Customer Reviews
Learn in your car 
2006-07-06
This seems like a good set of CDs. The instructors speak very clearly and a book is provided with the same material in it so that one can see how the words are spelled.
Pretty useful vocabulary builder 
2004-01-02
I have been using this set of 3 discs for about 5 weeks and have now ordered levels 2 & 3. The first disc is real basic stuff that gets you started, the second disc has lists of various types of vocabulary, like common nouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs, and prepostions, and it is really worth going over these time and time again so as to master both the vocabulary and the pronunciation of these basic word lists. At least once you have go the basic vocabulary down, you have something to build on, so it gets easier.
Disc three is more phrase oriented, though it should be born in mind that each lesson is designed to illustrate some kind of grammatical rule. For some reason my disc set came with the wrong book (French instead of Spanish) so I have relied totally on the audio, though I do have a basic Spanish book that I refer to occasionally if I can't properly identify the spelling of a word from what I hear.
The only beef I do have is that while some of the phrases are obviously very useful, like "donde esta el banco mas cercano?" (where is the nearest bank?), others are not. You can just imagine landing in a Spanish speaking country and the first thing out of your mouth is asking for the nearest ATM or bathroom, but not all of the pattern sentences in the exercises are as useful.
It IS hard work learning Spanish this way, but if you do a lot of driving or can take a CD player with you wherever you are, then it is also incredibly economical with what would probably otherwise be dead time used productively. Being able to communicate in Spanish is an incredibly valuable skill in the workplace these days, and even if you don't use it for that, there are so many Spanish-speaking tourism destinations in the Western hemisphere that learning Spanish while you drive around can only widen your scope. I have already found that after 5 weeks of using this plus the Instant Immersion Spanish discs in my car I can understand lengthy chunks of spoken Spanish, read newspapers and understand 85%, and understand Spanish language posts on the Internet tolerably well. My speech still needs a lot of work, but that is to be expected.
So, yes, I do recommend this set of discs, but I would use them in conjunction with something else for variety. You will still spend a lot less and learn a lot more than you would going to classes or on a course. Spanish will be my fifth language, if you count English as one, so I do know of what I speak.
Kind of boring... 2001-12-17
I don't know what I expected from this CD... it's cool and it is a good learning tool. It's just so bland. All phrases are said in English, then twice in Spanish. And that's it. Very monotonous. I mean, it serves its purpose, though. I just wish it were more entertaining. Listening to the guy's voice can annoy you after a while (ever heard Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller's Day Off?)... then you'll turn it off... and how can you learn THAT way?
Easy to use 2001-11-13
In spite of my Spanish sir name, until I purchased this CD set, I knew very little Spanish. After going through this first Learn in Your Car series however, I feel like I can speak broken Spanish to friends and family. I get a great charge out of it. No doubt, learning a second language after your childhood is a daunting task, but it is possible in my experience. Don't be fooled though, you must do the CD exercises again and again. Repetition is really important; it took me quite a long time to get past the first two CDs, and I have a very long commute.
This first set of CD's really focuses on the basics, like travel, restroom, hotel, and restaurant phrases. I think that I will become far more appreciative of learning Spanish when I get the Level 2 CD's.
Overall, I enjoyed learning Spanish in my car, and I do plan to purchase the follow-up series.
Excellent for beginners 2001-03-06
I found the lesson structure very effective. They begin simply and build on previous lessons. I had no prior experience with Spanish, but after completing the Level 1 tapes I would feel comfortable trying to communicate basic needs and questions.
I agree with some of the other reviewers that a separate book would be helpful to learn written Spanish. However, the included booklet was all I needed to successfully learn the vocabulary on these tapes. (By the way, I've tried other language methods that do not provide ANY written materials which was very ineffective for me personally. I need to see a word to fully comprehend it and how to say it.)
I ordered the cassettes (since the CD version was backordered), and I did experience some slight volume variances. The volume changes were slight and rare, so overall they didn't impact my ability to learn the materials. I've just ordered Level 2 on CD, so hopefully that won't be an issue.
My one complaint--about the cassettes specifically--is the difficulty of finding the start of a lesson while rewinding. That's an issue with the medium, not the manufacture of the tapes. Hopefully the CDs will make finding the lesson starts easier.
A great way to learn Spanish! 2008-01-30
I have learned a lot in just under a week with this series. If you are committed to listening to it every day and going over the included workbook it is great. The only problem that I had with it is that sometimes the narrator is difficult to understand as far as annunciation and volume.
Beginner's guide to Spanish 2007-05-25
This is an affordable learning system and full of useful phrases for the basics of language learning. The lessons are ordered in a way that allows for combinations of phrases. I suggest Level 2 and 3 to get a better understanding.
Learn In Your Car Spanish -vs- some othe On-the-Go Spanish courses 
2007-05-07
I tried this course as well as several other Spanish courses that are designed to teach Spanish while driving in the car. I rate this product as being "fair." What it gives you is an English speaker saying a word or phrase in English, next you will hear a pause, and then a Spanish speaker repeats the word or phrase in Spanish. And then the process is repeated with a new phrase. This same process is repeated over and over again. But you are never given any real life situations to relate the phrases in order to reinforce what you are learning. You also never interact with the English speaker and Spanish speaker on the recordings. You are just repeating their phrases. There are also absolutely no grammar explanations in this course. Not explaining any grammar may work for a child but not for adults who have grown to be accustomed to questioning everything and committing the error of attempting to "think" in their native language instead of the target language.
