Frequently Asked Questions

These are the core of the Pimsleur Method, and by using them on a regular basis, you'll develop a foundational understanding of the language. Each conversational lesson is approximately 30 minutes long and is focused on developing your listening and speaking skills, along with helping you to remember what you’ve learned. We recommended you do one lesson per day (you can break it up into several sittings if needed) and to avoid referring to outside materials or taking notes while doing the lesson. The course is especially designed to help you master the rhythm, cadence, and sounds of your new language. These skills can only be developed aurally and relying on outside materials or taking notes will only slow down and limit your ability to develop those essential skills. If you want to be successful at conversation in your new language, it is very important to put in this work. These skills cannot be mastered by matching images and words on a screen or reading textbooks.

The Pimsleur mobile app and the desktop browser-based app allow you to play your daily Conversational Lessons and Reading Lessons, and it’ll keep track of where you are on whatever device you use.

The Pimsleur mobile app, available from the app stores, features a hands-free driving mode, and allows you to download audio lessons for offline use inside the app. It also syncs with Amazon Echo devices using the Pimsleur Alexa Skill, so you can easily play lessons at home as well. The web-based app can be accessed from any device using a recommended browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

The Audio-Only format is available as a subscription for all of our languages. It includes all core audio lessons of a single language, but does not include any interactive visual practice tools.

The Premium format includes all core audio lessons of a single language, and adds interactive tools to help you review course content and get in deeper with the written language. Premium versions are currently available for all languages except for these which are being developed: English courses, except English for Spanish speakers and English for Brazilian Portuguese Speakers, both of which are available in Premium format.

The All Access format includes ALL 51 languages available from Pimsleur. When you are a current All Access subscriber, any new updates to the courses, additional languages, or lessons are automatically added to your account at no additional cost.

The Learn tab is where you’ll access the lessons.

The Practice tab lets you work with content from all the lessons you’ve completed so far. Use the lesson selector to load individual lesson content, or select several or all completed lessons for all the flash cards, quiz items or Speed Round you can handle. Work your way through the Speak Easy conversations at your own pace, or access Skills to see phrases you've learned by topic. Skills show you the list of sentences you’ve “earned” as you complete each day’s lessons. Add tough sentences to your Saved Vocabulary list if you want to give them some extra focus. Once you’ve finished all the audio lessons, you can load hundreds of flash cards, and you can use them as often as you like. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll start responding without thinking!

Speak takes you to Voice Coach, which lets you choose whether to Practice new sentences (where you're given the phrase and can work on your pronunciation) or Challenge yourself by being cued in English and responding in your target language. We use AI to give you feedback in most languages. For some where we're not able to, we let you record yourself, then compare your speech to the native speaker's. Both forms let you earn a Pimsleur Certificate upon completion of all phrases in a Level. We're working on building pronunciation breakdown into Voice Coach, and it's currently available for most of the most popular languages. Click on the tutor icon to hear words broken down into individual sounds. For more information or questions about Voice Coach, check out the Voice Coach FAQs here.

Enrich provides a whole host of Minis, which are topic-based audio lessons that let you dig deeper into grammar, culture, and real-life conversations.

The Profile tab is where you can create your personal vocabulary and sentence list from Skills, flash cards or bonus cards. Use it to focus your practice, or quickly recall the phrases you need for a particular situation. Each item in the alphabetical list displays the word in your new language and lets you hear native speakers pronounce it then drops into flash card mode so you can practice all you want. It’s also where you can track your course progress, set up Reminders to stay on track, monitor your learning Streak, and see your Voice Coach score, badges, and certificates.

Manage your courses from the main menu at the top of the Home screen (☰). This menu gives you access to your Library to access different levels or languages. This is also where you go to get set up on Alexa (Amazon Echo compatible devices), see a list of users on your account, reset your password, or report a problem directly to customer service. Privacy and Legal documents, activation settings and a variety of tools can be accessed from the Help section in this menu.

