Pimsleur is one of the oldest and most well-known audio courses for learning foreign languages.

Many new learners consider using it when they first start learning Modern Greek.

The course relies entirely on listening and repeating spoken phrases.

However, the audio-only approach has several major flaws for a language like Greek.

I’ll break down exactly how Pimsleur works and explain what you should use instead.

How Pimsleur Modern Greek works

Pimsleur uses a method called spaced repetition.

You listen to native speakers pronounce Greek words and phrases.

The narrator then prompts you to repeat those phrases out loud.

These same words are repeated at specific intervals throughout the lessons.

Each lesson is exactly thirty minutes long.

You’re expected to complete one lesson per day.

The primary goal is to get you speaking Greek right away without studying grammar rules.

The pros of Pimsleur

There are a few clear benefits to the Pimsleur method.

Your Greek pronunciation will definitely improve.

Because you constantly repeat after native speakers, you’ll develop a good accent.

The course is also entirely hands-free.

You can listen to lessons while driving, walking, or doing household chores.

This makes it very easy to fit language learning into a busy schedule.

The cons of Pimsleur

Unfortunately, Pimsleur falls short in several critical areas for Greek learners.

First, Greek has a completely different alphabet than English.

Pimsleur completely ignores teaching you how to read or write in Greek.

You can’t achieve fluency without learning the Greek alphabet.

Second, Modern Greek grammar is highly complex.

Pimsleur provides almost zero grammar explanations.

You’ll quickly become confused about verb conjugations and noun cases.

Third, the vocabulary taught in Pimsleur is often overly formal.

You’ll sound very stiff if you speak to locals in Greece using only Pimsleur phrases.

Finally, the official Pimsleur subscription is quite expensive compared to better modern alternatives.

Talk In Greek: the best alternative

If you want to actually become fluent, you need a complete resource.

Talk In Greek is the best platform available for learning the language.

Our platform covers everything Pimsleur misses.

We teach you the Greek alphabet step-by-step so you can confidently read and write.

We provide clear, simple grammar explanations that actually make sense.

You’ll learn natural, everyday vocabulary that Greek people actually use on the streets of Athens.

Our lessons also include interactive audio so you still get excellent pronunciation practice.

It’s a far more effective use of your time and money.

Final verdict

Pimsleur is a decent supplementary tool for practicing your pronunciation in the car.

It’s absolutely not a standalone course for learning Greek.

You’ll hit a brick wall very quickly because you won’t know how to read or understand grammar.

Here’s a quick summary comparing both options.

I highly recommend skipping the expensive audio-only courses.

Focus your energy on a well-rounded method that teaches you all the foundational skills.