Pimsleur is one of the longest standing and most popular audio programs out there for learning a foreign language (second perhaps to only Rosetta Stone). Their learning program is unique, has a strong academic background, and a real reputation for bringing results.

Historically some of the biggest critiques of Pimsleur focused its hefty price tag and lack of reading materials. In the past those really were some noteworthy weaknesses in the course. 

In 2019 under the company Simon Schuster Pimsleur rolled out its new multi-platform subscription, allowing learners to full access to all of the programs for a single language for a monthly subscription. 

The company also introduced an awesome and effective reading portion to their course, making it a holistic way to learn a new language (Here at LiveFluent we’re a huge fan of learning holistically).

We were fans of the Pimsleur approach before (it’s always been an effective way to learn a language through audio), but now after the recent update we’re even bigger fans.

At the end of this review you should be able to tell if Pimsleur is the right choice for you. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: this review does have some affiliate links

Review of: Pimsleur

Use: Language courses for self-study based on the Pimsleur Method.

Effectiveness

Proven method of using audio conversations

Price

$14.95/month subscription

Time Commitment

Each audio lesson is around 30 minutes long.

Ease of Use

Simply listen to the audio and follow the instructions

Structure

Divided into consecutive levels that build on each other

I Like

• Develops conversation skills
• Active participation in listening
• Emphasis on pronunciation
• Teaches reading

I Don’t Like

• Sometimes over emphasis on formal language

Summary of review:​

 Pimsleur is an audio language learning course organized by level and made up of 30 minute lessons. The levels are designed to be worked through once a day lesson by lesson.

Pimsleur’s method is a well researched and organized approach to learning that uses techniques based on actual linguist and psychological research. 

It’s not a substitute for speaking with a real person but as far as language programs go, it comes pretty close. Pimsleur also focuses a lot on pronunciation were most other programs tend to overlook it (like Rosetta Stone for example). 

But Pimsleur is much more than a collection of stock audio phrases. The course is literally designed to get you thinking, reading, and producing your own answers in your target language. 

If you buy the audio courses outright their price is a little high, but with the new version you’re given full access to any single language for a monthly subscription, so you can pay as you go or even stop the subscription once you’ve met your learning goals. This is a much better deal in the long term.

If you work through it actively and consistently your speaking, reading, and listening abilities in your new language will improve, and probably at a faster rate than with some other well known courses.

Pimsleur’s website offers a free week of full access to their course. Working through the lessons is the best to find out if Pimsleur is a course that’ll work for you, so definitely check out the free one week trial.

Is Pimsleur right for you?

The Pimsleur approach works well for the beginner to upper intermediate language learner. You’ll want to consider Pimsleur if you’re looking to improve your speaking, listening, reading or pronunciation skills.

As language learning resources, these courses excel at teaching each of these aspects of a language. If you already have a high speaking level then the courses become less useful (though you could still use them for accent and listening training).

Pimsleur is a great way for learning a language while doing something else like walking, waiting, or (in the case of a video you’ll see later in this article)…juggling fire. If you have a busy schedule or mobile lifestyle these courses could be a godsend. The Pimsleur learning program isn’t perfect, but even with its flaws it’s still one of the most effective language programs out there.

What is the Pimsleur program?

Pimsleur is a primarily an audio based course for learning a new language. It uses a sort of call and response approach to learning, where the user is presented with a phrase in their new language along with its translation and repeats after the audio. Pimsleur focuses on speaking, listening, a good deal of pronunciation, and even reading.

The Pimsleur language learning program was the brainchild of the late Dr. Paul Pimsleur, who developed a series of courses language learning courses in the 1960’s. Dr. Pimsleur was a scholar with a background in both linguistics and psychology.

He did performed a great deal of research in the area of language acquisition, studying how both adults and child learn languages. His primary concern was how people learned new languages.

Dr. Paul Pimsleur (Photo cred to Pimsleur.com)

His first courses (published under a different name) were based on his beliefs and findings. In the end Paul Pimsleur was a better scholar than he was an advertising man. He was unable to market the courses and gave the rights to a private organization. After changing hands a few times Pimsleur is now owned by the compnay Simon Schuster.

The rights to his courses changed hands several times over the decades, and the original course was revamped or repackaged several times as well.

Now fast forward to the present day and Pimsleur is a near household name when it comes to language learning. Out of traditional language learning courses for English native speakers only Rosetta Stone is more well known.

Though it may have been repackaged and renamed at various times because of advertising, the Pimsleur language learning programs have stayed true to the original method developed by their creator. Pimsleur is still audio based and still follows a method of call, recall, and response.

The Pimsleur method

So what exactly was the method that Pimsleur developed? According to Pimsleur’s site the four pillars to their method are: Graduated Interval Recall, Core Vocabulary, Principle of Anticipation, and Organic Learning. These are often mentioned in Pimsleur’s advertising so it’s good cover them here.

Graduated Interval Recall (GIR)

Pimsleur did a lot of research on human memory and the learning process. From it he concluded that if you were shown the same new word at graduating intervals you would be more likely to remember the word after each time you saw you it. So instead of introducing you to new vocabulary once or twice, you would work with them multiple times over weeks or months.

If you think this is starting to sound like a spaced repetition System, you’re absolutely right. Pimsleur was one of the first, if not the first, language learning resources to incorporate a sort of spaced repetition approach. Mr. Pimsleur didn’t discover spaced repetition, but he was one of the first to apply it to the field of language acquisition.