We don’t offer transcripts, but not because they’re a deep dark secret. Dr. Pimsleur's research found that the fastest way to truly learn a new language was by listening to, and being asked to recall a new word or phrase from memory. Those who tried to write while this was happening were far less able to recall the material they were learning. They were also less able to use it “on the fly” in actual conversations.

So even though it may seem counter-intuitive, we strongly recommend that you don’t take notes or look things up while doing your Pimsleur course. Relax and let your brain do the work it was designed to do. Premium courses add flashcards, quiz, interactive conversation transcript game and other practice elements that let you see the words and sentences written down, but we don’t recommend you use these review components until after you’ve completed your daily audio lesson.

Officially we don’t recommend that anyone start at anything other than lesson 1 of Level 1. However, the programs are designed for someone with no experience in the language, and you are the only one who can tell what level is the best fit. If you would like to try starting with a different level, we recommend trying the first lesson of level 2. Unless you are able to do this lesson with 100% accuracy, you should start with a previous level, even if the vocabulary is largely known. The words and structures are essential and assumed to be known. There are very few basic structures taught in levels 2 & above so what is taught in previous levels is essential to your progress.

Completing Level 1 can also be useful for refining your pronunciation (accent). If you feel like or have been told that your pronunciation is not where it should be, Pimsleur will help, but we recommend you start with Level 1 in that case.

Consumers from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. can subscribe to Pimsleur Language Programs courses, here. You must create a Pimsleur account to subscribe. Subscriptions are available in other countries through Apple or Google Play via in-app purchases through the Pimsleur Language Learning App. For more information on the iOS version of the app, go here. For more information on the Android version of the app, go here.

A Pimsleur Audio-Only or Premium subscription offer gives you access to all lessons of a single language for one low periodic charge. An All Access subscription plan gives you access to all lessons for ALL 51 languages available for one low periodic charge. During your subscription, you will have access to as many levels of a course as are available, for a low price that is charged to your payment method.

Note that deleting the app from your device will not cancel your subscription.

The process to cancel depends on the point of purchase:

• Pimsleur.com: If you subscribed on the Pimsleur website, you can easily cancel by logging in to your account at store.pimsleur.com/account/subscription, or contact us at (800) 831-5497 during normal business hours.
• Apple: If you subscribed through an Apple in-app purchase, please follow the instructions provided by Apple regarding cancellation of subscriptions. Without limiting the foregoing, we have found that the following works for most uses. You can manage your subscriptions purchased on your iPhone or iPad by opening the Settings app, tapping your name, then tapping Subscriptions. From there, you can view and cancel your subscription. Alternatively, on your Mac, open the App Store app, click the sign-in button or your name at the bottom of the sidebar, and click View Information at the top of the window. On the page that appears, scroll until you see Subscriptions, then click Manage. Click Edit next to the subscription name. Detailed instructions are available at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039.
• Google Play: If you subscribed through a Google Play in-app purchase, please follow the instructions provided by Google Play regarding cancellation of subscriptions. Without limiting the foregoing, we have found that the following works for most users. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet, make sure you’re signed in to the correct Google Account, tap Menu and then Subscriptions. Select the Pimsleur subscription, tap Cancel subscription, and follow the instructions. You can also manage and cancel your subscription through Google Play website.

To avoid being charged, you must cancel prior to your next billing date. Refunds will not be issued for any part of an unused term.

• If your subscription was purchased on Pimsleur.com, you must cancel no later than 11:59pm Eastern Time on the last day of your current billing period (or your free trial period, if applicable) to avoid being charged for subscription renewal.
• If your subscription was purchased through Apple or Google Play, your billing relationship will be with those providers and is subject to their policies on cancellation timing. In either case, please be aware that you may be charged if you don’t cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date.

If you cancel your subscription in the middle of a subscription term, the cancellation will go into effect at the end of the then-current billing period. You will be able to continue to access your lessons until then, but we cannot issue refunds for any part of an unused term.

