Pimsleur MP3: Are Pimsleur MP3s Available?

The famous Pimsleur method is available in various formats. Increasing course titles are no longer available in cassette format for a number of languages.

Pimsleur CDs remain the most popular format for the Pimsleur method courses. CDs allow the customer to convert the wav files to MP3 or any other format the customer may choose, for personal use.

Pimsleur downloads have become available in the last year, but the WMA format limits the ability of the customer to play on the Pimsleur content on anything other than Windows Media Players. In addition, the downloads eliminate the customer's ability to sell the course back for a lucrative amount of up to $120 under Pimsleur Buy Back programs.

For the customer looking to avoid CDs, the best option is the Pimsleur Audiofy Audio Chip. The Audio chip is an SD memory card that contains encrypted MP3 files. The content however can be transferred to an IPOD directly. In addition, the Audio chip can be played on any PC or Mac, Palm Treos, Smartphones, Pocket PCs, and Windows Secure WMA players.

The unique method of Pimsleur audio courses teaches you, in the shortest possible time, to understand & speak the essential elements of your new language.

Comprehensive Programs contain the basic core elements of the target language and are designed for those who want to develop language proficiency. Included are the grammatical structures and vocabulary items most-frequently used by native speakers in everyday situations.

Comprehensive Set I

Teaches the following language skills which represent a "Low Intermediate" proficiency on the ACTFL (American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages) spoken language proficiency scale.

Learn how to:

* Successfully handle a number of interactive, task-oriented and social situations

* Initiate and respond to simple statements

* Begin to carry on face-to-face conversation

* Ask and answer questions

* Introduce yourself

* Order a meal

* Ask directions

* Make purchases

* Use new vocabulary to express straightforward needs

For more information visit Pimsleur Language Courses.

Our Pimsleur Rental program has proven so successful that we wanted to follow up with other rental possibilities.

This helps reduce the cost of learning a language and enables more people to complete their language goals. Since FSI courses are typically longer than Pimsleur courses and more extensive including text as well as audio, we have devised the following rental beta plan.

Rent a FSI Course and select the amount of time you need it for. Each course has different rental options available. When you're finished with the course, send it back using a traceable method like Postal Service, UPS, or Fedex Ground.

4 Month, 6 Month, and 9 Month Rentals are available to give students the best range of pricing and rental times possible.

For more information visit Rent a Foreign Service Institute Course.

* Connect your iPod/iPhone and Audiobook chip to your PC. (Not enough room to connect both? See Using USB Hubs in the sidebar for help.) Your iTunes should launch automatically once it detects your iPod. If your iTunes has not launched already you can do so now.

* Once iTunes is opened you will see "your iPod" displayed in the column to the left. Select it now.

* In the summary tab of "Your iPod" under "Options" select "Manually Manage Music and Videos. Be sure to click "Apply" to save your settings changes.

* Your almost ready to transfer! Minimize your iTunes window and return to your IMM window.

* At this point your audiobook or language may be highlighted in blue. Select "Play" to begin your audio and then select "pause"

* Go up to the "File" menu and select "Transfer"from the drop down menu

* You have the option of selecting the iPod or Windows Media Player. Select iPod now

* IMM will automatically detect your iPod. We're ready to begin. Click the "next" button.

* A list of all your chapters or lessons will be displayed. You can manually select which units you would like on your iPod by unchecking "Check All." If you would like all the tracks to appear in your iPod, keep "Check All" selected and click "next"

* Your transfer process will begin. Once it is completed a green check mark will appear, indicating a successful transfer has completed. You can now disconnent your iPod by clicking "Eject" in iTunes.

* For iPods: Your language will be located in "Music," then scroll down to "Audiobooks."

* For iPhones: In your home screen, select the iPod icon, then tap "More", then "Audiobooks."

* For iPod Touch: Select the Music icon, then tap "More", then "Audiobooks."

Also be sure to check out our post on Pimsleur Audio Chips.