A little info on SPSs for those who are interested

Anytime you’re given a new word or phrase in Pimsleur it’s a safe bet that you will come across it again multiple times. However, the courses won’t be cramming the vocabulary down your throat everyday either.

You can expect a gradual progression of vocabulary when using Pimsleur. You’ll use newer words more often, while the familiar ones will be slowly emphasized less and less.

Core vocabulary

This is the idea that there are words and phrases that are more important to learn than others, and that you should spend most your effort learning them instead of less useful ones. 

The importance of a word in determined by how common it is in the language you’re learning.

The goal here is to give your mind less material so that it can easily master it. Once you get a hold of the this vocabulary then you can move on to other parts of the language.

Words and phrases used in the Pimsleur course are designed to give you the most relevant vocabulary first. If you work through the program as recommended (once a day), you will gradually move through the most essential vocabulary.

Principle of Anticipation

When we hear someone say something (question, phrase, etc) our brains instinctively process the information and we come up with a response, almost without thinking about it.

Pimsleur is available for over 50 foreign languages

The principle of anticipation says that this process of hearing and anticipating it what helps us understand and speak in a foreign language, especially when we’re given feedback on whether our answer was right or wrong.

Lets say you want to learn English and I taught you the phrase, “This is a dog”. You would better remember and understand it if I asked you “What is this?” (pointing to a dog naturally), and you then gave the correct response.

 In contrast to many traditional language classes which will tell you “this is a dog”, and leave it at that; Dr. Pimsleur believed that you would remember and understand the phrase if you had to hear the question, recall the answer on your own, say it out loud, and then receive feedback.

You’ll be required to repeat and recall every phrase you hear in a Pimsleur course. After you’ve heard the translation of a word, the speaker will ask you a question in the language you’re learning followed by a brief period of silence.

You have a few seconds to remember and say the correct phrase out loud. After the silence the speaker will repeat the correct answer to the question.

Organic learning

Words are learned better in a real life context versus in isolation, that’s the idea of organic learning in a nutshell. So instead of learning “cat”, “Dog”, “bird”, it’s a lot more beneficial if you learned these words in the context of a conversation, like maybe a talk with your friend about his new pet (Which to my knowledge is not a conversation used in the Pimsleur lessons. I just used it as an example). 

Each lesson is built around a conversation between two people. Each conversation is prefaced by a detailed description of where the speakers are and what they’re doing.

Each lesson will literally invite you to imagine yourself in the speaker’s’ situation. The situations can be anything from talking to stranger on a bus in Russia, to making plans with a friend over the phone in a hotel lobby in Mexico (depending on the language you want to learn). 

What do you get in a Pimsleur program?

Language learning by level

The Pimsleur programs are divided into levels, for example Japanese 1, Japanese 2, etc. Each level is made up of 30 lessons, and each lesson is 30 minutes long (so each level is essentially 15 hours long). The levels are consecutive. If you were new to Japanese you would start with level 1 and work your way up.

The number of levels varies from language to language. Most of the popular ones have 4-5 levels (Spanish, French, Japanese, Mandarin, etc), while some minority languages only have one (Ojibwe, Irish, Haitian Creole, etc) .

The anatomy of a Pimsleur lesson

Audio lessons

Pimsleur lessons are built around conversations (this is mentioned a lot in advertising). In each lesson there is an English narrator and two native speakers. First, each lesson will begin with the narrator setting the scene for the lesson’s conversation. He’ll describe the location and the particulars of what’s happening, then tell you to imagine it yourself. After that you hear the full conversation twice.

Then the lesson will break the conversation down into parts from phrases, to words, and even down to syllables of the words. The narrator will tell you what a word means then a native speaker will say the particular word or phrase. After the speaker will come a period of silence, during which you are to repeat what was said.

The conversations are almost always built around a series of questions and answers. As the lesson progresses the narrator will ask you questions in English while you respond in the language you’re learning. Then the native speaker will ask questions completely in the foreign language and without any translation. This cycle repeats for the duration of lesson.

The narrator will sometimes interject to point out something about grammar or pronunciation from time to time, but by and large the majority of the audio lessons are centered on the conversation.

As you work through the audio lessons and levels the narration will use less and less English. Also the earlier lessons and levels usually put greater emphasis on pronunciation than the later ones. As you work through the higher levels you’ll see less words broken down to the syllable level.

Reading lessons

Each level of Pimsleur also includes a reading component, which in the newest version of Pimsleur is like a miniature reading tutorial in itself. Each reading lesson contains a list of written words and phrases and accompanying audio.

A reading lesson will usually focus on a specific aspect of the written and spoken language (such as stressed vs unstressed syllables, vowels, pronunciation rules, etc).

In the early reading lessons, you are taught the phonetics of the language, and are gradually introduced to its new sounds and symbols.

The phrases and words you encounter this level, aren’t necessarily ones you’ll recognize from the audio conversations. This because at level one you’re not reading for meaning, so much as you’re reading to become comfortable with new sound and written systems.

After level one you start to reading for meaning, and you will start to see more overlap between the readings and audio conversations. The addition of the reading section makes for a better learning experience. I’m not sure why it’s not mentioned more in the program’s advertising.

How much does Pimlseur cost?

3 formats 3 prices

Pimsleur language programs currently offered in 3 different formats: CD, Mp3, and a monthly subscription. 

Monthly subscription: $14.95 for all levels

Pimsleur now features a monthly subscription option.  According to their advertising, for $14.95 per month you get access to all of the available levels for your specific target language through the Pimsleur app (available on tablets, phones, and computers). 

This by far our favorite option, as it’s the most affordable and provides the most flexibility. You can pay as you go and stop once you’ve achieved your language goals.