If you participate in a free trial offer and cancel during your trial period, you will lose access immediately upon cancellation.

Yes. Pausing your subscription is a convenient way to take a break of one or two months instead of canceling. When you pause your subscription, you can continue to access your lessons until your next billing date. On your next billing date, you will not be charged and access to your lessons will be suspended.

(NOTE: Pause is available for subscriptions started after June 20, 2024)

How to pause

1. Using a web or mobile browser, go to the Subscriptions tab on your Account Center page. Click Select Subscription.
2. Select One Month or Two Months, then select the Pause Subscription button. The pause will take effect at the start of your next billing term and will end on one or two months later. You may continue to use Pimsleur until the pause begins. You will not be billed for the duration of your pause. You will be charged on the next billing date following the pause and access to your lessons will resume.

How to unpause If you’d like to resume learning before the designated pause has ended, you can unpause the subscription manually.

1. Using a web or mobile browser, go to the Subscriptions tab on your Account Center page. Select Resume Subscription.
2. Select Resume Subscription from the confirmation window. You will have immediate access to your lessons, you will be charged immediately, and your billing date will be updated.

We will save your account, your learning process, and even any badges and certificates you have earned should you decide to come back. We hope you will!

To restart a subscription

1. Use a web or mobile browser to login and use the same email address or social sign in used previously.
2. Go to the Subscriptions tab on your Account Center page. Select the Restart Subscription button.

This will resubscribe you to the same plan. The previously entered payment method will be used, if it’s still valid, or you will have the opportunity to enter a different payment method

The Free Trial gives you access to all available lessons for one language for Audio-Only and Premium subscriptions, or all available lessons for ALL languages for All Access. You can try as many lessons and features as you like during this trial period. You will not be charged during the free trial period.

TO AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION BEFORE THE END OF YOUR FREE TRIAL PERIOD. YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WILL AUTOMATICALLY RENEW UNLESS YOU CANCEL PRIOR TO THE BILLING DATE. PLEASE NOTE THAT SIMPLY DELETING THE APP FROM YOUR DEVICE WILL NOT CANCEL YOUR PIMSLEUR SUBSCRIPTION.

Your price may change over the life of your subscription for a couple of reasons. First, some subscriptions might have discounted introductory offers. In that case, we will indicate to you at the time of purchase where an introductory price is being offered, as well as the price that will apply to renewals following the expiration of the introductory price.

Additionally, Pimsleur may in the future increase the price for some or all subscriptions. For subscribers who purchased through Pimsleur.com, we will attempt to notify you in advance by email so that you can choose whether to maintain your subscription and accept the price increase upon your next renewal or to cancel your subscription. For subscribers who purchased through Apple or Google Play, we will introduce and communicate any price changes in accordance with the applicable store’s policies.

When do I get my course? If you're on a mobile device, once you purchase or subscribe to your course and download the app, you can start streaming it immediately. For the web version, just go to the Pimsleur.com home page and click on the Launch My Course link at the top right.

Where can I see my list of digital courses? All of your courses are listed in the app Library. To access the Library in the mobile app, tap the menu icon (☰) at the top right corner, then tap Library. To access the Library in the web app on your computer, click the arrow at the top right corner, then click Library.

Is my subscription good for every language, or for one language that I select? Each Premium or Audio-Only subscription is good for one language, and includes access to all available levels for that language. If you want access to more than one language at a time, subscribe to our All Access plan which includes all 51 languages. You’ll have access to the content in the Pimsleur app for as long as your subscription is current.

How many lessons do I have access to with my subscription? This varies by language, but you will have access to all the Pimsleur lessons that exist for a particular language. For most popular languages, there are 150 lessons.

If I have a problem with my credit card transaction or other billing issue, how can I get it resolved quickly? If for any reason you have trouble purchasing a course, if your card is not accepted, or if there is a billing problem that needs to be resolved, please contact Pimsleur Customer Service and we will assist you. We are committed to resolving your issue as quickly as possible.

