Berlitz: Foreign Language Learning Series Reviews
Alexander Arguelles presents a series of video reviews and demonstrations of those foreign language learning series that he has found most useful in his own studies. For further information about the series, please refer to www.foreignlanguageexpertise.com
Is this available in French?
Which language is usually easiest to learn for a native english speaker?
I’d say German, because they’re from the same language family.
i just ordered the 1949-50 versions of the french and spanish self teachers from amazon, they also had german, they’ll connec tyou right to a used seller.
I’ve been learning German for 9 years and I’m a German major in college. It is not an easy language because it is filled with exceptions and irregularities. English also is full of these things, but the ones in german are *different* and thus quite hard.
I would have to agree with Aeoen. I’ve been studying German for about a year and I’m very surprised with how far I’ve come.
hi. im a russian speaker and i should say i really enjoyed u speaking my language.
u barely have an accent! bravo! 
you can get the French, German, Italian, and Spanish hard cover brand new of Amazon.
omg professor, when you read the spanish text i thought a computer was talking, you were talking so fast, but you didnt have an accent, WOW im impressed, it must have been really hard learning all those languages, and not just that! their accent too!! i dont think i’ll ever accomplish that even if i live to be 1000 years old
Wow, I just found a german 1950 Berlitz among some books my colleague gave me!
No not German. Pronunciation is easy and is phonetic but the grammar takes a while to assimilate. The vocabulary is not that close either, not as close as French fro example, the case system can also be perplexing to native English speakers. Not that German is necessarily “hard” but it’s no breeze and there are other mainstream languages that are more beginner friendly if I can use such a term. Spanish, French or maybe Dutch could fit into that bracket.
I agree. With all the Gallicisms acquired by English, French would be the “easiest” (if one could classify any language as “easy”).
I think the new versions of berlitz focus on travel phrases and just getting a familiarity with the language rather than actually learing in depth. I think part of this is due to the fact most parts of the world have a familiarity with english and people rely on that, which is sad because people are not being pressed to learn anymore. English has become the new Latin in that it is spoken over such a wide area or at least is familiar.
From my experience and gauging the experiences of others, I have heard many say French is harder than German. I suppose it depends on your interest in the language and culture
Doesn’t that contradict himself: Speaking like computer and having no accent (as speaking like a native)?
Anyway, he has an accent but it is not very strong.
On the hand his Portuguese was kind of weird: It didn’t sound neither European nor Brazilian, more like a Spanish learner would pronounce it.
It’s Ashame there is no Russian in a reprint edition. I have the reprint of French, Italian, Spanish and German and WOW has it helped me alot!
Your Russian is very good. And your spanish was not too bad either. As a native Spanish speaker, I found getting the Russian pronounciation easy. I’m learning French now and I am having a bit of difficulty in that pronounciation even though it is much closer to Spanish… funny how languages work, isn’t it?
“O homem é a maior parte dos animais”. Que frase mais estranha, os insetos são a maior parte dos animais… Há até aquela célebre frase, sobre o planeta Terra: A Terra é o habitat dos insetos, e há os humanos, que servem-os de alimento.
Great review! I’ve always loved those old self-study language courses, and can’t help thinking they’re better that a lot of the modern material on the market.
I’m impressed with your pronunciations; it’s a shame you didn’t also read something in German, I would have loved to hear your accent (or lack thereof)!
thx for bringing these to my attention ^_^
Berlitz Peru is popular amongh ESL teachers for paying very poorly (3 or 4 $ An HOUR) their teachers when they charge extremely expensive rates to their students, generally big companies or affluent professionals. For example NO KIDDING: 2 THOUSAND dollars a week for a personalized class in PERU¡ This is abusive.A european friend told me the same is in Europe , and their “method” is not a big deal. DOnt go there and make this public please.
I love your videos. It’s amazing how you can speak so many languages so well. But you sound like Carl Sagan when you speak English, and he sounded kind of weird. I guess that’s just how smart people sound.
Epanish is my native languague and i liked you`r spanish…. but felt sorry for yor portugues.
Neverminding that, Great vid.
I wish I could someday become as good in languages as you are. J`admire le grand efford que vous avez fait pour apprendre toutes ses langues. Ver vuestros videos es algo que me motiva verdaderamente.