The Pimsleur Method?

MWThomas · Jan 27, 2006, 09:12

What can you tell me about this so-called 'miracle' solution to learning Japanese quickly?

I want to learn the language, but I'm not sure about this method.

**Glenn** · Jan 27, 2006, 09:26

They talk, you repeat. That's about all there is to it. There are also some grammatical notes and cultural notes involved, but I'm not too sure how extensive that is. I've never actually used the program.

MWThomas · Jan 27, 2006, 10:14

That sounds a little too simple.

**Glenn** · Jan 27, 2006, 10:43

Well, to be fair, I did oversimplify. But that's still what's at the root of the program.

Bucko · Jan 27, 2006, 14:48

I used it all the way to the end. It was good but I didn't really learn much. Far better to get a good text book and a teacher IMO. Also, Pimsleur is really bad for:
1) listening practice, since it's all translating from English to Japanese, you rarely have to listen out for "unexpected" phrases;
2) writing, as it's all listening and speaking. Although by the end I did learn the kanas and some kanji and began writing down each sentence in a notebook to practice my writing.

MWThomas · Jan 27, 2006, 23:57

Are Heisig's books good?

Bucko · Jan 28, 2006, 10:11

Yeah pretty good. I've only used the first Kanji book and it has REALLY helped me remember everything. I highly recommend it. (Although I don't know about the hiragana/katakana book)

moofs · Jan 28, 2006, 10:31

I'd suggest http://www.yesjapan.com/ - they're pretty good.

You can check out some of their shows:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=george+and+keiko

I like the one titled "Techniques to impress your Japanese friends" or smoething like that. The そう思いたいけど。。。 is pretty useful. =)

**Glenn** · Jan 28, 2006, 12:00

Originally Posted by MWThomas

Are Heisig's books good?

Yeah, but just remember that they're only an introduction to the kanji. However, if you get through the second book you should be on pretty solid ground; any new meanings or usages for kanji you can pick up fairly easily once you have the writing, reading, and one meaning for them. Oh, and remember to study vocab, too. Just knowing kanji won't make you fluent, especially when you come across a word like 切手 or 取っ手.

MWThomas · Jan 29, 2006, 05:41

How many words must you know to be fluent?

KrazyKat · Jan 29, 2006, 06:02

Originally Posted by MWThomas

How many words must you know to be fluent?

10 000

Thats what they say you need for JLPT 1, anyway. I wouldn't worry about the number of words you need to be fluent at all though.

Bucko · Jan 29, 2006, 11:08

Originally Posted by moofs

I'd suggest http://www.yesjapan.com/ - they're pretty good.

You can check out some of their shows:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=george+and+keiko

I like the one titled "Techniques to impress your Japanese friends" or smoething like that. The そう思いたいけど。。。 is pretty useful. =)

Hey Moofs, those videos were awesome!! Where can I get some more info on YesJapan? I visited their website but I wanna see some unbiased info.

yorkii · Feb 5, 2006, 22:43

pimsluer was my introduction to the language. Pimsluer was especially useful to me as a self-studying student because it is the spoken language. something that a textbook can never teach (fully). Since moving to japan in august, i hear some of my english speaking colleagues, and i personally think their pronounciation is quite bad compared to my own. i thank pimsluer for the repition and training of the pronunciation.

Ben W Bell · Feb 6, 2006, 21:35

Pimsleur is pretty good, but it is only spoken language and isn't to be used in isolation. You need to supplement Pimsleur with other forms of learning, books, kana practice and the like. I have a tutor I see once a week but I still use my Pimsleur to expand my knowledge and get some additional practice.

Pimsleur doesn't just do repetition, they will come back many lessons after teaching you something and prompt you to recall it. They ask you to come up with sentences they have never said based on your knowledge so far which is much more useful than the simple repetition method many language courses use.

Mike Cash · Feb 6, 2006, 22:35

Originally Posted by MWThomas

How many words must you know to be fluent?

You can be fluent with a dozen words, provided you are always only in situations where that dozen will suffice.

("Fluency" has nothing to do with how much of a language a person knows).

**acquiredtarget** · Feb 7, 2006, 05:02

Is this the $200+ Pimsluer set or the cheaper set?

Jan 27, 2006, 09:12	#1
MWThomas Regular Member Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Age: 23 Posts: 62	The Pimsleur Method? What can you tell me about this so-called 'miracle' solution to learning Japanese quickly? I want to learn the language, but I'm not sure about this method.