Will my account be automatically billed for my subscription? Yes. At the end of each subscription period (or free trial, if applicable), your Pimsleur subscription will automatically be renewed and billed for another subscription period until you cancel.

If you subscribed via in-app purchase, your billing relationship will be with Apple or Google as applicable and the payment method associated with your Apple or Google Play account will be charged upon renewal. Please keep in mind that your subscription could renew if you don’t cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date. Instructions on how to manage a subscription purchased through Apple or Google are below.

Do I need to do anything to keep my subscription once my free trial is over? No, we ask you to provide payment information when you start your free trial. Once your free trial period is over, your subscription will start automatically, and will continue until you contact us to cancel, or if you subscribed via in-app purchase, until you cancel the subscription through Apple or Google Play as applicable.

Does my subscription end on the day that I cancel, or at the end of my billing period? If you cancel your subscription during a free trial, you will lose access immediately upon cancellation. If you cancel in the middle of a paid subscription term, the cancellation will go into effect at the end of the then-current billing period. You can continue to access your lessons until then, but we cannot issue refunds or exchanges for unused portions of a subscription term.

What if I forget to cancel before the end of the billing period? You must cancel your subscription before it renews to avoid paying for the next subscription period. We cannot issue refunds for unused portions of a subscription term.

I already own Level 1. Can I subscribe to just 4 levels? The price is the same for one level or five. Once your subscription starts, you’ll have access to all the levels of a language that exist. You only need to use the levels and lessons you wish, but the subscription fee gives you access to all of them. Many people enjoy returning to earlier lessons to work on their pronunciation or review.

Can I use my course on multiple devices? Yes, you can use on as many devices as you’d like as long as they are for your personal use.

Subscriptions: We are unable to provide a refund of subscription charges. Be sure to cancel your subscription before the free trial (if applicable) ends, or prior to your next billing date, to avoid being charged. Refunds will not be issued for any part of an unused term.

Purchased Digital Products: Once you purchase a digital product, we are unable to provide a refund except as set forth in our 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee. If for any reason you have trouble accessing your course, please contact Pimsleur Customer Service, and we will help you to access your purchase.

Recently released

• English for Japanese Speakers Level 1-5
• German Level 1-3 (updated)
• Italian Level 1-3 (updated)
• Korean Level 4
• Korean Level 5

You can be notified of exclusive offers, learn about new releases, and get special offers via email. Subscribe to our special offer emails by clicking “Get Special Offers” at the top of any page on Pimsleur.com. Our coupon page also advertises select offers. For our best offers, subscribe to our special offer emails.

How do I redeem a discount code?
Promo codes let you get a special discount on a digital purchase. Enter the code in the Promo Code box which displays as you checkout. Codes may only be used once per transaction, and they cannot be used if they have expired. Discount codes may not be used for Subscriptions, and you will need to pay sales taxes where applicable. If you need further assistance, please contact Customer Service at (800) 831-5497.

To give the gift of language, we offer several exciting gift subscription options! Here’s how it works.

The gift recipient will have unlimited access to all lessons for the duration of their subscription. Gift subscriptions will not auto-renew, but the recipient can choose to subscribe on their own at the end of the gift term and all learning progress will be carried forward to the new term.

The gift giver, who must have a U.S. billing address, can select a date up to six months in the future for the delivery of the gift email.

The gift recipient can redeem the gift by visiting the Gift Redemption page and entering the gift code, or by simply clicking the Redeem Gift button on the gift email.

Gifting a Digital Lifetime Purchase Course Once you add a product to your cart for purchase, and start the checkout process, you'll have the option to mark any product as a GIFT and select a recipient. We’ll ask you to provide the giftee's email and you can write a custom message. We’ll notify the recipient by email along with instructions to retrieve their course.

