING. I had to concentrate like a mofo and work as hard and fast as I could and I was still straining to keep up with it. The exercises come at you fast and furious, but just slowly enough so that you're able to stay ahead of them--just. It's all great fun. And more than any other set I've tried thus far, I think it will likely succeed in accomplishing its purpose.
That said, it isn't without its problems: the accompanying book (which I try not to refer to unless absolutely necessary) places the focus on romanization over Hangeul; the Hangeul itself looks like it was cut and pasted from 1950s-era mimeograph originals when it does appear; and the unit texts tend to differ from the recorded texts (and if I am noticing this, imaging what must be flying under my radar).
Still, give me MORE. I'm going back on Monday to see if they don't have the corresponding sets for Gaelic, Japanese and Chinese. So much love.
That will be all.
My local library had a acquisition bonanza recently, resulting in no less than 20 new "Teach Yourself [Insert Language of Choice Here]" audiocassette/CD sets. I was good and only signed out two of them.
The first--Barron's Learn Chinese the Fast and Easy Way--is what you might expect: a glorified phrasebook on a crapton of cassettes and lots of cheerful clipart in the workbook (where there's nary a character in sight). Still, it's good enough to use for practicing my tones.
But the other--Barron's Master Korean Unit One--oh my GOD it is not kidding. I don't think I've ever worked myself so hard, and I'm only on the first lesson! It's apparently based on the modules developed for the Foreign Service; I now understand how diplomats can go from zero to fluent in two months or whatever. This program is NOT KIDDING. I had to concentrate like a mofo and work as hard and fast as I could and I was still straining to keep up with it. The exercises come at you fast and furious, but just slowly enough so that you're able to stay ahead of them--just. It's all great fun. And more than any other set I've tried thus far, I think it will likely succeed in accomplishing its purpose.
That said, it isn't without its problems: the accompanying book (which I try not to refer to unless absolutely necessary) places the focus on romanization over Hangeul; the Hangeul itself looks like it was cut and pasted from 1950s-era mimeograph originals when it does appear; and the unit texts tend to differ from the recorded texts (and if I am noticing this, imaging what must be flying under my radar).
Still, give me MORE. I'm going back on Monday to see if they don't have the corresponding sets for Gaelic, Japanese and Chinese. So much love.
That will be all.
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no subject
on 2007-05-06 06:13 pm (UTC)From what I've seen, the Masters series is well worth the money provided you're able to stick with it. (Usual caveats apply: I've only looked at the Korean module and have no idea how representative it is, and I haven't yet encountered any grammar or vocab I'm not already familiar with.)
My guess is that it's *primarily* designed to get people speaking fluently; the text includes Hangeul but doesn't ever teach or explain it and it seems to have been added as an afterthought. I can imagine the Japanese module would be even worse in this regard. But since I already know Hangeul, it's doing exactly what I want, which is mercilessly drilling me on speaking and substituting. Best of all, all the drills--listening, speaking, substitution--are at conversational speed, which means I'm picking up the correct rhythms and intonations, not dumbed-down learner's speak.
So I think it would be precisely what you're after, especially since it challenges you to hear and understand words you may be familiar with in written form but haven't yet heard spoken aloud. In fact, I'm planning on seeing if the library has the Japanese one as well, just so I can keep my speaking up to par and possibly iron out any incorrect constructions that have crept into my speech patterns.