Pimsleur Farsi Persian Level 1 CD: Learn to Speak and Understand Farsi Persian with Pimsleur Language Programs (1) (Comprehensive) Audio CD – Audiobook, December 1, 2005

Very good program, easy to follow and improve spoken Farsi. I'm finding I can pick out words used by my Farsi speaking friends. It's too bad there aren't further lessons because it doesn't go far enough in some ways. For instance, it teaches words for lunch and dinner but not breakfast, and the only day of the week covered is Friday. Another useful phrase would be something like "Sorry, I don't know the words to respond to that" or something similar

I completed this course while concurrently using the Rosetta Stone software, and I'd like to offer a review which compares the two:PRACTICALITY:Pimsleur wins. You'll learn how to ask for directions, order in a restaurant, make introductions, haggle with a merchant, etc. After a similar amount of time spent using Rosetta, you'll know how to say things like, "These two girls are wearing red dresses and riding bicycles."CONTENT:Rosetta wins. I'm paying $100 to use Rosetta online for three months, compared to $140 for the complete Pimsleur comprehensive course. In the amount of time it took me to complete the Pimsleur course, I've learned much more vocabulary from Rosetta.RETENTION:Pimsleur wins. While this could partly be because it has less content than Rosetta, I feel that the Pimsleur method is still much better for fostering retention.READING:Rosetta wins. Reading is ingrained to every lesson, whereas Pimsleur has audio lessons with a separate small set of reading lessons.OVERALL:Both are great. Pimsleur will get you up to speed fast enough to encourage you to keep learning, while Rosetta probably offers more in-depth training over the long term. They also reenforce each other pretty well.

This is a fun way to get started and my skills improved markedly over just 2-3 weeks, however I definitely need more! Pimsleur needs to come out with a level 2 and 3 for Farsi. This is a great way to get started speaking, and you can fill in vocab and written later once you get started with this basic aural foundation.

Salaam ...This is a great course, but it really needs a sequel (or two). About 2/3 of the way through it, I also started working with a tutor. She was able to clear up some of the minor points I was missing (e.g. some of the pronunciation issues I was having). The biggest drawback of the Pimsleur method is the lack of a written text (even transliterated) or vocabulary list to refer to. That said, however, the course is great for independent study, especially by those of us who spend too much of our lives inside a 4-wheeled commuter box.Some folks have tried to compare Pimsleur with Rosetta Stone. Don't bother. That's like trying to compare horses to cats. They are completely different animals. My preferred method is to do Pimsleur first in whatever language you're trying to learn. At least do Level One. This will give you a feel for how the language sounds and fits together, making further study more productive. THEN you will find Rosetta to be much more helpful. Rosetta will clear up whatever lingering pronunciation mysteries you may have, address reading and expand your vocabulary. Use both systems, but do the Pimsleur first, IMHO.

I have been using Mace's Intro to Modern Persian, his Grammar book, and a couple of dictionaries. However, I have had no speakers to listen to or teacher to interact with. These CDs helped a great deal and gave me practice listening and speaking ina more active environment. I look forward to Levels II and III.Kheili Motoshakkeram,Omar Khayyam

Very helpful and informative

Like all Pimsleur products it's tremendously effective for acquiring useful speaking and comprehension skills at whatever level, and in whatever language, the given program teaches.

This is definitely a good way to learn a language, although repetitive, repetition is required for language skills to be acquired. This course will give you some very basic skills and increase confidence however, the skills taught are rather narrow. I am left with a great need for continuing beyond Lesson 30. Farsi II & III would make this a far more complete course but are sadly not available. Compared to the more popular languages such as French, Spanish, Italian, German, Arabic which offer volumes of teaching material from a variety of sources, Farsi is often a battle to learn purely for the lack of printed material or teaching resources available on the market today. Even sourcing a decent Farsi - English dictionary, the most basic of tools, is nearly impossible. Pimsleur - you ALMOST have a monopoly in this language in regards to resources for native English speakers trying to learn Farsi. Please don't let us down and release Farsi II & III soon as you have for the more popular languages.