Pimsleur Language Programs (company)
Encyclopedia
Pimsleur Language Programs is an American language learning company that develops and publishes courses based on the Pimsleur Method.
, a professor and expert in applied linguistics and a founding member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
(ACTFL), wrote the original 5 courses: Speak & Read Essential Greek (1963), Speak & Read Essential French (1964), Speak & Read Essential Spanish (1966), German Compact (1967), and Twi developed for the Peace Corps (1971). The programs were originally called “A Tapeway Program.”
Starting in 1969-70, having tried unsuccessfully to market the programs, Paul gave them to Charles A.S. and Beverly Heinle at The Center for Curriculum Development in Philadelphia. The courses were repackaged and marketed as “CCD/Tapeway Programs.” In 1974, Charles Heinle bought the rights to Pimsleur and set up Heinle & Heinle Enterprises. In 1980, Mr. Heinle opened the Cassette Learning Centers, a stand in the Harvard Coop, in Cambridge, MA. Prospective users were invited to sit down and experience “The Pimsleur Tape”. “The Pimsleur Tapes” were published by Heinle & Heinle Enterprises based in Concord, MA.
In 1995, Simon & Schuster
took on distribution to bookstores. Before Heinle & Heinle Enterprises sold Pimsleur to Simon & Schuster in 1997, they added 27 new languages to the Pimsleur catalog. Since the acquisition, Simon & Schuster Audio has added another 27 languages. Pimsleur’s catalog currently stands at 59 languages and over 200 courses. The courses are still produced in Concord, MA and are available as digital audio downloads, CDs, and cassettes.
In 2005, Digital editions of some languages were made available through various resellers.
In 2008, Pimsleur's first children's line, Speak Spanish with Dora & Diego, was released in coordination with Nickledeon's Nick Jr.
In 2008, Playaway is licensed to distribute the entire Pimsleur line to the military on pre-loaded players.
In 2010, Pimsleur donated its Haitian Creole course for free to relief and charity workers after the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
In 2010, Pimsleur partnered with the USO, The Boston Foundation
and Playaway to produce Pashto and Dari courses for U.S. troops serving in and being deployed to Afghanistan. This course is available for free to all military personnel. Operation Speak Easy was funded by a Boston-area philanthropist and Pimsleur-enthusiast.
In 2010, Pimsleur Digital line was relaunched in DRM-free format and at a new low price.
In 2011, Pimsleur donated 8 hours of its Japanese course to support aid agencies and volunteers in the wake of the Tsunami disaster.
, which is part of CBS Corporation
.
History
Dr. Paul PimsleurPaul Pimsleur
Paul Pimsleur was a scholar in the field of applied linguistics.Pimsleur grew up in New York City and earned a bachelor's degree at the City College of New York and a Ph.D...
, a professor and expert in applied linguistics and a founding member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is an American organization aiming to improve and expand the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction...
(ACTFL), wrote the original 5 courses: Speak & Read Essential Greek (1963), Speak & Read Essential French (1964), Speak & Read Essential Spanish (1966), German Compact (1967), and Twi developed for the Peace Corps (1971). The programs were originally called “A Tapeway Program.”
Starting in 1969-70, having tried unsuccessfully to market the programs, Paul gave them to Charles A.S. and Beverly Heinle at The Center for Curriculum Development in Philadelphia. The courses were repackaged and marketed as “CCD/Tapeway Programs.” In 1974, Charles Heinle bought the rights to Pimsleur and set up Heinle & Heinle Enterprises. In 1980, Mr. Heinle opened the Cassette Learning Centers, a stand in the Harvard Coop, in Cambridge, MA. Prospective users were invited to sit down and experience “The Pimsleur Tape”. “The Pimsleur Tapes” were published by Heinle & Heinle Enterprises based in Concord, MA.
In 1995, Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
took on distribution to bookstores. Before Heinle & Heinle Enterprises sold Pimsleur to Simon & Schuster in 1997, they added 27 new languages to the Pimsleur catalog. Since the acquisition, Simon & Schuster Audio has added another 27 languages. Pimsleur’s catalog currently stands at 59 languages and over 200 courses. The courses are still produced in Concord, MA and are available as digital audio downloads, CDs, and cassettes.
In 2005, Digital editions of some languages were made available through various resellers.
In 2008, Pimsleur's first children's line, Speak Spanish with Dora & Diego, was released in coordination with Nickledeon's Nick Jr.
In 2008, Playaway is licensed to distribute the entire Pimsleur line to the military on pre-loaded players.
In 2010, Pimsleur donated its Haitian Creole course for free to relief and charity workers after the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
In 2010, Pimsleur partnered with the USO, The Boston Foundation
The Boston Foundation
The Boston Foundation, founded in 1915, is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the nation. Serving the Greater Boston area, it is made up of some 900 separate charitable funds established by thousands of donors over more than 90 years...
and Playaway to produce Pashto and Dari courses for U.S. troops serving in and being deployed to Afghanistan. This course is available for free to all military personnel. Operation Speak Easy was funded by a Boston-area philanthropist and Pimsleur-enthusiast.
In 2010, Pimsleur Digital line was relaunched in DRM-free format and at a new low price.
In 2011, Pimsleur donated 8 hours of its Japanese course to support aid agencies and volunteers in the wake of the Tsunami disaster.
Corporate structure
Pimsleur Language Programs is owned by Simon & Schuster Audio, a division of Simon & SchusterSimon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
, which is part of CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
.
Offices
- Corporate headquartersCorporate headquartersCorporate headquarters is a term used to describe the entity at the top of a corporation to take full responsibility for the overall success of the corporation, ensures Corporate Governance...
are in New York, New York. - Editorial offices are in Concord, MassachusettsConcord, MassachusettsConcord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
. All courses are developed, produced, and recorded at this location.
Available languages
Pimsleur Language Programs' courses are available in the following languages:- Albanian
- Arabic (Eastern)
- Arabic (Egyptian)
- Armenian (Eastern)
- Armenian (Western)
- Chinese (Cantonese)
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Croatian
- Czech
- Danish
- Dari (Persian)
- Dutch
- English for Arabic Speakers
- English for Chinese (Cantonese)
- English for Chinese (Mandarin)
- English for Farsi (Persian)
- English for French
- English for German
- English for Haitian Creole
- English for Hindi
- English for Italian
- English for Korean
- English for Portuguese
- English for Russian
- English for Spanish
- English for Vietnamese
- Farsi (Persian)
- French
- German
- Greek
- Haitian Creole
- Hebrew
- Hungarian
- Indonesian
- Irish (Gaelic)
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Lithuanian
- Norwegian
- Ojibwe
- Pashto
- Polish
- Portuguese (Brazilian)
- Portuguese (European)
- Romanian
- Russian
- Spanish
- Swahili
- Swedish
- Swiss German
- Tagalog
- Thai
- Turkish
- Twi
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
- Vietnamese