The lessons run about 30 minutes with a short conversation at the beginning to inform you what you will learn. Then, an audio lesson teaches you phrases and words in an interval format. Pauses in between each phrase and words allow you to enunciate and repeat what you hear.
The Pimsleur language method introduces concepts at quick intervals then reviews them at gradually extended times. For example, you will learn a word or phrase at the beginning of a lesson then be asked to recall it throughout the lesson and in following lessons, then less frequently through the course. Courses range anywhere from 30 to 90 lessons, depending on the complexity and popularity of a language.
Since most languages use a core set of common words, the Pimsleur method focuses on an average of 600 to 700 words, which is adequate to hold a conversation. Whether you are taking a shorter 30-lesson course or a longer 90-lesson one, you will have a core set of words to work with.
Pimsleur uses audio for learning because this forces the listener to study pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar at the same time. Audio learning allows you to learn correct accents, which is difficult to master through textbooks only. As humans, we are programmed to recognize patterns in speech, which is how the Pimsleur structures each lesson.
Although grammar is lightly touched on in the Pimsleur language method, it is not a main focus. The Pimsleur method relies on the listener's deduction skills to place parts of speech---nouns, adjectives, verbs---in sentences. If a listener wants to delve deeper into grammar, a secondary source will be necessary.