Premium versions add enhanced features to help you review course content and get an even deeper understanding of the language. They include:

• Flashcards for vocabulary review.
• Speed Round game to test your skills.
• Speak Easy role-play tool with conversation transcripts.
• Lightbulb Moments / Cultural Highlights expand your understanding of the culture surrounding your new language.
• Quick Match Quiz to test yourself and help you to visualize your new language.
• Bonus Packs helps you to expand your vocabulary .
• Saved Vocabulary lets you easily jump to your favorite content.
• Skills Categories let you see sentences from completed lessons by topic.
• Voice Coach uses AI voice recognition to make it easy to perfect your pronunciation, measure your lesson progress, and get real-time feedback. Completing Challenge mode gets you Pimsleur Certified for every level you complete! For more information, see Voice Coach FAQs here.

Yes, because many people prefer to purchase rather than subscribe, all Pimsleur courses are available as a lifetime purchase from Pimsleur.com. When you purchase a Pimsleur course, the lessons never expire and are yours to keep. To purchase, choose the language you want to learn. On the next page, select the link labeled “Lifetime Subscription to All Lessons” and select the course you wish to purchase.

All Pimsleur courses are designed to work and sync seamlessly using either the Pimsleur mobile app, available from the app stores, which features a hands-free driving mode and allows you to download audio lessons for offline use inside the app. The app It also syncs with Amazon Echo devices using our new the Pimsleur Alexa Skill, so you can easily play lessons at home as well. The web-based desktop app can be accessed from any desktop or laptop device using a recommended browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

When subscribing, you gain access to language lessons often for a lower upfront cost. Also, new languages, new levels of current languages, and updates to existing courses will automatically be pushed out to your Library and made available at no extra charge.

When purchasing a lifetime subscription, you own the course after a one-time payment; there are no recurring subscription fees. Also, for language courses that offer more than one level, you have the option to purchase a single 30-lesson level or the complete course.

Both options include the same bonus content, the ability to share with up to three household members, CarPlay and Android Auto modes, and more. And both require the use of the Pimsleur mobile or web-based app to access courses, and will sync learning progress across devices.

Once your Echo device is connected to Wi-Fi, go to the Skills page in your Alexa App and search for Pimsleur. The Pimsleur Skill page will appear. Click on Enable to add the Pimsleur Skill to your account, then log in using your Pimsleur.com account credentials. Tell Alexa to “Play my Pimsleur Course.” Then say, “My Course,” and the lesson will start right where you left off in the app. If you have multiple users in your account, you’ll need to select a user number (1-4).

How do I talk to Alexa?
If you’ve used Alexa for other Skills, you’ll probably be familiar with the best ways to talk to her, but if not, here’s a list phrases to get you started:

• Just say, "Pimsleur," or ...
• Alexa, Begin Pimsleur
• Alexa, Launch Pimsleur
• Alexa, Load Pimsleur
• Alexa, Open Pimsleur
• Alexa, Play Pimsleur
• Alexa, Run Pimsleur
• Alexa, Start Pimsleur
• Alexa, Use Pimsleur
• To play a free lesson in any of Pimsleur's 51 languages, say, "Free Lesson."
• To start playing your current course, say "My course."
   

How do I start a Pimsleur lesson with Alexa?
Alexa will tell you which language, level and lesson you last played on your Echo device or in your app, and ask if you want to Continue. Confirm by saying “Continue.” Alternately, you can select a new Level and Lesson by saying, “Pick Level X, Lesson X.”

How do I switch languages with Alexa?
At present you cannot switch languages inside the Pimsleur Skill, however you can switch between Levels of a single language. To switch languages, you first need to go into your Pimsleur app on your mobile device, and open your Library from the menu at the top of the page.

What’s a Username with Alexa?
If you have more than one user on your Pimsleur app, you'll need to tell Alexa which user you are. Look at your Alexa app on your mobile device, and choose a user number. The main account holder is User 1.

