Pimsleur method

The Pimsleur Method (English Pimsleur language learning system ) is a method of language acquisition, the Franco- American linguist Paul Pimsleur ( 1928-1972 ) developed in the 1960s in the United States. Unlike in conventional language teaching, in which the spoken language is taught jointly with the written language, is consequently avoids the Pimsleur method to a study of the written language to enable a " organic " language acquisition, which follows the principles of the parent language acquisition. The primary objective of the method is a development of listening and speaking skills; Grammar and syntax are only implicitly conveyed.

Shape and distribution

The Pimsleur method is an audio-based learning system, which is currently marketed in the U.S. in the form of compact discs from the publisher Simon & Schuster. Each program consists of a number of 30-minute lessons, during which the learner Heard repeats, repeats words and phrases from memory or forming your own sets.

The method is mainly used in the U.S. and is especially for the most commonly studied languages ​​there - preferred, but also for non-European languages ​​such as Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Modern Hebrew uses - Spanish, French, Italian, German. Some programs ( Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, English as a second language ) are also known as ( video ) version for preschoolers.

Criticism

Although the method enables learners quickly in a position to speak first words, critics have held against her again and again that the full acquisition of a language without explicit representation of the grammar was not possible. Pimsleur students learn grammatical structures, although implicitly, by recognize recurring patterns themselves; compared with a lesson, is explicitly taught in the grammar, but their grammatical competence stay behind. Nor does the program support the acquisition of an extensive vocabulary.

They also criticized the waiver of the mediation of the written language. Learners are with foreign alphabet (like Russian or Mandarin Chinese ) hardly offset especially in languages ​​in a position to look up regardless of Pimsleur words independently or to pull a grammar manual for help. Lernverschleppend long term affects it in some languages ​​(eg, the standard Chinese ) and the non -observance of the etymology of.