CD purschase format: $345 for 1 level

CDs are the most expensive format. If you choose to purchase a single level of Pimsleur on CD it will cost $345. This package will come with 17 CDs: 15 CDs each with two 30 minute audio lessons, as well as 2 CD’s with the readings. Some minority languages only have 1 level with lesson than 30 audio lessons and are cheaper.

Pimsleur also offers bundled discounts where you can buy 2 or more levels at a discounted price per level. The bundle options change depending on the language.

Mp3 purchase format: $119.95 for 1 level

Mp3s are the cheapest format for Pimsleur with a single level costing $119.95 (excluding minority languages). Instead of audio CDs you will get instant downloads of the audio mp3 files. The booklets are available as PDFs.

The Mp3 format also comes in various bundle options. You also have the option to purchase 5 lesson sections from any level for $21.95. You also keep your audio files perminately with the mp3 purchase option, with the monthly subscription option you lose access to Pimsleur if you cancel your subscription. 

Which Languages are offered?

Pimsleur offers courses in over 50 different languages. They offer all the most popular languages, the majority of of the the less popular, and even some languages that it could be hard to find courses for. Here’s links to the specific courses we’ve reviewed:

Other options

Audible

Pimsleur is also available for purchase on Audible, Amazon’s audio book service. You purchase 5 lesson sections from any level for $20-$30, or for $14.95 if you have a membership to audible. Note on Audible Pimsleur is purely audio and does not come with a reading component or other bonus features. If you have Audible this option might appeal to you. Otherwise the app is the better value in the long term.

Libraries

A lot of people don’t know this, but many public libraries have Pimsleur courses. It’s a good idea to see if your local library has what you’re looking for. Why pay when you can use it for free?

What we really like about Pimsleur

Active participation

Pimsleur’s active participation is what really separates Pimsleur from the majority of language courses. For some reason the short amount of time you have to respond pressures you to think and speak quickly in your target language.

My first exposure to Pimsleur was their level 5 Spanish progam, (though I’ve also listened to parts of the French program too). I had been learning Spanish for sometime. I knew a lot of words and the majority of the important grammar rules but I hadn’t really practiced the language enough to speak it as well as I should have.

The Spanish level 5 section ended up being just the right difficulty for me. After a 30 minute lesson I actually felt a little tired. My brain had been working fairly hard to come with up the correct responses. It was similar to feeling I would get after a difficult conversation with a native speaker. That’s the feeling I get when I know my skills in the language are getting stretched and becoming stronger.

I was honestly surprised to get such a language workout just from listening to audio. I’ve had some experiences with other audio based courses and if I wasn’t careful I’d tune out and start casually listening. With Pimsleur that’s just simply not possible.

Donovan, a blogger and polyglot also had a similar experience with Pimsleur which he shares in his review:

 Donovan Nagel 

www.mezzoguild.com

“…instead of playing a word to get you to remember it, the audio series asks you how to say something or to respond to a native speaker.The beautiful thing about this is that it never allows you to become a passive listener.You’re actively involved in what you’re listening to and the presenter of the series keeps you on your toes because you need to respond at various intervals.

This active recollection is powerful at getting you to recall and use the language just as you would often have to do in real life situations.”

Use of context & imagery

Pimsleur always teaches you words in the context of a conversation against the backdrop of what could be a real life scenario. This is huge help when it comes to both understanding and remembering a foreign language. Your brain remembers better when it can make connections with a new word.

Surprisingly the narrator does a good job describing the scene. It’s actually quite easy to imagine what he describes. He paints a vivid picture in your head of what’s happening. It’s these mental images that help cement your new vocabulary into your memory.

The conversation also provides a great context for new words. No word or phrase stands alone. This is hugely refreshing if you come from a background of formal courses. Typically in a textbook or class you’re taught a grammar rule and then you’re given a list of unrelated example sentences.

Because you can’t readily use those sentences, and because they aren’t tied together through a story or event, you forget them quickly. Not so with the Pimsleur learning method.

Emphasis on pronunciation

Pronunciation is often overlooked in language learning. It’s seen more as a luxury rather than a necessity. But in my experience being able to pronounce sounds and words correctly makes it much easier to hear and understand them when they talk.

Pimsleur’s early focus on correct pronunciation helps you develop your accent as well as your ear. Both aspects don’t even appear in many other courses.

I also love that Pimsleur teaches pronunciation through backchaining (I don’t know what the correct term is). Backchaining is when you take a word that is difficult to pronounce and break it down syllable by syllable starting with the last syllable and ending with the first.

You slowly link each syllable together one by one until you can say the whole word. I’m not sure why but this technique helps take the edge off of tricky pronunciations. I do know that opera singers are taught to backchain when they are trying to nail the accent of a song sung in a foreign language.

Convenience

Pimsleur is an audio course broken up into 30 minute lessons. It was literally designed so that you could practice on your time. Pimsleur recommends that you try to work through a single lesson on a daily basis for the best results.

 It’s not hard to think of ways to squeeze the needed 30 minutes into your daily schedule. I love courses like this because it helps you fill in those seemingly random gaps of time throughout the day with valuable practice.

What we don’t like about Pimsleur

Context of the Traveling businessman

A common complaint about Pimsleur is that the words you learn are not that useful in real life. The original courses were designed for the traveling businessman.

 At the time it made sense because businessmen were probably responsible for the bulk of international travel. But present day that’s simply not the case. The average learner using Pimsleur is probably not a businessman.

