Paul Pimsleur

Paul Pimsleur

Name	Paul Pimsleur
Birth name
Birth date	October 17, 1927
Birth place	New York City, New York, United States
Death date	June 22, 1976
Death place	Paris, France
Alma mater
Occupation	Linguist, Professor
Years active
Organization
Known for	Pimsleur Language Learning System
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Paul Pimsleur (October 17, 1927 – June 22, 1976) was an American linguist and educator who developed the Pimsleur Language Learning System, a method of language acquisition that emphasizes active participation and auditory learning. His work has had a significant impact on the field of language education and continues to influence language learning programs worldwide.

Early Life and Education

Paul Pimsleur was born in New York City, New York, to a family with a strong academic background. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the City College of New York, where he developed an interest in languages. Pimsleur went on to earn a Ph.D. in French from Columbia University, where he also studied phonetics and linguistics.

Academic Career

Pimsleur began his academic career as a professor of French at UCLA and later at Ohio State University. His research focused on the psychology of language learning and the development of effective teaching methods. He was particularly interested in how people acquire language skills and the role of memory in language retention.

Development of the Pimsleur Method

The Pimsleur Method is based on four key principles: graduated interval recall, anticipation, core vocabulary, and organic learning.

• Graduated Interval Recall: This principle involves spacing the repetition of learned material over increasing intervals of time to enhance memory retention.
• Anticipation: Learners are prompted to actively recall and produce language, which strengthens neural pathways and aids in retention.
• Core Vocabulary: The method focuses on teaching a limited set of high-frequency words and phrases that are most useful in everyday communication.
• Organic Learning: Language is presented in context, allowing learners to understand and use it naturally.

Pimsleur's approach was revolutionary in that it emphasized listening and speaking over reading and writing, aligning with the natural way people learn their first language.

Legacy

Paul Pimsleur's contributions to language education have been widely recognized. The Pimsleur Language Learning System has been adapted for numerous languages and is used by millions of learners around the world. His work laid the foundation for modern audio-based language learning programs and continues to influence educators and linguists.

Also see

• Language acquisition
• Second language acquisition
• Language education
• Linguistics
• Phonetics

References

• Pimsleur, Paul. How to Learn a Foreign Language. ISBN 978-0671427080.
• Richards, Jack C., and Theodore S. Rodgers. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. ISBN 978-0521312554.