There are several Spanish courses for learning Spanish in your car that I found more helpful than this course and at various price ranges. In the more economical price range:
Behind the Wheel Spanish/Complete Illustrated Text/Answer Keys/8 One Hour uses an instructor that is very encouraging. His teaching method is a lot more fun than the method used in Learn in Your Car Spanish. He provides ample explanation about grammar without over-doing it. The native speaker on Behind the Wheel Spanish has a very comforting but strong voice that will relax you but at the same time his voice motivates you. I have found that I not only learn more but retain more when I am relaxed and focused on my studies. On the other hand, the method used in Learn In Your Car Spanish tends to make the listener sleepy.
Michel Thomas Speak Spanish For Beginners: 10-CD Beginner's Program (Michel Thomas Speak...) is another very reasonably priced course that is ideal for learning Spanish in your car. Michel Thomas is what I would consider the Michael Jordan of language instruction. He is naturally gifted when it comes to teaching foreign languages. The only problem with his course is that Michel Thomas is a not a native Spanish speaker and he does not use native Spanish speakers in his Spanish course. So you will have to find another technique to supplement your pronunciation development.
Comparing Learn In Your Car Spanish with the economically priced courses for learning Spanish on the go, I rate them in this order:
1. Behind the Wheel Spanish/Complete Illustrated Text/Answer Keys/8 One Hour 5 Stars.
2. Michel Thomas Speak Spanish For Beginners: 10-CD Beginner's Program (Michel Thomas Speak...) 4 Stars.
3. Learn In Your Car Spanish -- 3 stars.
In the more costly price range, I also found two Spanish courses to be more helpful than Learn In Your Car Spanish. Learning Spanish Like Crazy: Spoken Spanish, Vol. 1 is designed for the car, but they also give you a link to download the transcript so if you wish, after you finish your drive, you can sit down with the transcript and go over what you just learned in the car.
I think LSLC's greatest feature is that it puts an emphasis on teaching the conversational Spanish that native Spanish speakers actually speak. They also use native Spanish speakers from various countries from Central and South America so you will be prepared when it comes to time to speak with and understand native Spanish speakers from different Latin American countries. The only problem that I have with that course, is that besides the transcripts, you really aren't given any visual materials to assist you in learning. The instructor in LSLC also provides ample explanation about grammar without over-doing it.
Spanish I - 2nd Rev. Ed.: Learn to Speak and Understand Spanish with Pimsleur Language Programs (Comprehensive) (Comprehensive) is another learn-on-the-go Spanish course in the more costly price range. Pimsleur Spanish uses a method that makes learning Spanish pretty easy. The negatives are that the course does not cover much content (vocabulary and grammar). Another minus about the course is that the Spanish is very formal (which may actually be a major plus for many). Unlike, Learning Spanish Like Crazy, Pimsleur does not give the student access to the transcripts so it is difficult for adults to reinforce what they are learning. That's great for a child. But after many years of learning by reading, adults need to have the opportunity to reinforce what they are hearing/speaking by reading.
Comparing Learn In Your Car Spanish with the pricey courses for learning Spanish on the go, I rate them in this order:
1. Learning Spanish Like Crazy: Spoken Spanish, Vol. 1 - 5 Stars.
2. Spanish I - 2nd Rev. Ed.: Learn to Speak and Understand Spanish with Pimsleur Language Programs (Comprehensive) (Comprehensive) - 4 Stars.
3. Learn In Your Car Spanish - 3 stars.
Which Is Better? Behind the Wheel or Learn in Your Car Spanish? 2007-04-17
Which Is Better? Behind the Wheel or Learn in Your Car Spanish?, April 17, 2007
Reviewer: John Cartier (New York, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
I personally enjoy using Learn in Your Car Spanish. It is a good value for the money and the production is very good, the vocabulary is worthwhile and the speakers voices are decent.
That said, I heartily recommend you first purchase Behind the Wheel Spanish 8 CDs and text so that you have something to compare Learn in Your Car with.
My observations lead me constantly to the same conclusion: both courses are extremely valid but 'Behind the Wheel' is way ahead in terms of ease of use, flexibility in teaching approach, the speed at which you learn to speak Spanish (I started making my own sentences with BTW Spanish in about 10 minutes into the course). The fact that you are able to make original sentences with Behind the Wheel is one of its hallmarks, and places it way ahead of all competetion I have purchased, including 'Learn in Your Car'.
I still gave 'Learn in Your Car Spanish' a five star rating. Let me explain why.
If I have a technology that is the best in an 'old technology' category then I still will rate it high.
There literally is nothing on the market that can compete with Behind the Wheel Spanish. It is so far ahead of the other courses I have tried that there is nothing even close to which I can compare it.
great for beginners and those who want to brush up. 2006-11-06
this is easy to use especially drivng to and from work, not distracting at all and just repetitive enough.
