If you are looking for how to learn Mandarin Chinese fast and only want to learn conversationalist Mandarin Chinese then Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese is for you. Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese is the best way to learn Mandarin Chinese if you like learning using audio CDs since it is completely audio based.

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese's singular goal is to get you speaking Mandarin Chinese fast. While this does work to some degree I have to say it feels like much of what I learned would have evaporated if I didn’t have the other courses to reinforce my knowledge.
Pimsleur focuses on teaching you the most common vocabulary and grammar used in the Mandarin Chinese language. Their theme is communication and from the get go you are presented with tactics and strategies to handle common social scenarios.
For example, one of the first Mandarin Chinese lessons teaches you to ask "Do you speak English?" in Mandarin Chinese. Communication is easier if you can establish that you both speak a common language.
While I applaud them on their mission (heck, everyone wants a Mandarin Chinese Course that will have you speaking perfect Mandarin Chinese tomorrow!) their teaching methods are rather one-dimensional.
The Pimsleur method is completely audio based and is interactive only to the point of repeating what the narrator says. While this type of learning style may fit some people it leaves many hanging out to dry. Those who are visual learners or good with analogies will not get along well with Pimsleur and would be better suited for the multi-faceted teaching systems practiced by Rosetta Stone or Rocket Mandarin Chinese.
I would only recommend Pimsleur if you are looking to get a quick fix (like if you are going on vacation to a Mandarin Chinese speaking nation next month) and are not looking to learn and practice Mandarin Chinese over the long term.
Pimsleur offers several products but their flagship program is their "Mandarin Chinese Comprehensive Series", all available for purchase online. This series is made up of three parts, each sold individually.
Their Mandarin Chinese Comprehensive 1 Course, priced at $209.00 dollars, is divided into 30 half hour long Mandarin Chinese lessons with approximately 16 hours worth of strictly audio material. When you compare this to the hundreds of hours packed into Rosetta Stone and Rocket Mandarin Chinese programs, Pimsleur just doesn't seem to stack up.
Their Mandarin Chinese Comprehensive 1, 2 and 3 package retails for $597. When I contrasted this with Rocket Mandarin Chinese, which retails for $99 and offers more audio material, engaging games and word association techniques, I began to wonder how Pimsleur stays in business.
Visit The Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Homepage