Pimsleur Language Programs are for anyone interested in learning a language. And because every learner's needs are different, we offer our programs with multiple options, so you can get a taste of the language, prepare for a trip, or go for in-depth learning and spoken proficiency. The chart below illustrates these options and the number of lessons and hours in each.
Choose the edition that suits your need. As your needs and interests grow, you can step up to the next level!
- Express
- (1 CD) Contains one 30-minute lesson plus 45 minutes of conversations and travel scenes. In the lesson (Lesson One from the Comprehensive) you will participate in and learn to understand a basic conversation. The travel scenes that follow allow you to hear what the language sounds like in real-life travel scenarios. Contains a PocketExpress Phrase Card and a booklet with the script of the travel scenes. All languages in this program
- Quick & Simple
- (4 CDs) Four hours of instruction – Contains the first eight lessons from the Comprehensive Level I course. Designed as an introduction to the language and to the Pimsleur Method. Includes $50 instant credit for the purchase of the Comprehensive Level I (see details). All languages in this program
- goPimsleur
- (4 CDs, 1 MP3 CD +160-page book) 4 hours of spoken language instruction + 3½ hours of reading instruction — Each program contains the first 8 lessons of the Comprehensive Level I spoken program on CD, a Reading Book, and an additional MP3 CD with the 3-part Reading program from the Comprehensive Levels I, II & III, as well as the 8 lessons. All languages in this program
- Compact
- (5 CDs) Five hours of instruction – Contains ten 30-minute lessons. Provides an introduction to many of the less- commonly-studied languages. Includes booklet. All languages in this program
- Basic
- (5 CDs) Five hours of instruction – Contains the first ten lessons from the Comprehensive Level I course. Designed for those who want to get the flavor of a language and become comfortable with some basic sentences. Includes $50 instant credit for the purchase of the Comprehensive Level I (see details). All languages in this program
- Conversational
- (8 CDs) Eight hours of instruction – Contains the first sixteen lessons from the Comprehensive Level I course. Designed for those who want a bit more in-depth look at a language and to sample the Pimsleur Method without a great investment of time. Includes $150 instant credit for the purchase of the Comprehensive Level I (see details). All languages in this program
Comprehensive, Level I (Lessons 1-30, plus Readings)
(16 CDs) 16 hours of instruction - thirty 30-minute lessons with either Culture Notes or Reading Lessons. Designed for those who want to gain fluency with 400-500 vocabulary words and several hundred sentence structures.
After finishing Level I, you'll be able to:
- Initiate and maintain face-to-face conversations,
- Deal with everyday situations -- ask for information or directions and give basic information about yourself and your family,
- Communicate basic information on informal topics and participate in casual conversations,
- Handle basic courtesy and travel requirements and avoid basic cultural errors,
- Satisfy personal needs and limited social demands,
- Establish rapport with strangers in foreign countries,
- Begin reading and sounding out items with native-like pronunciation.
Comprehensive, Level II (Lessons 31-60, plus Readings)
(16 CDs) An additional 16 hours of instruction. Designed to be used after Level I. Level II builds on Level I with 30 additional 30-minute lessons, plus Reading Lessons or Culture Notes. For those who wish to expand their vocabulary and increase fluency.
After finishing Level II, you'll be able to:
- Engage in fuller conversations involving yourself and your family, daily activities, interests, and personal preferences,
- Combine known elements into increasingly longer sentences and strings of sentences,
- Function in informal situations,
- Meet social demands and limited job requirements,
- Speak with a near-native accent,
- Begin reading for meaning.
Comprehensive, Level III (Lessons 61-90, plus Readings)
(16 CDs) An additional 16 hours of instruction. Designed to be used after Level II. Builds on Levels I and II, with 30 additional 30-minute lessons, plus Reading Lessons or Culture Notes. For those who wish to expand their vocabulary and increase fluency to an even higher level.
After finishing Level III, you'll be able to:
- Participate in most informal and some formal discussions on practical, social, and some semi-professional topics,
- Form longer, more complex sentences,
- Be understood, even by native speakers unused to dealing with foreigners,
- Handle increasingly difficult grammatical structures,
- Enjoy fluent conversations with a variety of strangers,
- Read at the same level at which you can speak.
- Plus Level
- (5 CDs) An additional five hours of instruction – Designed to be used after Level III. Builds on Levels I, II, and III, with 10 additional 30-minute lessons. The Plus Program puts your language skills to the test with real-life situations. Includes a more interpersonal exchange of language at a higher level, using diverse language strategies. All languages in this program
Quick & Simple Instant Credit
To be eligible for the instant credit, you must purchase the COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL I PIMSLEUR® LANGUAGE PROGRAM directly from Simon &Schuster, mention the credit when you call to place the order, and provide the ISBN of this edition (on the back). To receive an instant credit of $50.00 on your purchase of a new COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL I PIMSLEUR® LANGUAGE PROGRAM, call 800-831-5497.
This offer is only valid in the US and Canada (excluding Quebec). Void where prohibited or restricted. Offer is not open to employees of Simon & Schuster or the family members of such employees living in the same household as such employees. Duplicate requests will constitute fraud. Requests submitted by clubs or organizations will not be honored.
Offers may be modified or discontinued at any time, without notice, at Simon & Schuster's sole discretion.
Basic Instant Credit
To be eligible for the instant credit, you must purchase the COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL I PIMSLEUR® LANGUAGE PROGRAM directly from Simon &Schuster. To receive an instant credit of $50.00 on your purchase of a new COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL I PIMSLEUR® LANGUAGE PROGRAM, call 800-831-5497. Please have this package at hand when you call.
This offer is only valid in the US and Canada (excluding Quebec). Void where prohibited or restricted. Offer is not open to employees of Simon & Schuster or the family members of such employees living in the same household as such employees. Duplicate requests will constitute fraud. Requests submitted by clubs or organizations will not be honored.
Conversational Instant Credit
To be eligible for the instant credit, you must purchase the COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL I PIMSLEUR® LANGUAGE PROGRAM directly from Simon &Schuster. To receive an instant credit of $150.00 on your purchase of a new COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL I PIMSLEUR® LANGUAGE PROGRAM, call 800-831-5497. Please have this package at hand when you call.
This offer is only valid in the US and Canada (excluding Quebec). Void where prohibited or restricted. Offer is not open to employees of Simon & Schuster or the family members of such employees living in the same household as such employees. Duplicate requests will constitute fraud. Requests submitted by clubs or organizations will not be honored.