Is Pimsleur worth it? In this Pimsleur Review, you will learn all about this language learning app which provides you with audio lessons as well which can be used to learn languages even when you are driving.
Language learning apps or platforms have changed drastically. Many apps engage users through games, streaks, points, animations, and short exercises.
Pimsleur Review
Pimsleur, meanwhile, has focused on listening & speaking since 1963.
It allows you to listen to native speakers, repeat phrases aloud, and answer prompts before hearing the correct answer without tapping on the answer repeatedly.
Does this older audio-focused feature still work?
We’ll try to figure it out today in this Pimsleur Review. You’ll learn about its main features, strengths and weaknesses, pricing, and whether it is worth paying for.
Pimsleur Review: Overview
| Why You Should Use It? | Speaking, listening, pronunciation, etc |
| Teaching methods | Audio lessons with active recall & spaced repetition |
| Lesson duration | Around 30 minutes |
| Languages | More than 50 languages |
| Speaking practice | Strong |
| Reading & writing | Less |
| Grammar explanation | Low |
| Free trial | 7 days |
What Is Pimsleur?
Dr. Paul Pimsleur developed this audio-based language learning program. He was an applied linguistics scholar who studied language learning and memory.
Helping people learn a new language without a teacher was the main motive behind its development. Listening, speaking, active recall, and repetition are the main focus of this app.
Pimsleur is now available through a mobile app to offer more than 50 languages. Although Spanish, French, Japanese, and Italian are its popular languages, learners can also find Vietnamese, Swahili, Greek, and other languages.
Pimsleur doesn’t completely depend on gamification compared to other learning apps. There are no streaks for daily learning & points. Listen, think, and speak are its main principles.
That simplicity makes Pimsleur different from other language learning apps available today.
Pimsleur Review: Top Features
1. Audio-First Learning
There’s no need to look at the screen to complete its core lessons because they are here based on audio. This is why it is useful while:
- Driving
- Walking
- Doing work
- Working out
- Commuting
This feature makes the app useful for those struggling to find a dedicated time for study.
You can use this app to convert your daily routine into language practice without sitting at a desk.
2. Speaking From the First Lesson
Many apps allow learners to spend time on reading, tapping answers, and understanding vocabulary.
Pimsleur starts the speaking exercise from the very beginning.
You may have to repeat phrases and answer prompts aloud from the start. It can build a learner’s confidence, especially for those who feel nervous about speaking.
Experience may become more active when a person does constant speaking.
4. Pronunciation Practice
It is among Pimsleur’s strongest areas.
Pimsleur helps learners to become familiar with the sound and rhythm of the language through native-speaker audio and repeated spoken practice.
Its Voice Coach also records and analyzes the pronunciation practice.
It also breaks down difficult words from the final syllable backward to make longer or unfamiliar words easier to speak.
5. Hands-Free Learning
It is especially useful for busy people.
You can learn lessons while you’re on a long commute or spend time walking daily. It is the biggest advantage over other language learning apps, as there’s no need to stare at the screen simultaneously.
6. Reading, Flashcards, and Other Practice Tools
Modern features are also available apart from the older audio lessons.
Learners can also get access to these features based on the plan & language:
- Flashcards
- Reading lessons
- Quizzes
- Pronunciation tools
- Skills practice
Speaking and listening, however, still stay focused on this app.
Pimsleur Review: Pros & Cons
Although Pimsleur comes with countless perks, there are several weaknesses on this platform. This is why it would be best to discuss both before starting to learn on it.
| Pros | Cons |
| Listening practice | Visual learning is missing |
| Encourage speaking from the very beginning | Less reading & writing |
| Strong pronunciation learning | Less grammar explanation |
| Hands-free lessons make learning easier | Lessons might be repetitive |
| Spaced repetition for memorization | Higher pricing |
| More than 50 languages are available | |
| Practical conversation vocabulary | |
| No distracting features | |
| Beginner-friendly |
Pimsleur Pricing
Pimsleur has different premium plans for its learners. Common cost plans are:
- Complete language course: Anyone can access the complete language course at $402.50.
- All access lifetime: All languages, features, and much more are available at a one-time payment of $399.
- Level Premium: Although there are 5 levels in each course, each level is easily available for $105.
There’s also a 7-day free trial in which you can find out whether you should invest in it or not.
