Pimsleur Review: Is it Worth the Hype?
What is Pimsleur?
Pimsleur is a language-learning system developed by Dr. Paul Pimsleur in the 1960s. It consists of audio lessons that aim to teach conversational skills through a spaced repetition technique. The method focuses on teaching words and phrases in context, using real-life situations and gradually increasing difficulty. Pimsleur offers courses in over 50 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese.
Is Pimsleur Good?
The effectiveness of Pimsleur as a language-learning tool is a subject of debate among language learners and experts. On one hand, many users appreciate its conversational focus and real-life situations, which make the learning process feel less academic and more practical. Additionally, the spaced repetition technique helps to reinforce vocabulary and grammar, making it easier to remember what has been learned.
On the other hand, some users feel that the audio-only format can be limiting and doesn't provide enough exposure to the written language. Moreover, the courses are quite expensive compared to other language learning resources available.
What Users Like About Pimsleur
- Real-life situations and conversational focus
- Effective spaced repetition technique
- Progressive increase in difficulty
- Convenient audio-only format
- Available in over 50 languages
What Users Don't Like About Pimsleur
- Expensive compared to other resources
- Limited exposure to written language
- Repetitive, canned responses
- Inflexible learning path
Is Pimsleur Worth it?
Whether Pimsleur is worth the investment ultimately depends on the individual learner's goals and preferences. For those who are looking for a conversational-focused, audio-based language-learning system, Pimsleur can be a great option. However, those who prefer a more comprehensive approach that includes exposure to written materials and more flexible learning options may find other resources more suitable.
Complementing Pimsleur with a Frequency Dictionary
While Pimsleur's spaced repetition technique and conversational focus are effective for reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, it can be helpful to supplement with a frequency dictionary to ensure that learners are exposed to the most common words and phrases in their target language. A frequency dictionary can provide a reference for vocabulary that is most commonly used in real-life situations, making it easier to build a solid foundation of the language. This can help to build a more comprehensive understanding of the language, beyond just being able to converse.
In conclusion, Pimsleur is a unique language-learning system that has its strengths and weaknesses. Whether or not it is worth the investment will depend on the individual learner's goals and preferences. However, supplementing Pimsleur with a frequency dictionary can help to build a more comprehensive understanding of the language.