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| Fluenz Mandarin 1+2 Learning Suite Windows, Including DVDs, Audio CDs, Podcasts, and Fluenz Navigator. Next-Generation Chinese Language Learning Software | 
 enlarge | From: Fluenz
Category: Software
List Price: $357.00
Buy New: $323.00
You Save: $34.00 (10%)
New (3) Used (1) from $275.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  36 reviews
Sales Rank: 890
Format: Dvd-rom
Platforms: Windows Xp, Windows Vista
Media: DVD-ROM
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 5 x 5 x 5
UPC: 804879078128
EAN: 0804879078128
ASIN: B000PRBV74
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 36 | | ... 8 NEXT » |
 GREAT!!!!!!! October 25, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm halfway done with the Mandarin DVD and it is just great. I was debating about Rosseta Stone or Fluenz and so glad I went with Fluenz. If you want an analytical interactive adult approach to learning Mandarin this is the DVD to get. I tried Rosseta Stone from a guy at work and it was ok, but not my style. This seems to teach in a logical way that you can extrapolate on instead of just learning phrases.
Also the Audio CD and Podcasts are great learning tools. I thought they would just be filler stuff, but the Podcasts have helped me with tones more than anything.
I also chatted online with Customer Service (to find where to download the Podcasts) and he was very helpful and friendly.
I'm in Taiwan now and halfway done with the DVD. I start taking classes at Taiwan Cultural University learning Mandarin for 11 weeks 14 hours each week. This DVD has really helped me out and has me primed and ready to go.
 good software October 5, 2008
good software, great simple language tuition, I am generally very satisfied, the practice sessions are good
what is bad:
the DVD is good but be aware that it has to be in your drive to work so if, like me, you travel without one you are stuffed
the podcasts are great but should have been included in the audio CD
other than that, highly recomended
Wonderful Way to Learn Mandarin August 20, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I got a great start learning Mandarin from Fluenz! I found Fluenz more useful than a book with CD because it is very interactive, ensuring that I learn each grammar concept and word thoroughly before moving onto the next lesson. The vocabulary covered will enable you to get around independently in China and also covers much of the ground a business person would want to know. The CD only alternative, e.g., Pimsleur, I don't feel is worthwhile for Mandarin because it won't give you access to Pinyin, a form of written Mandarin which is easy to learn and which is indispensable if you want to learn more vocabulary. And I thought the Rosetta Stone sample simply sucked - I don't think I could learn any language that way.
The only reason I gave this title four stars rather than 5 is that the software implementation could be a lot better. In several lessons we are treated to a video of Sonia Gil (who is very easy on the eyes, by the way!) speaking with her voice about 5 seconds ahead of her image. The ingenious tablet to type pinyin vowels is marred by the fact that the location of the cursor jumps unpredictably while you are typing answers - you better watch what you're doing and expect to have to hit the back key often - this takes up extra time and attention better spent on learning the language. Also, you can type in an incorrect answer and move on, something the software is supposed to prevent. Other times, the posted answer is incorrect, leaving me with a feeling nobody proofed the software. And finally, the instructions at the start of the DVD did not cover all sections of the lessons.
Some suggested improvements - An index to the lessons and topics with hot keys, when someone asks for an answer keep their incorrect answer visible so they can see and learn from what they did wrong. I'd also enjoy some lessons on words associated with emotions and family rather than just shopping or asking directions, e.g., happy, sad, worried, how many brothers or sisters.
Criticisms aside, this course is well worth the money. I enjoyed learning from it!
Well worth the money, but dont u want a backup copy? August 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This product makes it very easy to learn Chinese. I have tried Pimsleur, but I found it very difficult because it was audio only. Also Pimsleur was a bit boring at times. I also am using Teach Yourself Beginner's Chinese but it is not as good as this. I thought the product was quite overpriced, especially since there is this ridiculous Amazon Policy of not selling Fluenz to Australian addresses, and therefore I couldn't get the discount, but I now think it was worth the money (Amazon should sell to O/S though).
The audio CD that comes with it refers to additional podcasts available as downloads from www.fluenz.com, but when I visit the website, I can't seem to locate them. However, putting in www.fluenz.com/podcasts will find them, there are 15 about 10 mins each.They r gr8.
There is one negative and that is the safedisc 4.85.000 copy protection. This means that you can't back up the disk in case of damage. I understand that they want to protect their work, but I should be entitled to make one backup copy. I want to do my fluenz at home and at work too, I am not willing to take a $300 disk and carry it around on a daily basis risking loss or damage. This would have been quite anxiety-making if it had not been for the good people on the internet who have discovered a way to circumvent safedisc 4.85, so now I can use it at home and work too without worrying, but the time taken to learn how to do this would have been better spent learning Chinese.
I like the slow pace of the lessons, but I think at the end you will only know a couple of hundred words at the most. Also, my chinese friend seems to think it has some examples of incorrect usage, he objected to using the measure word ge with shu eg zhe ge shu, he said NO, that should be zhe ben shu.
I would like to see the following improvements:
1. A plan for registered users to get a replacement dvd for a very small charge if theirs gets damaged
2. A Mandarin 3-4, this course is great, but I'm sure I am going to want more, I am completing it very quickly at the moment. I dont think enough vocabulary is taught.
3. A version that works on any WM5 pocket PC with a virtual keyboard, not just smartphones with physical keyboards
4. An upgrade policy so that if you purchased the windows version and then got a mobile device, you could upgrade to purchase the mobile version, provided you had already purchased the Windows version
5. Only correct usage, eg. not using the ge measure word if it is incorrect.
Fluenz is Worth Every Penny! June 16, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
At first I thought the software was a little overpriced, but I comperad it with other softwares and programs and decided to go for Fluenz. I have to say, the service is great, if you have any problem they solve it as fast as they can. The lessons are really simple and easy to learn. The software is made so you can feel relaxed while you are learning and it teaches you the most important stuff of the everyday life.
I could not have chosen a better way to learn Mandarin. You learn fast and you learn good.
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