The exact pricing might differ based on your location and target language. It would be best to check the official Pimsleur website or app to know the exact cost.
Buying an All Access Lifetime may be helpful compared to purchasing a single course because the cost difference between both options isn’t huge.
The overall pricing is still higher than other language learning apps available on the internet today.
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Who Should Use Pimsleur?
It is an ideal option for:
- Auditory Learners: The audio-first format might work well for these learners because remembering information.
- Busy people: People can easily fit these lessons into their busy schedule when they’re commuting, walking, working out, or doing household chores.
- Beginners: Beginners can start learning the language quickly with Pimsleur’s structured lessons and focus on real phrases.
- Travellers: It might be useful for learning common phrases before visiting another country.
- Learners Focused on Pronunciation: The constant focus on spoken repetition and native-speaker audio helps its users improve their pronunciation & listening skills.
Who May Not Enjoy Pimsleur?
Although it is perfect for those searching for an app to learn languages through audio lessons, Pimsleur is still not ideal for:
- Visual learners
- Learners focused on reading & writing
- People looking for detailed grammar explanations
- Advanced learners searching for a big vocabulary library
- Learners finding entertaining videos, stories, and cultural content
What Could Pimsleur Do Better?
- Limited Visual Support: Pimsleur’s audio-first method is only useful for auditory learners. Visual learners may struggle here because they sometimes want to see the spelling of certain words.
- Minimal Grammar Explanations: Repeated exposure is mainly used for teaching grammar. The app doesn’t always explain the real reason behind the sentence’s structure.
- Repetition Can Become Monotonous: Repetition is indeed useful for memorization. But it may become boring after a certain period of time.
How to Get the Most Out of Pimsleur?
These tips help make your learning experience more effective:
1. A Lesson Per Day
You may want to complete your course as soon as possible. But that’s not the key to success.
Consistency is more important here than completing several lessons once.
Repeated exposure is the primary element of this course. It would be useful to give yourself time between lessons to let your brain memorize vocabulary or phrases.
2. Speak Out Loud
Pimsleur always tries to push you to speak from the beginning of each lesson. You should therefore never think and answer quietly while studying through this app. It would be best to speak loudly if you want to be fluent while using this app.
3. Do Not Chase Perfection
It isn’t important to memorize each word perfectly before moving forward here. Pimsleur’s course always brings vocabulary back in several lessons.
4. Add Reading Practice
You should not focus only on learning your target language with this course. It would be best to add books, articles, graded readers, or another app to your learning because they help you connect the sounds you learn with written words.
5. Start Real Conversations
You should start using learned words or phrases with a language partner, tutor, or conversation tool after you’ve learned the basic phrases. It helps you move rehearsed answer to the real communication.
FAQs to Pimsleur Review
Is Pimsleur worth it now?
Pimsleur is indeed worth it for speaking, listening, pronunciation, and hands-free learning. It is less suitable for reading, writing, grammar, and advanced vocabulary.
Can Pimsleur make you fluent?
A strong foundation in pronunciation, listening, and basic conversational vocabulary can only be developed with Pimsleur. Broader vocabulary, reading, writing, and real conversations are still needed for full fluency.
Is Pimsleur good for beginners?
Yes, they can benefit from structured learning and the need to speak from the very beginning.
Is there a free version of Pimsleur?
No, there’s no free version on Pimsleur. A 7-day trial is indeed available to help you test its core features.
How long are Pimsleur lessons?
Most of its lessons last around 30 minutes.
Final Verdict: Is Pimsleur Worth It?
Pimsleur is one of the strongest options for improving speaking and listening skills in your target language without the need to stare at the screen while studying.
Its ability to make you speak from the beginning is one of the strongest features. It means that you’re not only tapping the correct answer here. You must instead listen, remember, and produce the language aloud.
Its hands-free format is another major perk because it allows you to learn when you’re commuting, walking, or doing daily chores.
Pimsleur is still not a complete language learning solution. Extra resources are yet needed for reading, writing, grammar explanations, vocabulary breadth, and real two-way conversations.
It is only ideal for those looking to improve pronunciation and start speaking a new language.
The best approach is to use it for a strong speaking and listening foundation and add other apps for reading practice, vocabulary study, grammar resources, and real conversations. Anyone can get the complete learning experience by doing so.