Mini Review: Pimsleur

Pimsleur: language-learning platform focused on natural speaking patterns and creating conversational ease

• Slay: Great for listening, speaking, and pronunciation practice

• Slay: Excellent for jumpstarting conversation skills

• Slay: Introduces immediately usable words/phrases/sentences you can use with native speakers

• Slay: Perfect for those who thrive as auditory learners

• Slay: More authentic pronunciation than Duolingo, helping with native accent recognition

• Nay: Requires a quiet environment to listen, speak, and focus

• Nay: Time-consuming, as each lesson is about 30 minutes long

• Nay: On the expensive side, either about $20 monthly or about $165 for a year

• Nay: No writing lessons - Pimsleur doesn't offer options specific to writing, so you won't be able to get familiar with the language's scripts, spelling, or diacritical marks

• Nay: Lessons are only in English - If your native language is not English, it may make understanding the conversations and nuances more difficult

  
  

Tips & Tricks

Recommend: Start a level below what you may be currently at if you've already started learning.

• I started at Level 2, which I believe corresponds with A2, even though I'm a B1 on Duolingo, particularly because listening/speaking are my weaker areas, so it's helpful to start with more familiar words.

Recommend: Do a lesson a day to keep new phrases fresh in your memory.

Recommend: Do the Speaking Test after completing each lesson to solidify the phrases you learned and get feedback on your pronunciation.