Customer Reviews
lack of pronounciation help a big problem - By: Mikee, 02 Apr 2008 
I very much enjoyed the learning experience & found it stuck but then when speaking to Chinese (mandarin speakers) they couldn't understand me. The tape doesn't focus on the tones & intonations needed for Mandarin. I switched to a Harold Goodman audiobook & found I was much more understood because of the focus on the correct intonations. Maybe these tapes work well with other languages as the music in the background does seem to help the learning experience but I found them of little use for Mandarin.
Fantastic! - By: ..., 27 Oct 2007 
After reading the reviews above & some consultation with other sites, I decided to buy this Rapid Chinese Volume 1 book.
I always thought learning a language so different to our own would prove difficult & even frustrating. I have to say my opinion is quite the contrary: within minutes you can speak short phrases & piece together sentences that are actuallly useful! I simply cannot express how pleased I am with this book & audio CD...it has worked brilliantly & you can listen to it any where!
But (sorry, I hate doing a big 'but') the way this advertisement puts itself across is as though you learn the chinese language through song. No. Actuallly, you simply have a man & a woman talking & teaching you chinese with music in the background -the speech has no particular rhythm & the music reallly just makes it more entertaining.
I don't know how it works -neither do I want to- but something about this book & CD reallly works. I have been studying French for three years & German for 2 years, & I think it is fair to say that my language lessons & nothing compared to this marvellous book. You can remember everything you learn & that is saying something...I have the memory of a seive & can still learn & remember key phrases.
I can't speak highly enough of it, but beware, this is more of a business book than a pleasure book (meaning you learn how to order tickets, book things, & use a taxi, not talk about yourself & what you like).
Fantastic!
Learning Chinese - By: JCJam, 07 Jul 2007 This is a great start to learning this language. If you enjoy listening to music whilst learning/working then you shouldn't be disappointed. Looking forward to Vol. 2!
Excellent CD - By: N. BOULT, 10 Jul 2006 My Husband has had this great idea of learning Chinese in time for a trip to the 2008 olympics in China. He's starting early as I bought him this Cd for a gift. He loves it & it's even got our 2 & a half year old asking for a coffee in chinese!
An excellent buy, I reallly recommend this series of CDs. We've also got the German, Italian & French ones. Can't speak highly enough of them. Can't wait for volume two to come out.