 Benny Lewis 

 www.fluentin3months.com 

“…the context in use was completely irrelevant to me. If you are a married businessman with children, planning to do some shopping and eating out in restaurants, then Pimsleur (at least the Hungarian version) is perfect for you.

 If you are anyone else then you will learn things that simply should not be prioritized in the early stages.

 For talking about my family, I would personally need to say brother and sister way more than wife/husband/son/daughter.

I never learned the words I wanted to use in the early stages.”

This image of the traveling businessman affects the vocabulary and scenarios presented in Pimsleur, especially in the early courses. In the early levels you are almost exclusively put in situations where you are talking to strangers in a very polite yet formal way.

 If the language you’re learning has any distinction between formal and informal grammar or words this could be frustrating.

Take Spanish for example. Spanish has a formal pronoun for “you” as well as an informal one. To give you rough idea of how that works you use the formal “you” in situations that you would say “sir” or “ma’am” in English. You can see how learning only the formal usage could be problematic.

While it’s great to be polite, and you will probably meet strangers in your foreign language, you are likely to find that the informal usage is used just as much if not much more than the formal one.

Pimsleur does cover the informal usage but it’s not until the later levels.

The other problem with the context of the traveling businessman is that not every learner is likely to relate to it. In most conversation scenarios you’re arriving on a bus or plane, shopping for souvenirs for your wife and children, or sorting something out at hotel.

The vocabulary you learn through these scenarios is useful but it I think Pimsleur should update their content a little to meet the more modern needs of a learner. We’re not all international businessmen on a short trip away from our wife and kids.

Courses move fast

Another common problem with Pimsleur is that the beginner levels move fast. If you’re completely new to learning languages then you will find yourself pausing and replaying the lessons quite a but.

This becomes a problem if you’re learning a language with a difficult pronunciation system. While Pimsleur does break down each word by syllable, sometimes it feels like it quickly glazes over any difficult sound. You are told to listen and repeat. Pimsleur offers little more help than that.

It would be nice if the early courses came with a sound system primer that broke down the most difficult sounds of the language, and taught you how to physically make the sounds. Common mispronunciations made by English native speakers would also be very useful.

Some courses sound artificial

The quality of voice actors and dialogues varies from program to program. While there are some Pimsleur courses that sound pretty good like French, Russian, Irish, Korean, and Spanish.

There are some that sound painfully artificial like Thai and Arabic. This affects the program’s effectiveness a little (you don’t want to be mimicking a monotone speaker), but the main drawback is that it makes working through the content drier and more boring than it needs to be. It’s not a good sign if your language learning method feels boring.

Best way to use Pimsleur

Repetition, repetition!

It’s best to use Pimsleur the way the program itself recommends: listening to a single 30 minute lesson a day, each day. Remember that the courses are designed to teach youconsistently overtime.

You’ll want to work at consistent pace to get the most out of these lessons. Don’t try rush through them, listening to 4 or 5 a day. It won’t have the same effect. Also if you miss a day, don’t let the missed day turned into a missed week.

Be a patient language learner

You may have read a review of someono who tried the first level of Pimsleur for a few weeks and then complain they didn’t learn much.

 To see significant results with a program like Pimsleur you’re going to have spend a lot of time and work through at least a couple levels. At times the Pimsleur may feel slow but trust the design. You’ll learn much quicker in the long run.

Remember that Pimsleur emphasizes the mastery of a few but important parts of vocabulary, versus a sheer volume of words. If you trust and work the system you will see your abilities in your target language improve. All foreign languages a lot of time and consistent practice to learn, whether you’re using Pimsleur or not.

Do something else while listening

If you sit in chair and work through Pimsleur you’re likely to get bored fast. Listening while you walk, clean the house, or commute makes a huge difference. Plus mixing a little exercise with language learning is never a bad idea

I prefer to use Pimsleur while I walk at a local park. The walking path is secluded enough that I don’t feel dumb repeating phrases out loud. I’m not sure why but the added movement helps me focus and keeps me engaged.

Alternatives to Pimsleur

Rocket Languages

In comparison to Pimsleur, Rocket Languages is the new kid on the block in language learning (RL came out in 2004). You may have heard of Rocket Languages through their ever prolific online advertising. There are over 12 different courses offered by Rocket Languages. Each is built around recorded audio in the form of dialogues. 

The dialogues have English explanations and usually teach the vocabulary in “chunks” or phrases versus individual words, making them highly practical for conversations. There are also lessons which focuses on breaking down the difficult grammar.

Though audio is at the center of their method, Rocket Languages also focus on reading and writing too. If your language has a different script the course provides a custom keyword and even features videos on how to hand write letters or characters (this is great for languages like Arabic or Japanese).  You check out our full Rocket Languages review here. 

FluentU

Fluentu is a site that teaches languages through native videos. Use in site flashcards, captions, and games to learn new words in context while watching native TV shows, movies, commercials, and more. It’s a great way to push your listening skills and vocabulary, though it doesn’t cover grammar much. 

Italki

Italki is an online market place that connects language learners with teachers for one-on-one classes via video or audio chat. There are thousands of teachers for French, Spanish, Japanese, and almost any other language you can think of. Paid lesson may not cost much, depending on where your teacher is from (teachers set their own prices).

You can also connect with language speakers from around the world and practice your speaking skills. 

*With a purchase of $20 or more. After you finish your first lesson 10 free Italki credits will be added to your account

Conclusion

Pimsleur is an effective course that will help develop your listening, speaking, reading and writing in a foreign language. 

