Recently, I've discovered that there is interest between the differing programs out there to study language. While there are uncounted resources to learn a language some of the most well known and popular programs are Pimsleur and Michel Thomas. These programs have been used over and over, and their price shows that they may have something to offer as well, being that these programs are generally quite expensive.
I'll start off by saying that because these two programs are the most popular it doesn't mean they are the best option for all learners, nor does it mean that they don't have very formidable competitors. Often it depends on what language you want to learn, and why exactly you are learning the language. Linguaphone alltalk is language learning system that has books as well as tapes, which are very useful, since in many cases the learning follows a paradigm of a story, which means you are consistently being prepared for real life situations in which you then learn the necessary vocabulary to survive in these situations. I think Linguaphone is one of the better competitors to the most popular programs, but there are still more out there, which come in handy to different sorts of learners.
The Pimsleur and Michel Thomas programs both offer programs that are designed to give the learner a conversational proficiency. The programs can vary widely in what areas they give conversational proficiency, but generally deal with introductions, ordering food, getting from A to B, human emotion, and perhaps even introducing yourself. Neither of the programs really focus on writing ability or reading ability, although some Pimsleur programs do contain short reading sections, but are not integral to the course, since they can be completed at any time within the course. This also means that both the programs will not help with key reading skills that would be necessary abroad, which for me means that these programs are survival courses meant to keep the learner and traveler abroad agile enough to make their way through most situations without being left in the dust. Both of these courses also make excellent companions to traditional courses in the language, and will augment vocabulary and fluency, which is a definite plus and why I would recommend using one of these programs in addition to traditional courses.
There are some key differences between the programs though. The Pimsleur program was developed by researcher Paul Pimsleur, and through his research found that most learners need to repeat a word an average of 80 times before they can actively use and recall vocabulary. The research also found that learners retained more information in lessons of 30 minutes, and any longer was too much, which means Pimsleur has short and to the point lessons packed with content (information via introduction to Pimsleur programs). Thus, the Pimsleur program stresses memorization, but in such a way that words are repeated in context over a long period of time, which means the learner is forced to actively try to remember, but the memorization isn't a rote process that is painful. The process is actually quite pleasant and not very dull at all. The program follows natural dialogue between natives and between foreigners and natives. The conversational variety progresses slowly as the program moves on, but will review old vocabulary on each step of the journey, so once you finish you have a strong foundation of vocabulary that can be remembered with very little effort. The downside to this method is that conversational variety and ability to speak without a scripted pre-formed sentence is not really a skill that is allowed to develop here. Another reason why it makes a better companion to traditional study. However, I wouldn't say that this program is at all bad for independent study in other circumstances, because in the right context with an avid and active learner this program is really quite useful.
The Michel Thomas program was developed by a linguist of the same name who learned several European languages, and subsequently developed courses using the method aptly named the, "Michel Thomas Method," which focuses on conversational variety and immediate fluency in a language based on recognition of cognates in the language similar to the learner's own tongue. The method seems to be exclusive to English, whereas Pimsleur has programs for say Spanish speakers trying to learn English and more, which makes it more usable for learners who do not prefer to learn from English to their target language. In some respects Michel Thomas focuses more on the vocabulary the user already knows and can easily remember, meaning that the method of communication is much simpler, vocabulary acquisition is much faster, and communication is therefore more intimate in some instances than it would be with Pimsleur. This method is particularly useful when the learner wants to express emotion rather than stress survival skills, although the course does not forget key survival areas such as food and travel accommodations. The strength of Michel Thomas is that is provides the learner with very immediate results and with most European languages an active vocabulary of several thousand words, which are learned with little to no effort, since they are cognates. The program also stresses that the learner is not to actively memorize or try to think of the words, but rather let them flow naturally. This is perhaps a blessing and a curse of the program. While stress and anxiety are poor motivators they are also to an extent necessary in small amounts to get the learner to have a quick memory while speaking.
While I like both of the courses each of them have their own
individual drawbacks. The Michel Thomas Method has been developed into many
other languages since Michel's death, including languages such as Russian and
Arabic, however the efficacy of these courses in languages that don't match the
method so easily is quite debatable. Furthermore, the Michel Thomas Method preys
on the fact that English is an international language, which makes it difficult
for foreigners to use if they aren't familiar with English. While Pimsleur is much less faulted because serious
research has given applicable methods that work across languages but the same
vocabulary is not as readily applicable with this program as with Michel Thomas.
The programs are essentially equal in the applicability and usefulness to the
learner. While I can see results more quickly with Michel Thomas, I am much
more confident and fluent after have spent time with Pimsleur. I also find the
Pimsleur program to be much more mentally stimulating and fun than I do the
Michel Thomas program. The Michel Thomas program also has a more sociable
aspect to it, which means that during the audio lessons there is regular
conversation about the history and development of the language, as well as
the stress of the learners that learn with you during the course. Although with Michel Thomas it is much more
challenging to hear the perpetual mistakes of the learners through the program,
than to just make it past your own mistakes, and not pickup on the mistakes of the learners.
This makes Pimsleur much more personal and accessible, because you are not
sharing the experience with others, but rather trying it yourself, instead of
with the learners. I find Pimsleur more challenging, yet more accessible than
Michel Thomas, because it focuses on retention rather than quick fluency
tricks. In summation, I would say the proper program depends on the learner, and the amount of fluency he or she wants to develop. I would definitely recommend Pimsleur for serious learners and Michel Thomas for casual learners that want to wet their feet and gain some fast fluency.
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