Pimsleur Albanian Level 1 CD: Learn to Speak and Understand Albanian with Pimsleur Language Programs (1) (Compact)

I love this. I've been trying to self teach and was making use of some apps as well. I thought I was doing pretty well, but this was recommended to me so I thought I'd give it a try. I have to say I'm learning so much faster with this and I am also retaining so much more. The intro says that there is a science to the way that the program is designed, working a specific part of the brain. I thought it was a gimmick until it actually worked! I highly recommend this program

If you are an auditory learner (you learn easily just from listening and do not need to read, see, or "do" to pick up new information), Pimsleur makes excellent introductory foreign language materials that suit your learning style. If, like me, you are *not* an auditory learner, the Pimsleur method is not natural and can be frustrating. That said, I've used Pimsleur products and gained basic navigational proficiency in several foreign languages, and people are generally impressed with my accent and ability to speak -- without ever having stepped foot into a classroom. I just have to listen to the Pimsleur tracks over and over and over and over and over again in order to assimilate the lessons.For this set, unlike other Pimsleur materials I've bought, there is a reading supplement, which is really cool. Unfortunately, the printer did a jenkety job of reproducing it: the booklet (in my package at least) is missing several pages. If you order and end up with a book with the same problem, you can go to the Pimsleur website (www pimsleur com) and download a PDF of this booklet to get a complete copy.Note: The Tosk and Gheg dialects of Albanian are similar enough that you do not need to stress out about the dialect of the materials you are buying.

If you're looking for a way to pick up a few words and get started in a new language, Pimsleur can't be beat. Albanian is different enough from, say, Spanish, that it takes some work to pick up structures that come easier with Western European languages. Still, this is a good start and it's fun to have had your first conversation, however small, only an hour or so in. Though I did need to listen twice to disc 1 for my start.Warning: if you want to be fluent in Albanian, it's going to take more than this. But if you want to make a start and feel like learning Albanian might be possible, it's a good program and at a great price (comparable sets used to be around $100 for unusual languages). Supplement with Before You Know It's Albanian (byki.com) - the introductory lists are free and will give you a little more to do with what you've learned.

An excellent start to understanding this language, would be very helpful if Pimsleur offered another 20 lessons or more to take the student to the next level, feedback from native speakers on the pimsleur results and pronunciations was very positive.

I found this to be rather worthless. I am not sure how many minutes are necessary to master basic speech like "Hello, how are you.? What is your name? Where are you from.? What is your occupation. As well as various polite greetings for good morning through good night.This DOES NOT teach Albanian grammar or provide a useful vocabulary even at the most basic level. There is near zero print material explaining grammar and usage, while the recordings themselves are rote nonsense, equivalent to the "See Dick run. See Jane run" primers of the 1950's. USELESS- there are far better resources out there for the same price.You will not advance beyond mid A1 classification regardless of any book, listening CD, method unless you have an Albanian tutor, or are registered in a formal language course. After 2 years of intensive study all I can say is that Albanian grammar is "formidable and Pimsleur is NOT a good choice, even at the most elemental level.

Even though the description says it's for Windows and Mac, it is impossible to read the CD tracks on a Mac. So pointless for me as I have Mac only.

made my trip to Albania much easier. The Albanians really opened up when an American makes an effort to speak their language.

A fair product for the price... this is only for very basic conversational Albanian. It does not provide you with an actual understanding of the langauge... If only Michel Thomas would do more languages!