FSI (Barron’s): 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
Are the Barron’s courses exactly the same as the original FSI courses?
All the Barron’s books I have ever seen have been exact reproductions of the government manuals, just reduced to a usefully portable size, and in price as well. I believe they may have added cultural information, in English, on some of the recordings.
From a current FSI employee:
1. FSI abandoned the old courses and their accompanying methodology years ago. Many language sections use modern commercial texts in their place.
2. The courses were written principally for training Foreign Service Officers, although they were surely used for other purposes.
3. The language used in all of the courses is outdated and in many cases inappropriate or even offensive. Be careful which lines you practice!
4. Don’t pay for them if you don’t have to!
where do you download them for free online?
legally if possible?
wat the best carrer track in the foreign service which pays alot and gives u some presitge to the wrld and president
managment, counslar, or political or even economics
How could it be inappropriate or offensive? What alternates do you suggest?
@blazethemonkey
The French word “bonne” used to mean “maid,” but now it’s an offensive word.
I purchased a Korean FSI course, (2005 Edition) which does cover a good amount of grammar. However, the Korean used in this manual is rather outdated. So I suppose I expected a 2005 revised edition to be somewhat more modern.
I suggest you skip the first course, actually. If you use other materials until you reach a certain level of Korean, the second course will actually be useful. It’s still outdated, but at that point you’ll be able to recognize what you don’t need.
I’m cuerrently studying Mandarin using the FSI course as my primary method. I have to say I’m really impressed by the depth covered in the course. So far I’ve completed 2 modules in less than a week and the progress I’ve made (compared to Pimsleur’s method) is astonishing.
I’d like to know if the mandarin for that specific FSI course is outdated, and if so… would that be grave ?
Thanks in advance !
Professor,
I’m learning French at the moment; would you recommend the French FSI method; would the language being taught be too antiquated for a modern French ear? Thanks for all these videos – I’m looking forward to your guide to the Korean language in the current series.