Pimsleur
If you like to study by hearing, Pimsleur is an excellent choice. The application was created by linguists to help you learn Spanish by flooding your ears with it. Yes, the lessons are entirely about conversations, which you listen to and are guided through by your teacher, who breaks everything down clearly as you go.
While this is excellent for audio learners, it does not make extensive use of games or visualisations, thus it is not suitable for those who prefer them. Anyone who gains from listening will appreciate the degree of depth here, which covers phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Intervals are tiered, allowing you to anticipate what will happen next and proceed slowly. Using words and phrases you've already learnt helps to refresh your memory and consolidate learning for long-term effectiveness.
The lack of pictures isn't ideal because it means you're simply learning how the word sounds and not how to spell it correctly. For the best possible final outcomes, this might be used as a complementary learning service.
The Pimsleur app costs $14.95 a month for the basic version and $19.95 for the premium version. This includes 150 30-minute daily exercises as well as some basic flashcards and games.
Specifications
- Formats: Windows PC, Mac, iOS, Android
- Free trial: Free lesson
- Offline learning: Yes
Website: offers.pimsleur.com
Reasons to buy
- Immersion learning focuses on conversations
- Emphasis on core vocabulary
Reasons to avoid
- Little visual content
- Can take a long time to learn