The courses’ history and reviews stand as a testament to their effectiveness (it’s even older than Rosetta Stone). If you want an easy way to practice daily with a low time commitment and you don’t mind the repetition, then the Pimsleur language learning program may feel like a natural choice.

Pimsleur offers a week of full free access to their courses on their website. You can check it out here and see for yourself if the Pimsleur method is right for you. This concludes our Pimsleur review blog post.

Rocket languages may not be as well known as Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, or Duolingo. Still, the course has over 1 million users world wide. 

Most importantly, it stands as one of the most well rounded and effective courses out there for learning a new language. 

In this review we take an in depth look at this unique course. We talk about the method behind it, and how it can help you learn a foreign language. 

Enjoy guys!

Review of: Rocket Languages

Use: Language learning Courses

Effectiveness

Learn to read, write, listen to, and speak a language

Price

More pricey than an app, but not bad for a full audio course

Time Commitment

Each lesson is about 30 minutes

Ease of Use

Straight forward audio course that isn’t hard to use

Structure

Easily one of the most comprehensive courses on the market

I Like

• Teaches speaking & listening
• Teaches reading & writing
• Balances practical vocabulary & grammar
• Very comprehensive courses

I Don’t Like

• Some languages only have 1 level
• Course can seem dry

Summary:  

Rocket Languages are a series of online courses for learning a foreign language. 

The method behind them is simple: you learn practical words and phrases, then you learn the grammar behind them, and lastly you practice what you learn through various reinforcement activities. 

These courses are some of the most comprehensive on the market. Rocket Languages is one of the few language programs out there that adequately teaches speaking, listening, reading, and writing together. 

With this approach you learn the language as a unified whole, instead of many parts. 

The lessons in the course are built around recorded audio or simply text. They are effective study tools, but they can seem a bit dry sometimes. 

If you’re serious about learning a foreign language, and you want to use a course as your primary tool and resource, then Rocket Languages is one of the best options out there.

Starting at $99.95 for 1 course level. Free trial available

What is Rocket Languages?

Rocket Languages is an award winning language learning company originally founded in 2004. Since then the company’s language learning courses are used by over 1 million users world wide. 

The courses are entirely web based and are offered for over 13 different languages. 

Method

The Rocket Language method is made up of three main parts: 1) Practical vocabulary through audio lessons,  2) grammatical lessons via language and culture lessons, and 3) reinforcement activities. 

The idea behind this method is that you learn what to say. Then you learn the grammar behind the phrases and words you use. After that you review and apply all of it through exercises. 

The practical (vocabulary & pronunciation)

The audio lessons are the practical part of the course. Each audio lesson is built around a recorded dialogue between two native speakers. 

The lesson goes through each phrase in the dialogue so that you know what phrases mean. The lessons also walk you through the pronunciation of words syllable by syllable. 

The idea behind this part of the course is to learn these phrases verbatim, so that you can use them when you speak the language with real people. 

As you progress through the audio lessons you will learn more and more phrases. Pretty soon you’ll be able to mix and match them while speaking. Though you may not fully understand the literal meaning of what you are saying, you will be able to speak the language quickly and get your point across. 

I should also point out that these audio lessons always focus on vocabulary that you are likely to use in the real world.

Many courses and textbook introduce to you words and phrases that are less than helpful in a real life conversation (Do I really need to learn the sentence “The boy eats lunch on Tuesday”?). 

This isn’t the case with Rocket Languages. Right from the start you’ll be learning how to introduce yourself, discuss how long you’ve been learning the language, and talk about getting around in a city which speaks your new foreign language. 

“I like what Rocket Languages teaches, focusing on vocabulary and grammar that are probably most applicable to the average person in his or her everyday life…In Rosetta Stone, by contrast, you end up mastering a lot of phrases that you’ll never use. Sure, you’ll quickly figure out the difference between “the duck eats rice” and “the dog eats rice,” but good luck making use of those sentences.”

Jill Duffy  // PCMag.com

Grammar

The audio lessons give you loads of helpful vocabulary, but they don’t explain much in the way of grammar. So you might know what a particular phrase means, but you probably won’t know why.  

This is where the language and culture lessons come in. Most of these lessons are essentially grammar lessons. They take a few phrases in the foreign language and break down the grammar behind them.

This is where you learn about things like honorific language, conjugations, verbal aspects, grammatical cases, and any other grammatical features important to the language you’re learning. 

Excerpt from a Rocket French grammar lesson​

These grammar lessons are straight forward with no fluff. By and large they do a good job of breaking down the most challenging aspects of grammar into bite sized examples. 

In addition to grammar these lessons also teach the alphabet and writing system of the language. This is one feature that really sets Rocket Languages apart, especially for languages with unique alphabets/writing systems like Japanese, Arabic, Mandarin, etc. 

The Rocket Japanese section on writing is second to none

You will learn your language’s alphabet (including pronunciation and writing rules), as well as how to read and write in the language. This shifts the overall focus of Rocket Languages from simply conversational language to include literacy as well. 

Reinforcement activities

In addition to teaching vocabulary and grammar, the Rocket Languages also provide a way for you to review (AKA reinforce) what you learn.

Each lesson has a series of reinforcement activities which include: a series of writing and speaking exercises (Rocket Languages uses voice recognition), quizzes, flashcards, and role play dialogues.  

One of the reinforcement activities from Rocket Italian

Rocket language’s voice recognition uses Google Web Speech API. This API (Which powers many apps with voice recognition features), allows Rocket Languages to compare your voice against a pre recording of a nature speaker.  

What do you get in a Rocket Language Course?

