Babbel vs Pimsleur

Babbel was founded in Germany in 2007 as the world’s first language-learning app. It’s now the best selling, with over 10 million purchased subscriptions. It has a strong focus on intuitive lessons that center on learning a new language through real-life conversations

Babbel’s methods have been developed by 150+ language experts and the platform now has 13,000+ hours of content across 14 languages. It uses proven techniques that move new vocabulary through all your brain’s memory stages before cementing it into long-term memory.

In a study of Babbel’s teaching methods by , researchers found that 100% of participants improved their language proficiency by a statistically significant margin

All Babbel’s courses are unique and take into account the similarities and differences between ‘language pairs’. That is, your native language and the one you’re learning. This accelerates progress and helps develop cultural sensitivity.

Babbel also provides customized experiences that adjust to your progress and preferred way of learning. It recently added live instructor-led classes to create a more immersive and interactive experience for anyone serious about language learning.

Babbel is a subscription service available on both desktop and mobile, providing portability if you want to learn on the go. Lessons are self paced so you can fit learning around your schedule.

Core lessons are arranged by Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels. Additional lessons are grouped by language-specific skills and themes so you can pick and choose based on what you want to develop. This combo of both structured and flexible approaches lets you progress through the material in a logical but personalized manner.

The Babbel method:

• Is grounded in real-world conversations to get you speaking right away
• Promotes cross over learning by building grammar and vocabulary in each new language using “language pairs”. That is, similarities and differences between your native language and the one you’re learning
• Supports learning by teaching you in your preferred style, be it by reading, writing, speaking, seeing or listening
• Trains your brain to learn constantly with spaced repetition, periodic prompts and reviews 

• Uses audio dialogue examples recorded with native speakers (not bots)

  You’ll also learn about the history of your target language, discover recipes and songs, and gain tons of helpful cultural tips.

Babbel tracks your progress and displays it on a leaderboard. This gamified approach encourages healthy competition among learners and makes language learning more motivating.

To get started you simply select the language you want to learn and answer some questions about why and how you want to learn, how much time you’re willing to commit each week, your age range and where you heard about Babbel.  You then either select a subscription or scroll down the page for a free trial.

• Self-paced lessons that teach new material through context-based exercises
• Easy-to-understand grammar instruction 
• Voice-recognition software to perfect your accent
• Babbel Live virtual instructor-led classes

Lessons take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete and are broken down into bite sized chunks.

Babbel introduces you to new vocabulary through context-based exercises, accompanied by images and native-speaker audio. This helps you memorize the vocabulary and understand how to use it in real-life situations. A combination of matching, fill-in-the-blank, sorting, writing and speaking exercises are mixed in with cultural and grammar tips.

Babbel's speaking lessons utilize voice recognition technology. You mimic a native speaker’s  pronunciations and get instant feedback to help you perfect your accent.

Babbel also offers Babbel Live, which features live group classes led by certified language teachers. These sessions allow you to practice newly acquired skills with fellow students, receive real-time feedback, and engage in conversation.

Babbel is an appealing and versatile language learning platform that’s great for a wide range of learners. That said, I’d say Babbel is best for the following learners:

Anyone who’s:

• Learning a new language from scratch
• Keen to improve their intermediate skills in another language
• Interested in applying language-learning to real-life scenarios
• Keen to join regular small group live tutorials
• Appreciates short, sharp bite sized lessons
• Needing to learn flexibly on any device

On balance, Babbel has a lot going for it if you want to learn a new language.

For a start, it’s more than just an app for acquiring vocabulary and phrases. It integrates cultural understanding into its programs because Babbel understands that language and culture are closely tied. An understanding of how a different culture works helps you learn the mechanics of the language associated with it.

Likewise, Babbel's grammar explainers ease you into complex concepts, whereas other apps rely on you learning grammar intuitively by constantly seeing it used in context.

And the addition of Babbel Live virtual classes addresses the shortcomings of purely pre-set programs. They're engaging, effective, affordable and absolutely no limit on the number you take.

The pacing and structure of core lessons may not be to everyone’s taste and may feel a little repetitive. But they could be ideal for time starved students who need to squeeze in some language learning into their daily hustle and bustle. And the Explore tab is always there in case you get a bit burnt out on the meat and potatoes in the primary lessons.

And while Babbel may not cater to all the Asian language enthusiasts out there, it's a goldmine for Euro-language lovers.

And with the free trial and generous refund policy, there’s really no reason not to give it a shot.