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Pimsleur Spanish Overview
Who is behind itThe odd-sounding Pimsleur Spanish language course name is derived from Dr Paul Pimsleur (1926-1976), a language teacher and researcher, who developed his own approach to learning languages based on certain principles.
Mind your spelling, it is P-I-M-S-L-E-U-R, not Pimsler, Pimslor, Pimslur or Pimslir.
The company
Located in Rearsby, Leicestershire, UK, Pimsleur Spanish has been around for decades.
Pimsleur Spanish states that its method has been in development for 40 years and is used by the FBI, CIA, and business professionals everywhere. So, if you are looking for a job in any of these three gentlemanly clubs ...you know what to do.
Pimsleur Spanish Product Research
Product details
This course is focused on Latin-American Spanish and is not an online program, but is shipped to you on CD's.
In core the Pimslear Method is based on asking those questions which will prompt the student to respond using the correct sentence structure and pronunciation. This is different to learning languages by rote, a singular method that is seldom used any more.
Four Key Principles of learning
In turn this method is based on four key principles: the first two are the Principle of “Anticipation” and a method of memory training that Pimsleur called "Graduated Interval Recall." The next two are “Core Vocabulary” and "Organic Learning.", (4) and "Organic Learning" (learn speech, eg sound, rhythm, intonations, as opposed to a bunch of textbook gramatical rules
The first Principle, the Principle of Anticipation has you "anticipate" a correct answer to a question put in the course. Based On prior information you might be asked like “are you going to the movies today?” You answer “no, I went yesterday”, and the instructor will then confirm your answer.
The second principle,Graduated Interval Recall It is based on Dr Pimsleur's finding of an improved student retention of what had been learned depending on the correct intervals at which students would be reminded. Sounds simple, but apparently repeated reminders at ever longer intervals enables you to remember the Spanish word better than learning by mere repetition.
The third, “Core Vocabulary” is, as the term suggests, a core selection of a small number of words that you need to know in order to start speaking Spanish.
Last, Organic Learning is geared around learning speech, that is the sound, intonations and the rhythm of it, rather then its grammar.
Product details
In essence Pimsleur Spanish products are made up of three separate following levels.
Let's have a look at these now,
Level I Pimsleur Spanish
This level will take you probably be on a level to an intermediate level of Spanish communication. You should be able to do things like have a face-to-face conversation, deal with everyday situations, And give directions. You will also start to read.
At a cost of $274 (at time of writing) you will receive:
- A set of CDs containing lessons 1-30 of 30 minutes each
- A “sight reading” booklet
- Study Guide
- A carrying Case
Level II Pimsleur Spanish
This level will take you from eating the intermediate Do they need into the level of Spanish communication. Pimsleur states that after completing these first two levels you should have some creative Spanish speaking ability to communicate personal meaning to Spanish native speakers.
Again at a cost of $274 for this level you will receive:
- Spanish lessons 31 to 60 of 30 minutes each of this intermediate course
Level III Pimsleur Spanish
By the end of this level you are in the intermediate high level of Spanish communication. Pimsleur states that you should have achieved the ability of mastering a number of basic communicative exchanges around personal needs and social situations. You should be out to survive in Spanish. You'll also be able to read at the same level at which you will now speak.
Again for your next instalment of $274 you will receive:
- Spanish lessons 61 - 90, again of 30 minutes each containing this most advanced Pimsleur course.
Beginner course
Okay, there is also a beginners package. This is the "Spanish Quick & Simple Starter" which contains lessons 1-8 at 30 min each.
The company assures you that you will “start speaking Spanish” within 10 days or they will refund your money.
At $19.95 there is not a lot of money to be refunded in any case.
For a taste, you can hear a sample Pimsleur Spanish lesson here
Pimsleur Spanish Consumer Complaints & Comments
Of course user comment in the form of testimonials should only represent one component in your assessment of any product.
Nevertheless they can be a useful indicator of quality and many people look for them. Therefore Spanish Lessons Online has done some of that legwork for you. We have listed (excerpts where appropriate of) actual user comments as we found them on two sites.
Note: Pimsleur received much positive, but also some negative comment on some sites relating to subsequent billing from a number of customers' credit cards following a $10 download trial. Apart from one such comment on Amazon.com, we have not repeated those below because some of the comments were made anonymously. You are welcome to follow this up yourself here and here and enquire with Pimsleur if you think it necessary.
So here is a sample of exerpted user comment...
Pimsleur Spanish is the best self-learning program I have found. (…) I feel much more confident and speak with the Hispanics I know in New York City. I'm not perfect, but I have the confidence that I will make progress and that the foundation is there for conversational Spanish--thanks to Pimsleur. (…)
Edward Herscher, Nov 2009 (about Level 1) Amazon.com
Like many, I found the approach efficient and useful, and I had lots of fun with the CDs as I drove around town blathering away in Spanish.
I think it pays to be aware that with Pimsleur you are learning a very general form of Spanish that does not always play well in some Spanish-speaking countries.
David H Peterzell PhD Amazon.com, 2003 (About Level 1)
I am still glad to recommend that you buy Pimsleur Level I because of its highly effective and fun teaching method. But don't count on it to teach you much grammar and vocabulary, especially not today's Latin American vocabulary. In fact, I even recommend this product over Rosetta Stone Spanish. …
Anna Rivera, Amazon.com, Dec 2009 (About Level 1)
Native Spanish speaker and a Spanish instructor.
I've been studying foreign languages for many years. Consequently, I have a great many things in my collection. Pimsleur's system, in my opinion, is the best I've encountered so far. The only drawback, if it should be considered such, is that there is very little in the direction of a written component. You WILL learn how to speak the language, but you may not figure out how to read/write it with Pimsleur. (…)
Alan O'Neill, Amazon.com, 2008 (about Level 3)
I found the product to be quite pricey, but having completed Pimsleur Spanish level II, I felt that I had made such progress and had gained such confidence in speaking that I knew I had to make the sacrifice and move on to the next level. (...)
I highly, recommend this product.
Keany, Amazon.com. June 2009
While I like the Spanish lessons, I am very unhappy with Pimsleur marketing. A brochure comes along with the CD stating that in 30 days you will receive another set of CD's for a "free trial." I called immediately to stop this, but still received them and will be bill (sic) $59.95 per month. In order to send them back you have to call a number, but you are on hold for so long you want to give up. So be aware that you are getting yourself in a bit of hassle if you order this CD.
Sly Marketing, Oct 2008, Amazon.com
Cost
We have already mentioned the cost of $274 for each of the three steps.
Money Back Guarantee
Pimsleur Languages gives a 100% money back guarantee. This means that if you are not happy with your course you can request a no-questions-asked refund at any time within thirty-days of making your purchase.
Recommendation
A recommendation is based on our research about Pimsleur Spanish on the Internet. We have not bought this product.
On the whole we feel that the description of the program, combined with many positive consumer comments about Pimsleur Spanish, that this likely is a very good program, based on an approach that will be very suitable for you to learn Spanish in your car or at home!
If cost is not an issue for you then this may be the program for you. You should take into account a small wait for the actual CDs to arrive, it is not an instant download program. We would also suggest that prior to your purchase you would clarify Pimsleur Spanish's up-to-date applicability to Latin-American Spanish. While you are doing that, of contemplating a $10 trial download (you will see this offer on the Barnes & Noble site for example), we suggest you enquire about any automatic follow-up payments at the same time.
If, after considering Pimsleur Spanish, you feel this is not for you, you may like to access a different, free Spanish language online course here.
Have you used this product?
If so please leave a comment below.