The Rocket Languages courses are entirely web based, but you also have the option of purchasing the software on CD-rom. 

3 levels

The more popular courses (such as the Rocket Spanish course) have 3 levels (the Russian, Hindi, Korean, Arabic, and Portuguese courses only have one level). Rocket Language also offers a course for American Sign Language. 

Each level has 7-8 modules of audio lessons AND language and culture lessons, each with 3-8 individual lessons. Each audio lesson is around 30 minutes long. Language and culture lessons may take you a little less time to work through.

The audio lesson plans for level one of Rocket Languages

Each level also includes what are called Survival Kit lessons. These lessons include a list of phrases centered around a specific topic such as the 300 most common words, days of the week, love and romance, business, and more. These survival lessons are especially useful in the more advanced levels, as they help you improve your vocabulary. 

Extra tools and content

In addition to the core lessons you also get access to series of bonus features and tools. This includes a live forum between course members, a flashcard review system, a series of articles on language learning tips, progress tracking, as well as an online notebook.  

A Closer Look

Price

There are three main options for purchasing RL courses. You can purchase a single level for $99.95, the first two levels for $249.90, or all three levels for $259.90.

You can also purchase a physical CD version of the course. A single CD level costs $299.95. 

Pros and Cons of the courses

What we like about Rocket Languages

The course is super flexible

I really love the fact that Rocket Languages teaches conversational language AND grammar. What I like even more is that the course is setup so that you can switch freely between learning conversational phrases and learning the grammar behind them. 

This gives the course a high level of flexibility. You can work through the course sequential step by step, pairing one audio lesson with one grammar lesson. 

Or you can focus on the audio lessons for awhile, then after a week or so focus on the language and culture lessons. 

This makes it easy to combine other forms of learning with the course, or simply use the course as a stand alone resource. 

The course is holistic 

With RL you learn a language through writing, reading, listening, and even a bit of speaking. Very few language learning courses focus on all four aspects of learning a language. Usually you find an audio course that pays no mind to reading or writing, or a written text that has little to no listening and speaking. 

Rocket Languages does their best to provide a well rounded learning experience. 

Donovan Nagel

Mezzoguild.com

“The quality and comprehensiveness of Rocket Language’s audio is excellent…

…I was genuinely impressed by the overall comprehensiveness and quality of the audio and dialogue content for the Egyptian Arabic version I sampled.Firstly, the very fact that it teaches a spoken dialect rather than standard dialect puts it miles ahead of Rosetta Stone.”

It works for beginners and intermediate students

In the world of language learning, beginners have their pick of courses, but it can be hard for more advanced students to find appropriate resources. 

Most companies release a beginner’s course in a foreign language and then call it day. Not so with the RL team. 

Many language learners have had success with Rocket Languages

The three course levels will take you up through the intermediate level in a foreign language. If you purchase one of these courses, you’re likely to get a lot of miles out of it. I can’t say the same for other courses (most notably Rosetta Stone). 

What we don’t like about Rocket Languages

Sometimes the course can seem dry

I don’t believe that every part of the language learning journey can or should be fun. In my opinion language learning is a great experience, but there’s simply no getting around the study and practice it takes to become fluent. 

That being said, RL is an exceptional course. It teaches you a language well. But it doesn’t make much of an effort to do anything more than that. It can seem a bit dull over awhile.

You won’t find the game-ified format popular with other language courses. Don’t by this course if you’re looking to be entertained.  

It’s more of a course than tool

RL is an effective and comprehensive course, and its price tag reflects that. While its price point is comparable to Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, and other stand alone courses; it’s a bit high if you’re looking for a tool to supplement your learning. 

Best way to use Rocket Languages

These courses were designed to be comprehensive stand alone language courses, and that’s how they are best used. It’s best to work through the lessons sequentially, moving on to new material only after you’re fairly comfortable with what you just learned. 

Incorporate speaking 

While RL is a great way to learn vocabulary and grammar, it’s best to supplement it with some one on one practice with native speakers. 

Nothing beats using what you know to have real conversations. Practicing with a friend, teacher, or language partner while working through the RL courses will help you get the most out of what you learn in the course.

An example of a good schedule for this kind of learning might look like this:

Recommend schedule while using this course

Obviously you can change this schedule to increase or decrease the time you spend studying. This is just to give you an idea on one way you can effectively use the course. 

Alternatives to Rocket Languages

Price

From $4+ per month

Time commitment

15+ minutes a day 

Summary:

Innovative Language’s series of Pod101 language courses feature audio lessons in a podcast format. Lessons are great for grammar and vocabulary.

 Each lesson is designed around a conversation between native speakers of the foreign language, and the teachers do a great job of keeping things engaging. 

More than just courses, the Pod101s are effective learning tools. The sites feature transcripts, an in-site flashcard system, and many other useful features.

Price

$150

Time commitment

30 minutes a day 

Summary:

Pimsleur is probably the second most popular language course behind Rosetta Stone. Pimsleur is an entirely audio based course and is specifically designed to develop your conversational skills.

They use a unique and effective question/recall/respond technique to get you on your feet in your new language. With Pimsleur You’ll learn a limited but functional vocabulary and have a good sense of pronunciation.

Price

$6+ per hour (varies between teachers)

Time commitment

30 minute or 1 hour lessons 

Summary:

Italki is an online market place that connects language learners with language teachers for one-on-one language classes via video or audio chat.

You can connect with language speakers from around the world and practice your speaking skills. There are literally thousands of teachers on Italki, with lessons in over 40 languages!

