When it comes to learning Italian, there are plenty of apps and programs to help you do so. In this detailed review, we cover everything you need to know about the Pimsleur Italian app so you can determine whether it is a good fit for your situation and needs.
Pimsleur
- Multiple Subscription Options
- Money Back Guarantee
Pros
- Perfect Italian course for auditory learners
- In-depth, contextual audio lessons that feature fluent Italian speakers
- Diverse practice drills that cover both receptive and expressive language skills
- Accurate Voice Coach tool provides feedback on pronunciation
- Sleek, intuitive digital platform and mobile app
Cons
- Not ideal for visual learners (limited use of graphics and imagery)
- Slightly more expensive than other Italian language apps
- Long lesson format
The Pimsleur Method For Learning Italian
Instead of brief 5 to 10-minute lessons that include rapid-fire drills and exercises like you get with the Babbel or Duolingo Italian programs, the Pimsleur program takes a slightly different approach to learning.
Their core lessons consist of comprehensive 30-minute audio sessions that feature fluent Italian speakers. These sessions involve an English host that guides you through authentic conversations, frequently pausing to explain the content spoken by the Italian speakers, the context of the dialogue, and any relevant grammar rules that are at play.
Additionally, the host intermittently poses questions and prompts your participation to ensure you stay focused, and understand the material being presented.
Pimsleur also provides supplementary practice exercises and learning materials similar to Rosetta Stone and Babbel, but really it’s the audio sessions that form the foundation of the program, and set Pimsleur apart from most other language learning apps.
Pimsleur Italian Cost
Next, let’s talk about how Pimsleur stacks up to other language apps from a pricing perspective.
The Pimsleur Italian subscription costs around $20 per month, which isn’t crazy expensive in the grand scheme of things, but it’s definitely not as cheap as say Babbel or Mondly, for example whose subscriptions land closer to the $10 to $15 per month range.
On the other hand, the Pimsleur subscription is more affordable than Rocket Italian or Michel Thomas, for example.
All in all, it’s safe to say that Pimsleur sort of lands near the middle of the pack as far as cost goes (i.e. not cheap, but also not super expensive).
Plus, keep in mind that Pimsleur does offer sales and special promotions fairly regularly so definitely make sure to keep an eye out for discounts.
Pros Explained
Now that we’ve covered the Pimsleur Italian learning framework and pricing, let’s dive into the major pros and cons that you need to be aware of.
Audio-Focused Lessons
The first positive is that Pimsleur is a great choice for auditory learners.
To cut right to the chase, if you learn best through listening as opposed to reading or writing and you have a strong memory for spoken information, then Pimsleur should mesh well with your learning style considering that the audio lessons we mentioned earlier make up roughly three quarters of the entire program.
Learn Italian On-The-Go
The next positive in favor of Pimsleur, and this ties into the previous point, but because each lesson is essentially built-around audio, it allows you to learn on-the-move.
In other words, you don’t need to be seated at a desk, or constantly staring at your phone. You can simply put your phone in your pocket and complete an audio lesson while gardening or folding laundry, for instance.
Alternatively, if you have a daily commute or spend a lot of time in the car, Pimsleur also offers a hands-free driving mode.
Therefore, if you lead a busy life, and are frequently on-the-move, Pimsleur makes it super easy and convenient for you to knock out lessons and make progress in your language learning journey.
Pimsleur Voice Coach
Moving on to the third positive for Pimsleur, and this is a relatively new addition to their program, but it’s definitely worth mentioning, and that’s Pimsleur’s Voice Coach tool.
Following the audio segment of each lesson, you’ll be guided through various drills, including speaking exercises where you listen to and repeat phrases and sentences to practice your pronunciation.
As you can probably guess, during these exercises, Pimsleur’s Voice Coach records your speech, and then offers feedback on your pronunciation. After testing the tool, we have to say the company’s speech technology is pretty impressive. It’s efficient, accurate, and very user-friendly.
Honestly, it’s very comparable to Babbel and Rocket Italian’s, which we consider to be two of the best speech tools in the entire language learning industry.
Overall, we give two big thumbs up to Pimsleur for listening to consumer feedback, and developing their own speech recognition software. It greatly enhances their Italian language course.
Modern Mobile App
Lastly, we’d like to highlight the Pimsleur digital platform and mobile app. It may not sound like a big deal, but in our opinion, it’s worth mentioning.
Compared to some others out there that we’ve tested, the Pimsleur digital platform is much more modern and intuitive. It definitely has the look, feel and functionality of a premium language app. You can tell the company has invested serious time and resources to ensure the user experience is top-notch.
Cons Explained
Now that we’ve covered the positives related to the Pimsleur Italian program, it’s only fair we also discuss the negatives as well.
Lack Of Visual Elements
The first drawback of Pimsleur is that it’s not a great fit for visual learners. The course does not include any sort of video component, and even the use of imagery and graphics is extremely limited.
As we mentioned earlier, the heart of the course is audio-based, so needless to say, individuals who learn best through visual cues may find other apps like Babbel or Memrise more compatible with their learning style.
Long Lesson Format
The next negative is that the Pimsleur lessons are lengthy, with each one consisting of a 30-minute audio exercise followed by various reinforcement drills. In order to complete a single lesson, it will likely take you around 45 minutes to an hour.
Therefore, it’s important to be realistic about your time commitment. If you can only spare five to ten minutes per day for language learning, you might find a different app with shorter lesson formats more suitable for your schedule, like Babbel, for example.
Italian Grammar
Finally, Pimsleur does not place much emphasis on grammar within its curriculum. The explanations and details regarding grammar are relatively light, which some linguists might view as a drawback.
However, there is another school of thought that argues excessive focus on grammar can impede the learning process, particularly in the early stages.
Therefore, whether this approach is suitable for you depends on your perspective. If you prefer a program that integrates detailed grammar instruction to aid your understanding of the language, you might consider Rocket Italian instead.
On the other hand, if you prefer to defer focusing on grammar rules until you have a basic grasp of the language, then Pimsleur could be a suitable choice.
Verdict: Is Pimsleur Good For Learning Italian?
It’s time to answer the big question – Is Pimsleur an effective app to learn Italian?
Well, in our view, the answer is yes. After testing a dozen or so language apps at this point, Pimsleur stands out as one of the most comprehensive Italian courses available.
Their lessons are thorough, and we appreciate the focus on interactive, contextual based audio exercises. Plus, we like that Pimsleur offers features like the Voice Coach, hands-free driving mode, and a high-quality digital platform as well.
Really, the only scenario in which we might suggest looking elsewhere is if you are a visual learner, as Pimsleur’s emphasis is primarily on audio. Otherwise, there’s no question Pimsleur is an extremely effective program for learning Italian.
Access to the Pimsleur Italian program costs $20 per month. Alternatively, you could also purchase a lifetime plan for around $450.
In total, the Pimsleur Italian course consists of five distinct levels (newcomer to advanced). Within each level, there are around 30 lessons to complete.
In most cases, expcect it take around 150 hours to learn Italian using Pimsleur. By the end of course, you should be able to reach an intermediate level of fluency.
Yes, the Pimsleur Italian program is worth the money. For roughly $20 per month, our team believes Pimsleur is one of the most well-rounded and effective Italian language courses on the market.
