Pimsleur series?

[Fonzy]

Does anyone have any experience with the Pimsleur language series? My unit is deploying to an area where Albanian is spoken heavily, and in an effort to be a little more of an asset to the unit I thought I'd try to learn as much of the local language as possible beforehand. This is the only company that I've been able to find that teaches the language and I was wondering if any QPs out there have had any experience with their methods. If not, how (on the civillian side) do you practice and perfect forgein language?

Thanks in advance,
PFC Fonz

[Cincinnatus]

FWIW, I taught myself German using their tapes on the recommendation of a friend at the State Dept. He said they had many to choose from (Pimsleur, Berlitz, Living Language, etc.) and that there was near unanimity that Pimsleur was the best. That said my German was never great and you can teach yourself only so much by tape.

The "long haired dictionary" is the preferred method of learning a language.

I've heard good things about Rosetta Stone.

Oxford Duden make pictoral dictionaries that can be very useful. Don't know if they make one for Albanian. If they do, I'd get it in addition to a standard dictionary and book on grammar.

I commend you for making the effort, put a lot into it as it can pay great dividends. Folks tend to appreciate that you speak their language, even when you don't speak it well.

HTH