*with a purchase of $10 or more. After your first purchased lesson a credit of $10 will be added to your account

Language Specific Reviews of Rocket Languages

The effectiveness of a language course can vary widely depending on which language it’s teaching. Click below to read our language specific reviews of the Rocket Languages courses.

*We haven’t included the course on American Sign Language but we hope to soon!

Conclusion

Rocket Languages produces some of the most effective and comprehensive courses on the market. 

The main drawback of the courses is that they can seem a bit bland after awhile (even though you’re likely to learn a lot with them). Also some languages don’t have the full three levels that the company usually offers. 

The price could also deter those looking for a more affordable option. 

These courses are ideal for those who want a stand alone language resource (your go to method of learning a language). It fits this role well and does an excellent job of teaching all aspects of a foreign language.

The wealth of modules and lessons in each level means that you will be able to use Rocket Languages throughout your language learning journey. 

You can sign up for a free trial (no credit card required), and try out some of their lessons for free. I recommend you take full advantage of this to help you decide if Rocket Languages is right for you!

Use: Language learning course & app

Effectiveness

Provides a solid foundation of grammar and vocabulary in a foreign language

Price

Monthly subscriptions starting at $6.95 per month

Time Commitment

1 Lesson takes around 10-15 minutes

Ease of Use

 Extremely user friendly

Structure

Courses sorted by categories like Grammar, Beginner, Words & Phrases, etc

I Like

• Good for basic vocabulary
• Good for practicing difficult grammar
• Low price
• Easy to use

I Don’t Like

• Less popular languages have less content
• Doesn’t develop conversation skills
• No material past intermediate levels

Summary

Babbel Language courses are online/mobile courses built around quiz styled lessons. Users are shown new material (grammar, vocabulary, etc), and then they are asked questions throughout the lesson to reinforce the new information.

Babbel works well as an introduction to a foreign language. Courses range from beginner level to intermediate, but less popular languages only have beginner material. The courses are straightforward and easy to use and can be a great addition to your language learning routine.

Babbel’s low price tag is also a plus. Overall, Babbel has a low cost per month compared to other subscriptions. It’s most expensive price point is $12.95 for a one month subscription, which is much less than higher end courses like Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone. ​

Babbel’s shortcoming is that it doesn’t prepare you very well for real life conversations. You simply aren’t required to think of your own words or phrases, you usually pick an answer from a predetermined list.

Still with it’s functionality, effectiveness (especially at beginner levels), and low price Babbel stands as an appealing option in the world of language learning tools. ​

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Monthly subscriptions starting at $6.95 per month

Is Babbel right for you?

Yes

If you’re a beginner to intermediate

Like many online language courses Babbel caters mainly to beginners and intermediate learners. For all it’s languages there is a large amount of beginner material but as you get into the intermediate level some languages will have more course content than others.

If you’re looking for a learning supplement

If you were to use Babbel as your only means of learning a language you would walk away with a foundational knowledge but you would be far from fluent. Babbel doesn’t claim to turn you into a near native speaker in a new language.

Babbel is best used as an introduction to a language, or as an additional practice tool alongside other resources.

If you’re learning 1 of 14 languages

Babbel is available in 14 languages. Some of the most popular are Spanish, French, German, and Italian. If you’re learning any one of the languages the site offers then Babbel is worth a look.

Language courses offered by babbel

If you’re on a budget

Compared to other language courses Babbel is pretty affordable with prices as low as $6.95 per month (up to $12.95 per month). It’s a great option if you’re not prepared to fork over an arm and a leg for a language course.

No

If you’r an advanced learner

Advanced level lessons aren’t offered on Babbel and the platform is best for gaining an understanding of basic vocabulary and grammar constructions in a foreign language. Students who already have a high proficiency in their target language won’t gain much if anything from Babbel.

If you want to emphasize conversational skills

While there is some recall involved in Babbel’s courses, there isn’t a lot of pressure to produce phrases or words on your own. You often have to choose between a set of given options versus thinking of something yourself.

With this manner of learning you will learn grammar and vocabulary but you will be ill prepared to use it in the context of a real world conversation.

If learning a language not offered

Some popular foreign languages not offered on Babbel include: Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic, and Korean.

What is Babbel?

Method

Babbel’s method is built around a straightforward quiz format. Their courses use a combination of words, pictures, and audio to help you learn and practice a language.

If you’ve ever used Rosetta Stone it’s very similar, with the main exception being that Babbel will break into English to explain grammar.

At the beginning of each lesson you’ll be shown an example of either new words or a grammar concept (like verb conjugation for example). After that Babbel will present you with matching, multiple choice, and fill in the blank style questions to practice what you just learned. ​

Once you move past the beginner level lessons, you start to notice that the sentences and words you learned throughout the lessons are combined in a dialogue at the end so that you work with larger phrases and not just individual words.

Intermediate lessons typically end with a full dialogue

What makes the Babbel method unique?

Does Babbel work? The method doesn’t seem all that unique. In course format is highly reminiscent of other courses like Rosetta Stone and Duolingo.

Babbel lacks the game styled format of Duolingo, and to be honest if it were strictly a language learning app I don’t think it would be as fun either. Babbel also feels like it’s paced a bit faster than Duolingo is, that is Babbel is quicker to present new information.

Compared to Rosetta Stone Babbel’s courses aren’t as meticulous in the way they introduce you to the language. Again Babbel seems to introduce the material a bit faster. Rosetta Stone tries hard to get you to only think and use your target language. With Babbel there’s no such pressure.

