"Review of FSI Programmatic Spanish, Level 2"

I will quickly attempt to compare this course to the Barron's version of FSI Spanish. Both courses seem to have enhanced sound quality. Although Barrons doesn't mention it, but from listening to the Barron's' CDs it is apparent that Baron's' has enhanced the sound quality of their FSI lessons which were also originally recorded about 50 years ago.

Both courses also use native Speakers which is a big plus.

Baron's' calls its teaching method the Guided Imitation method. The Guided Imitation method is built upon two premises. One is that one of the most effective models to learning Spanish requires the student to study a small body of material until the material is thoroughly mastered. And the second is that language mastery depends on effectively manipulating the sounds, sequences, and patterns of a language until the learner sounds authentic. In Baron's', each Unit in the course starts with a basic dialog that's a re-creation of a real situation that the student is likely to encounter in "Surlandia." Surlandia is a mythical country in Latin America.

In FSI Programmatic Spanish a typical unit covers a cycle of work that requires about 3 to 5 hours of study for the average to above-average learner. The learning that takes place during a typical unit is sequenced as follows...

To read this whole review of FSI Programmatic Spanish, Level 2 please visit Amazon.com

Or Click Here to go to FsiProgrammaticSpanish.com

Learning Spanish Like Crazy is my number one pick. The course is audio-based. From listening to some of my students that I have recommended the course to, it seems that this course helps you develop a Latin American accent that is almost perfect. Although the teaching method is a lot like Pimsleur's teaching method, I found that the speakers in Pimsleur weren't lively enough and would eventually cause the student to grow bored which results in the student studying less. The speakers in Learning Spanish Like Crazy were more fun to listen to.

The vocabulary in Pimsleur was also limited and dated. Learning Spanish Like Crazy covered more vocabulary than Pimsleur and the vocabulary in Learning Spanish Like Crazy was also more like the everyday Spanish that Latin Americans speak.

You can also buy the Learning Spanish Like Crazy CDs (without the FSI CDs) at Amazon.com.

This course may be the most effective way to learn the subjunctive mood. LSLC Nivel Dos uses a fun and easy method to teach the subjunctive mood (unlike the effective, but tedious method used in FSI Programmatic Spanish Two to teach the subjunctive mood). Arguably, Learning Spanish Like Crazy Nivel Dos  is the best course available for learning the subjunctive mood.

I also found that Nivel Dos did the best job of any course that I have reviewed so far when it comes to teaching commands. Although there are a couple of excellent courses on the market that do a good job teaching verb conjugation, I found that Nivel Dos did the most complete job of teaching commands. And without mastering "commands," you can never truly be fluent in any language.

The bonus DVD was also excellent. The instructor on the bonus DVD has a unique teaching method that I found both fun and interactive.

Click here to go to the Learning Spanish Like Crazy Nivel Dos web site to purchase the downloadable version for $99. Or you can find the CD version at Amazon.com for $247.

Pimsleur Spanish I also gets 4 stars. The Pimsleur teaching method is one of the best teaching methods if not the very best. Pimsleur also gives the student several of levels of Spanish lessons for the student to improve his or her Spanish, including three comprehensive levels (15 hours each) and a plus level. With the Pimsleur method you will be able to recall almost everything that you learn. But I am not going to give Pimsleur 4 1/2 or 5 stars for couple of reasons. Unlike Learning Spanish Like Crazy, the vocabulary was dated and a little too formal. A great deal of the the vocabulary is not the vocabulary that Latin Americans use in everyday speech nowadays. It's certainly not the vocabulary that my college-educated friends and my non-college educated relatives use in our everyday conversations. But don't consider that a major drawback of Pimsleur Spanish. Latin Americans will still understand you with the Pimsleur Spanish vocabulary and will appreciate your effort to speak Spanish.

You can order Pimsleur Spanish I for $217.35 at Amazon.com

Rocket Spanish also received 4 stars. It is tied with Pimsleur Spanish for second place. The instructor on the recordings is Mauricio Evlampieff, a native of Chile. Mauricio uses a brilliant teaching method that makes the learning-Spanish experience most enjoyable. He incorporates flash card games and other methods to make the learning experience easy and fun.

If you are the type of person that loses interest easily when learning unless you are having fun, then I highly recommend Mauricio Evlampieff's Rocket Spanish because Rocket Spanish is lots of fun!

Rocket Spanish offers a 25 CD version of the course for $299.95 and a digital downloadable version for $99.95.