Each lesson provides 30 minutes of spoken language practice, with an introductory conversation, and new vocabulary and structures. Detailed instructions enable you to understand and participate in the conversation. Each lesson contains practice for vocabulary introduced in previous lessons. The emphasis is on pronunciation and comprehension, and on learning to speak Japanese.

(March 24, 2011) New York, NY – Simon & Schuster’s Pimsleur Language Programs announced today that it is offering free downloads of 8 hours of its Japanese language learning program to support aid agencies and volunteers helping the millions affected by the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis in Japan.

PimsleurВ®, a leading publisher of foreign-language learning programs, has authorized their digital resellers to provide the Japanese downloads free until June 30, 2011.

By providing these Japanese language learning programs, Pimsleur hopes to ease relief and recovery efforts in communities affected by the crisis by giving aid workers an easy way to begin communicating in Japanese. This is especially critical in more remote areas where English is not widely spoken. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Pimsleur’s Haitian Creole language course was downloaded over 6,000 times free of charge by individuals and organizations supporting relief efforts there.

“Pimsleur is eager to help with the relief effort,” said Chris Lynch, Executive Vice President & Publisher of Simon & Schuster Audio. “Our programs emphasize spoken communication from the first day, and in the aftermath of a disaster the ability to speak to one another is vitally important.”