The biggest difference between Babbel and Rosetta Stone is that Babbel goes out of their way to explain grammar concepts and language rules.  Rosetta Stone uses no English in their courses.

Babbel offers grammar explanations in their courses

What do you get in a Babbel course?

Babbel language courses are completely online and are accessible via computer, mobile phone, or tablet. Babbel’s courses are broken into categories which are then broken down into individual courses.

Course structure

Categories include beginner courses, grammar, special interest (like the alphabet), and vocabulary (called “words and sentences”). Each category will have a list of courses which in turn have a series of lessons.

For example under the “Grammar” category you might find a course on verbs and adverbs which will have lessons on present tense, specific conjugations, and so on.

A look at some of the lessons in a course (French)

Review feature

In addition to its courses Babbel offers review exercises to revisit the material you’ve already learned. You have the option of doing fill in the blank type written exercises, spoken response exercises, or a standard spaced repetition flashcard review.

Price

You may ask, how much is Babbel a month? Babbel.com cost is available in monthly subscriptions. You can’t buy their courses out right. Prices range from $12.95 per month (for 1 month) down to $6.95 per month for 12 months. As with most subscription sites the more months you purchase upfront the lower the price is per month.

There is also a 3 month option for $8.95 per month and a 6 month option for $7.45 per month.​

Babbel’s monthly subscription options

All courses come with a 20 day money back guarantee.  Anytime within 20 days of purchase you can contact Babbel and get a refund of your purchase.

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Pros & Cons of Babbel

Pros

Good for foundational vocabulary

Babbel does a good job of presenting a functional vocabulary (especially at the beginning levels). If you use Babbel you will walk away with the knowledge of many common and essential words in your target language.

Great for nailing down difficult grammar

One thing I really like about Babbel is that They have lessons on specific grammar rules. Throughout the lesson you get to drill and focus on this concept until you’re comfortable with it. All language courses teach grammar but not all of them let you pin point a specific point of grammar like Babbel does.

I really like Babbel’s focus on specific grammar rules

 Low price & Money back guarantee 

Compared to some of its competitors like Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur, Babbel is an extremely affordable language course. While Babbel courses aren’t perfect the cheaper price means they’re definitely worth checking out.

I’m always a fan of courses that offer a simple and easy refund if you try a product and don’t like it. Babbel’s 20 day money back guarantee makes it easy to get your money back if you decide it’s not right for you.

Cons

Some courses don’t have as much content

The number of courses available on Babbel differs widely based on which language you’re learning. More popular languages like Spanish, French, and German will have significantly more courses than languages like Danish and Russian.

Less popular languages often offer a collection of solid beginner courses , but their selection of intermediate material is scant to non-existent.

Doesn’t develop conversational skills

With Babbel you don’t have to produce your own phrases or sentences in a foreign language. There is a recall element to the course (it’s in quiz style after all), but you are usually choosing from a selection of sentences or fill in the blank options.

When it comes to speaking ability Babbel doesn’t do much to prepare you for real conversations.

Best way to use Babbel

Use it as a supplement

Babbel works best as a supplement to your regular language learning. It’s a great way to review and reinforce what you’re learning.  It can also help introduce you to basic grammar.

You’re likely to get the most out of Babbel’s courses by using it daily alongside your regular language studies. Their courses aren’t strong enough to develop your speaking skills on their own.

Practice on the go

Babbel is easy to use on your tablet and smart phone. It’s a great way to get some extra language practice in throughout the day. 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there, these small practice sessions will add up and improve your ability in a language.

What other people are saying about Babbel

Babbel offers nice little quiz-style courses at extremely affordable prices. For your investment you get real recordings and access to a handful of learning options and tools to help you learn better.

I’d say, due to the extremely low price, that Babbel is definitely a competitive player in the quiz-style market falling somewhere between Duolingo (free) and Rosetta Stone (somewhat more expensive.)

Kris Broholmactualfluency.com                

​

Alternatives to Babbel

Price

From $4+ per month

Time commitment

15+ minutes a day

Summary:

Innovative Language’s series of Pod101 language courses feature audio lessons in a podcast format. Lessons are great for grammar and vocabulary. Each lesson is designed around a conversation between native speakers of the foreign language, and the teachers do a great job of keeping things engaging.

More than just language courses the Pod101s are effective learning tools. The sites feature transcripts, an in-site flashcard system, and many other useful features.

TRY SPANISHPOD101 FOR FREEFRENCHPOD101 FOR FREETRY GERMANPOD101 FOR FREETRY ITALIANPOD101 FOR FREE

Price

Starts at $15 per month

Time commitment

5+ minutes a day

Summary:

Fluentu is a site that helps you learn a language through native videos. Use in site flashcards, captions, and games to learn new words in context while watching foreign TV shows, movies, commercials, and more. It’s a great way to push your listening skills and vocabulary.

TRY FLUENTU FOR FREE

Rocket Languages

Price

$150

Time commitment

20+ minutes a day

Summary:

The Rocket Language courses are built around recorded audio in the form of dialogues. The dialogues have English explanations and usually teach the language in “chunks” or phrases versus individual words (this is great for developing conversational skills).

The Rocket Language method s for those who want a full on comprehensive course. RL does a great job of incorporating speaking and listening, as well as reading and writing.

TRY ROCKET LANGUAGES FOR FREE

Conclusion

Babbel is a simple but effective learning tool for beginners and most intermediate students. It’s format is simple but effective, especially for discovering the basics of a foreign language.

While it lacks advance material, and some languages have less lessons than others, with its affordable price and 20 day money back guarantee Babbel is a course worth trying out for yourself! ​

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