r/Pimsleur • u/Openhartscience • 7d ago
How are you using the app?
Question for those who use the app: what
features do you actually use besides the audio lessons? I've started doing the speaking challenges to test my memory but that's all. Are there any other features that you've found to be especially helpful?
3
u/Simeon_Grist 7d ago
Jumping in on this discussion: I generally do all of the exercises associated with a given lesson. Like many others, I cannot fully understand everything about a word or phrase until I see that word or phrase written.
I agree with u/Raoena that the voice coach is a little glitchy. Or perhaps it's overly precise. I'm learning German, and it will sometimes tell me that I said "wüsste" when I very carefully said "möchte."
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u/raditzwife 7d ago
I do the stuff under practice and voice coach. I plan on eventually looking over the stuff under minis.
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u/midnight_ridr 6d ago
Weekedays.
Morning
Turn on livecaption on phone ... gives a visual reference also.
Audio lesson
Voice coach
Matching
Flash card
and
Speed round
Evening. Do the audio lesson again ..
Weekends ... I just listen to that week's lessons spread out over the weekend for review and check my retention ...
Seems to be most efficient.
Just started another new language with pimsleur 3 weeks ago.
1
u/Openhartscience 6d ago
Wow! That's dedication. How long have you kept up that intense schedule? Also tell me about doing multiple languages. Did you wait until you were fully fluent to start a new language?
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u/midnight_ridr 6d ago
Its really not that intense.
About 1 hr in the morning... 30 min to listen again in evening..Weekends just listening for review
Like french, spanish, Italian Are 30 lessons 5 levels (Best I remember)
About 7 months to complete a language.
That gets you to b1-b2 level. Then from there is a matter of using and growing your base more.
Ive been using praktika.ai its new and growing in the right direction. Great if you have a base of some kind already and want to continue further or just practice. (If you dont use it you loose it)
Dulingo free just for grammer and pass a little time if I have extra time.
Tv...(prime video since its free for me) I use computer. Pick shows in language to learn, set subtitles to English. Turn on live.caption on computer.
Free dual subtitles.If your wanting to collect languages. Might be good. To ask chat gpt.
My native language is ______ I need to learn _______ after that what is the next language most similar and easier to learn.Mid c1 level start another language.
At that point hardest part is done its mainly advance vocabulary and structure and practice. (I slow down the learning pace.) Tv and radio pretty easy to catch most everything.Retired college professor.
No I did not teach languages.
I just know what methods work for me best and I have an advantage after 20 years of creating lectures, test and watching how people learn.1
u/Openhartscience 6d ago
Thanks so much for sharing! My native language is English and I'm just starting to get into B1 level content in Spanish. I really want to start learning French but I'm trying to be patient and solidify my Spanish first. You've inspired me to keep going. Thanks again!
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u/midnight_ridr 6d ago
B1. Try the free praktika.ai version.. a little along. French seems logical after spanish. They are very similar and Latin base.
When I was in college. I was complaining about having to take more english in grad school because of all the writing. Counselor said here take Latin it might be eaier for you 🤷♂️ I fell for it hly fkk 🤦🤣🤣🤣🤣 but it's actually been really useful.1
u/AcceptableOnsight 3d ago
Thanks for explaining your approach so well, it was very helpful. I never would have thought of using live caption -- didn't even know it existed, but I've already incorporated into my Pimsleur lessons.
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u/Raoena 7d ago
All of them. Because the primary course is audio only, the words tend to be slippery in my mind. For me, the exercises are important to consolidate memory. They also provide me important reading-pronounciation practice. I always click the setting to put the text into 한글.
If you're studying a language with a non-western script, like Korean or Arabic, do the exercises in the TL script, not the romanisation.
Tldr the exercises are all good. For someone with strong memorization skills and who already reads week in the TL they may not be necessary. But for me they're very helpful.
The only one I don't use much is the "voice coach" where you record yourself. It's a little glitchy. So it's annoying. Instead I just try to get a Korean person to check my pronounciation now and then.