Pimsleur language learning system

The Pimsleur language learning system (PLLS) is a language acquisition method developed by Dr. Paul Pimsleur and based on four main principles:

• Anticipation
• Graduated interval recall
• Organic learning
• Learning like a child (by imitating others)

How it works

• The student listens to a recording on which a native speaker speaks culturally rich phrases in both the foreign language and the language used for teaching (usually English for the currently available lessons, but the method is not tied to a specific language)
• At precise intervals (graduated intervals), the student is prompted to repeat phrases after the speaker finishes it
• The student is then introduced to a new phrase and the meaning is explained (novelty)
• After repeating a couple of times, the student is asked to repeat the previous phrase but borrowing from the words and meaning of the new one (recall and construction)
• More new phrases are introduced, while old phrases are prompted at random (anticipation). The random recalling keeps the student focused, forcing its mind to associate words with meanings.

See also:

• How to learn a language