How do I navigate and control my Echo device?
The Pimsleur Skill works just like any other Alexa Skill, with commands common to all. Here are a few common ones:

• Alexa, Go back / Go back to the prior lesson [Alexa confirms]
• Alexa, Skip back / Go back to the prior lesson [Alexa confirms]
• Alexa, Go forward / Go forward to the next lesson [Alexa confirms]
• Alexa, Skip / Go forward to the next lesson [Alexa confirms]
• Alexa, Pause / Pauses the current lesson
• Alexa, Restart / Goes to the beginning of the current lesson
• Alexa, Louder / Turns up the playback volume
• Alexa, Stop / Turns off the Skill. Note this command requires user to restart.
• Alexa, Quieter / Turns the playback volume down.

Pimsleur Mobile App

• Apple® iOS 11 or greater
• Android™ 7 or greater
• Most Android smartphones and tablets with 1280 X 720 or larger screen

Pimsleur Web-App (for most MAC and PC computers)

• Internet connection required
• Chrome, Firefox, Safari, browser (latest version recommended)

Pimsleur Skill for Amazon® Echo® Devices:

• An Amazon Echo device

Pimsleur is designed for use by one registered user, plus up to three household members, and may be installed on unlimited devices for your personal use.

I’m in My Library on Pimsleur.com, but how do I get my course?

　　Pimsleur Language Learning App (Mobile) - Install the app from your favorite App Store, then log in using your Pimsleur.com account credentials. Your course should load and sync automatically. Just click on the PLAY button to begin streaming. If you’ve purchased or subscribed to more than one course, use the Library, accessible by clicking on (☰) at the top right corner, to select a course.

　　Amazon Echo Devices - Activate the Pimsleur Skill from the Alexa App on your mobile device, then log in using your Pimsleur.com account credentials. Tell Alexa to “Play my Pimsleur Course.” Then say, “My Course,” and the lesson will start  where you left off in the app. If you have multiple users in your account, you’ll need to select a user number (1-4).

　　MAC or PC Computer – Click on LAUNCH MY COURSE at the top right of the Pimsleur.com homepage, or click on the link in your confirmation email. You can also log into My Account on Pimsleur.com and access the course from there.

Can I download lessons?
The mobile app (available through the Apple and Google Play app stores) allows you to download lessons for offline use within the app, and then remove them once completed to save space. The browser version of the app offers streaming only. Both work best with a strong cellular, Wi-Fi, or broadband connection.

What if I have additional questions or need help getting the course onto my device?
We have support available to help you. Please email Customer Service at Pimsleur@simonandschuster.com, or call 1-800-831-5497 for information.

To reset your password, select the Reset Password link on the sign-in screen in the app or website. You’ll be asked to enter the email address you used to create your account, and we will send a link to reset it. If you no longer have access to the email you used to register the account, please contact Customer Service for assistance.

If a social account was used to create your Pimsleur account (Sign-In with Google, Apple, or Facebook), your password cannot be reset because your chosen social network’s credentials are used.

Yes! A registered user can share a Premium or All Access course with up to three family members, so it’s easy to learn together! Learning progress is tracked separately for each sub-user. Each additional user will use the same email address and password to sign into the program. The person you wish to share the course with will need to install the application on their own device, or the web-based app at https://learn.pimsleur.com can also be used.

There are two ways to add a user. The first is through the app. Once you have the app opened and have logged in, select the Menu (☰) at the top right corner. Under Settings, select Users to see a list of users. Tap Add a New User and assign a nickname. If you’re using the web-based app and have logged in, select “Hi,” in the upper-right corner of the screen to access your account. Then select Users to add a new user.

The following methods of payment can be used for subscriptions and purchases.

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express
• Discover Card
• PayPal You can access and update the payment information used to pay for your subscription at any time. Do to so, log into the Account Center on Pimsleur.com and select Payment Methods in the navigation. From there, you can add a new payment method, update an existing payment method, and assign a payment method as the default to be used for future payments.

There is no surcharge for using your credit card or PayPal with Pimsleur. Please be sure to provide your exact billing information as it appears on your credit card statement. Incorrect information may cause a delay in processing your order or failure to complete your request.