Jan 27, 2006, 09:26	#2
Glenn 考え中 Join Date: Jan 8, 2004 Posts: 5,544	They talk, you repeat. That's about all there is to it. There are also some grammatical notes and cultural notes involved, but I'm not too sure how extensive that is. I've never actually used the program. __________________ Avoid Mojibake! -- 文字化けを避ける！ Dictionary at Goo - English-Japanese, Japanese-English, Japanese Language Teach Yourself Japanese and Teach Yourself Japanese Message Board Jim Breen's online dictionary and kanji lookup

Jan 28, 2006, 12:00	#9
Glenn 考え中 Join Date: Jan 8, 2004 Posts: 5,544	Originally Posted by MWThomas Are Heisig's books good? Yeah, but just remember that they're only an introduction to the kanji. However, if you get through the second book you should be on pretty solid ground; any new meanings or usages for kanji you can pick up fairly easily once you have the writing, reading, and one meaning for them. Oh, and remember to study vocab, too. Just knowing kanji won't make you fluent, especially when you come across a word like 切手 or 取っ手.

Jan 29, 2006, 06:02	#11
KrazyKat Regular Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2006 Location: England Age: 23 Posts: 514	Originally Posted by MWThomas How many words must you know to be fluent? 10 000 Thats what they say you need for JLPT 1, anyway. I wouldn't worry about the number of words you need to be fluent at all though.

Jan 29, 2006, 11:08	#12
Bucko Master of the Universe Join Date: Feb 4, 2005 Location: ロンドン Posts: 788	Originally Posted by moofs I'd suggest http://www.yesjapan.com/ - they're pretty good. You can check out some of their shows: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=george+and+keiko I like the one titled "Techniques to impress your Japanese friends" or smoething like that. The そう思いたいけど。。。 is pretty useful. =) Hey Moofs, those videos were awesome!! Where can I get some more info on YesJapan? I visited their website but I wanna see some unbiased info.

Jan 27, 2006, 10:14	#3
MWThomas Regular Member Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Age: 23 Posts: 62	That sounds a little too simple.

Jan 27, 2006, 10:43	#4
Glenn 考え中 Join Date: Jan 8, 2004 Posts: 5,544	Well, to be fair, I did oversimplify. But that's still what's at the root of the program.

Jan 27, 2006, 14:48	#5
Bucko Master of the Universe Join Date: Feb 4, 2005 Location: ロンドン Posts: 788	I used it all the way to the end. It was good but I didn't really learn much. Far better to get a good text book and a teacher IMO. Also, Pimsleur is really bad for: 1) listening practice, since it's all translating from English to Japanese, you rarely have to listen out for "unexpected" phrases; 2) writing, as it's all listening and speaking. Although by the end I did learn the kanas and some kanji and began writing down each sentence in a notebook to practice my writing.

Jan 27, 2006, 23:57	#6
MWThomas Regular Member Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Age: 23 Posts: 62	Are Heisig's books good?

Jan 28, 2006, 10:11	#7
Bucko Master of the Universe Join Date: Feb 4, 2005 Location: ロンドン Posts: 788	Yeah pretty good. I've only used the first Kanji book and it has REALLY helped me remember everything. I highly recommend it. (Although I don't know about the hiragana/katakana book)

Jan 28, 2006, 10:31	#8
moofs Regular Member Join Date: Mar 27, 2005 Posts: 78	I'd suggest http://www.yesjapan.com/ - they're pretty good. You can check out some of their shows: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=george+and+keiko I like the one titled "Techniques to impress your Japanese friends" or smoething like that. The そう思いたいけど。。。 is pretty useful. =)

Jan 29, 2006, 05:41	#10
MWThomas Regular Member Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Age: 23 Posts: 62	How many words must you know to be fluent?

Feb 5, 2006, 22:43	#13
yorkii 知らぬが仏 Join Date: Nov 30, 2004 Location: Moriya - Ibaraki Age: 26 Posts: 200	pimsluer was my introduction to the language. Pimsluer was especially useful to me as a self-studying student because it is the spoken language. something that a textbook can never teach (fully). Since moving to japan in august, i hear some of my english speaking colleagues, and i personally think their pronounciation is quite bad compared to my own. i thank pimsluer for the repition and training of the pronunciation.

Feb 6, 2006, 21:35	#14
Ben W Bell Regular Member Join Date: Sep 13, 2004 Posts: 133	Pimsleur is pretty good, but it is only spoken language and isn't to be used in isolation. You need to supplement Pimsleur with other forms of learning, books, kana practice and the like. I have a tutor I see once a week but I still use my Pimsleur to expand my knowledge and get some additional practice. Pimsleur doesn't just do repetition, they will come back many lessons after teaching you something and prompt you to recall it. They ask you to come up with sentences they have never said based on your knowledge so far which is much more useful than the simple repetition method many language courses use.

Feb 6, 2006, 22:35	#15
Mike Cash Delusions of Adequacy Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: Japan Posts: 5,417	Originally Posted by MWThomas How many words must you know to be fluent? You can be fluent with a dozen words, provided you are always only in situations where that dozen will suffice. ("Fluency" has nothing to do with how much of a language a person knows). __________________ Kiva: Loans That Change Lives

Feb 7, 2006, 05:02	#16
acquiredtarget Um...okay Join Date: Sep 27, 2004 Location: California Posts: 173	Is this the $200+ Pimsluer set or the cheaper set? __________________ "People say common sense will fix things, but sense has not always been common." - Chuck D

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