Excellent Beginner's Portuguese Course
|
|
A really good beginner's course for learning the Portuguese language. My copy is rather dog-eared now, as I have used it so much and even though it is a beginner's course, it is still useful to refer back to when you have gone beyond that stage and up to intermediate level. The situations are useful and practical, and everything is arranged in a good and reasonably logical order. All in all, an excellent book I'd always recommend.
|
|
|
Painlessly
|
Although the CDs could be better I still give this course a five star rating. Why? Because this is one of the best foreign language courses I have ever come across.
The way it is organised is the key to its sucess. There are no loose ends, everything leads on to something else, all is related and helps learners build up their Portuguese with a greatly reduced effort.
I have a linguistic background but am aware that many learners do not have grammatical knowledge. This course helps in this area too. Grammar is there but presented in a painlessly manner. Learners can get the concepts and put them to work in practice without the difficulties and boredom usually associated with grammar.
The course covers basic concepts but also some more detailed points like the position of direct and indirect pronouns and reflexive pronouns. Pages 87-88, 223-224 and 236-237 are particularly helpful in this area.
|
|
Warning - CD now protected so you can't put it on your mp3!
|
I've used the Teach Yourself books before and they are a great way to learn a language - you get useful conversation plus the grammar.
But this most recent one I've bought won't allow me to copy it to my mp3 player - previous ones did. I want to be able to listen to it on the way to work and back - unfortunately that's no longer possible.
I won't be using this series again.
|
|
|
It breaks the psychological barrier
|
Work took me to Brazil years ago. I learned the language then. Now I am approaching retirement age and thinking of buying a place in Porugal. I decided to brush up my Portuguese and bought this course. I am glad I did. I makes me feel on familiar ground. The occasional genuine differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese are cleary explained. So I can easily refresh what I already knew.
The voices are also a great help. There are male and female voices with a Brazilian and a European accent. The book explains the difference. This way you have the benefit of understanding both and you can pick as a model to follow the speaker that best suits you.
Little I knew how useful all this was going to be. I have just spent some time in Lisbon. In cafes and restaurants I was served by more Brazilian than Portuguese waiters! These Brazilians do not seem to have a problem with the European accent. Dr Cook teaches us non-native speakers to overcome any psychological barriers and enjoy the language, whatever the accent.
|
|
|
good teaching and good humour
|
|
Languages is not my scene. The implications are that i need words to have practical application and something well structured but i don't like grammar. Learning that is fun also helps. With these requirements this course is for me. This course teaches very practical vocabulary and takes a well structured approach that manages to be fun. The humorous pictures set the right mood. I like the big tooth symbol for the dentist, the witty no drink drive notice and speeding fine. The exercises are equally humorous. All this helps the pill go down. The pill (grammar) is also introduced gently, another bonus. The whole course is highly informative but relaxed. It makes learning fun. That is why it is for people like me. I am very happy with it and very happy to recommend it to other learners.
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada