https://books.google.ru/books?id=nSdsnqWpuh4C&pg=PA187
"There is also inconsistent classification of the langauge in terms of difficulty for English speakers. It is important to note that Persian (when taught as the modern language of Iran) is relatively easy to begin with because some of the basic vocabulary is cognate with English and the syntax is relatively similar. Beyond the initial hurdle of the strange alphabet, the student finds relatively simple sentences with familiar structures. Partly for this reason, introductory Persian classes are often relatively large. However, few students progress far into the intermediate level because of the increasing need to deal with vocabulary, syntax, and usage that are culturaly alien to English speakers as a result of the high degree of convergence with the major non-IndoEuropean languages in the region, Arabic and Turkish, as well as the importance of imported Arabic vocabulary. Enrollments in Persian (when taken for these essentially nonacademic, but now common, purposes) tend to fall off sharply after the first year, further endangering its future in the curriculum."
Michael, I do not use it. I believe it must work, I can't see how it could not work technically. It also must be boring.
This is why I don't use it: I learn langauges because I like the process but I'm not sure if I have goals.
As I understand they translate the same phrases to many langauges. Of course they are going to have multiple mistakes:( If there were several similar courses developed by Iranian teachers (or Western Persian scholars) this would make more sense. And I imagine they would cost much less. And I imagine they would never become famous or be discussed by poliglotes or be advertized:( Still they would be just as boring, maybe even more boing.
At the moment, the most famous things are made this way: devise a method, apply it to 100 langauges, sell the result. Perhaps Pimsleur is better, but it costs insane money (never a problem for a Russian - but I think in English speaking you have more respect for copiright). I do not think that you will be using Persian confidently after 60000 repetitions. First I don't see why the effect of 60000 must be so much different;-) Second, Persian is famous for... It appears easier at first but when you move on to literary Persian you find that it is much more complex.
