Pimsleur vs. Busuu: Comparison Guide
So you’ve made the decision to learn a new language – congratulations! Learning a foreign language is one of the best ways to enhance your professional or personal endeavors. Now you have to make another decision: which language learning platform should you choose?
Pimsleur® and Busuu, two of the most high-profile learning platforms, offer some similarities, along with some stark differences.
Some questions you might be asking include:
| Questions to Consider |
|---|
| Which app offers more audio instruction, Pimsleur or Busuu? |
| If I’m a learner who benefits from feedback and interactive lessons, how can I pick the right course? |
| While analyzing Busuu vs Pimsleur, which one will get me speaking a new language conversationally quickly and effectively? |
Plenty of new language learners are interested in the Busuu vs Pimsleur debate, and we’ve put together this article to help you make the best possible decision.
Comparing Pimsleur and Busuu’s Core Learning Methods
Here’s a basic breakdown of the Pimsleur vs Busuu comparison, with key learning techniques highlighted.
Pimsleur
All of Pimsleur’s courses and lessons are informed by The Pimsleur Method™, a proven technique for acquiring a new language. The Pimsleur Method is the backbone behind all of Pimsleur’s more than 50 language courses.
| Learning Technique | Pimsleur’s Approach |
|---|---|
| Audio-first approach | If you excel with top-quality audio lessons, the Pimsleur app is right up your alley. Many language programs have 150 lessons – each is a half-hour, so that’s 75 total hours of world-class audio courses for popular languages (minor, regional languages have fewer overall lessons). To put it simply, Pimsleur helps you learn a language like a child would, through active and robust participation, concentrated on listening to and speaking the language. Given the numerous lessons in Pimsleur’s program, many reviews mention how Pimsleur offers that great “bang for buck” factor. |
| Anticipating conversations | Core audio lessons operate on a key piece of The Pimsleur Method, the Principle of Anticipation. Using active recall, conversational fluency slowly builds as you anticipate the next word or phrase in an exchange. This specific type of engagement in interactive exercises increases conversational capability. Pimsleur asks for comprehension, pauses for responses, and reinforces the correct response. This is an extremely effective way to build confidence, perfect pronunciation, and prepare for real-world conversations with advanced learning concepts. |
| Graduated Interval Recall | In order to make the jump from short-term to long-term memory, Pimsleur uses graduated interval recall to increase knowledge at a rapid pace. Intuitive and easy to follow, this is one important element of The Pimsleur Method, developed by Dr. Paul Pimsleur. |
Busuu
While Busuu also provides expert native speakers for audio content, this platform takes a completely different approach from Pimsleur’s instructional techniques. This is a critical part of analyzing the differences between Pimsleur vs Busuu.
| Learning Feature | Busuu’s Approach |
|---|---|
| Emphasis on reading & writing | Following a traditional European model of instruction, Busuu is much more concentrated on reading and writing skills than Pimsleur. Busuu provides a more virtual “classroom” experience, favoring learners who thrive in that specific environment. |
| Multimedia-based lessons | Busuu’s lessons are less focused on practical conversations. Rather, the app uses brief lessons like vocabulary matching or identification games, bite-sized clips with explanations & subtitles, and grammar quizzes to build knowledge of basic words and phrases. |
| In-house expert speaker feedback | Busuu’s learning system offers feedback from native speakers on everything from written sentences to pronunciation. Unfortunately, feedback isn’t always immediate which can potentially slow learning momentum. When discussing Busuu vs Pimsleur, keep in mind that Pimsleur’s feedback is built into courses and lessons, so you’ll know right away if you’re on the right track. |
The Busuu vs Pimsleur Experience – In-Depth Conversations & Interactive Community Practice
As you’re deciding which way to go with the Busuu vs Pimsleur decision, keep in mind the type of learner you are and which platform caters to your specific requirements and preferences.
| Pimsleur | Busuu |
|---|---|
| Uses time-tested techniques to help you listen to and speak a new language with precision and confidence. This option works best for not only those who excel with audio lessons and detailed conversation-based courses, but for any learners. Pimsleur’s core audio lessons come with many other interactive features to provide a well-rounded learning experience. | Ideal for those looking to build vocabulary quickly within a structured learning path. Busuu is tailored toward learners who’d like to learn how to write and read a language while receiving native speaker feedback along the way. |
We’ve discussed the type and quality of Pimsleur vs Busuu instruction – but what about quantity? While Busuu offers 14 languages, Pimsleur provides learners with access to 51 total languages.
Strengths of Pimsleur’s Conversational Approach and Busuu’s Interactive Learning
Pimsleur’s audio lessons prepare you for practical conversations. Fun and informative courses provide a robust array of exercises anchored to core audio lessons. Courses encourage conversational fluency through The Pimsleur Method and improve oral and aural skills (speaking and listening) as lessons progress. One notable advantage of this audio-focused instruction is the ability to learn hands-free. Since you’re not tied to interacting with a screen, you can learn while driving in the car, while running errands, or in those in-between moments when you’re on the go. With Pimsleur, anywhere and any time is ideal for learning to speak a new language!
Meanwhile, Busuu requires concentrated screen time to acquire key language learning elements. The strengths of Busuu’s platform include vocabulary and grammar development, quick lessons, and custom study plans. While Pimsleur steers learners toward conversational fluency, Busuu more heavily emphasizes reading, writing, and grammar.
Choose Pimsleur for Real-World Language Fluency
So, the choice remains: which language learning platform is best for you, Pimsleur or Busuu? Based on the information above, it all comes down to which approach caters to your interests, learning style, and ultimate goals.
If you’d like to learn how to speak a language practically and efficiently, with a shortened learning curve, Pimsleur is the clear choice. If you prefer more rigid, structured lessons and want to acquire writing and reading skills, Busuu may be more your style.
Regardless of your preferences, you can use the above information to help you decide which learning language app is best for you!