Reviews / Testimonials

AWARDS

Little Pim is the 2009 winner of the prestigious Association of Educational Publishers Award for Distinguished Achievement in World Language Curriculum.

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

School Library Journal March 2009

Little Pim: Spanish. 3 DVDs. 35 min. ea. Little Pim. 2008. $49.95. Includes: Playtime; Wake Up Smiling; Eating and Drinking.
PreS-Gr 1

The Little Pim series is one of the more professionally constructed and executed approaches to the total immersion method of language instruction. Little Pim, an animated panda, is the spokesperson, and the program presents situations familiar to children. For example, Eating and Drinking begins with Little Pim eating bamboo, and then moves on to show children (and their pets) eating and drinking. Each DVD introduces 60 words in seven five-minute segments, which is perfect for young attention spans, using repetition to reinforce learning. The diverse children in the films range in age from a few months to five years old. The animated segments are beautifully integrated with the live-action video. The panda narrates, and while his voice is a bit high-pitched, it is clear and relatively pleasant. English subtitles are available. This series is similar in quality and approach to the Osmosis series, and is preferable to Kids Love Spanish (Brock Sisters Prods., 2006) for integration of visuals and pacing. An excellent tool for beginning language instruction in the home and in schools.

—Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA

School Library Journal (SLJ) June 2008

Little Pim: Foreign Language and Fun: French (Series). 3 DVDs. 35 min. ea. Little Pim. 2007. $49.95 ser., $24.95 ea. Includes: Playtime; Wake Up Smiling; Eating and Drinking. PreS.

The Little Pim series uses immersion and interaction techniques to create an engaging and fun-to-watch language learning experience. Pim, an animated panda, is the series’ main character who begins each learning section. Each introductory animated skit is followed by live-action footage of children engaged in everyday activities. Pim narrates these sections, and the French vocabulary words are circled as they are spoken, with a graphic overlay of the word for emphasis. The concepts transition well, with later lessons building on previous ones. The focus is on the first words typically acquired by children (e.g., bed, fork, fruit, I’m hungry, I’m tired, etc.). Each DVD teaches more than 60 new words and phrases arranged in five-minute episodes. The narration is clear, crisp, and easy-to-understand; the music is cheerful but not overpowering; and the visuals are colorful and vibrant. The parent guided contains general information on pandas and early language instruction. There are optional English subtitles. An entertaining introduction to very basic French vocabulary for preschoolers.

–Denise A. Garofalo, Astor Learning Center, Rhinebeck, NY

Video Librarian: The Video Review Magazine for Libraries January/February 2008
Little Pim: Foreign Language and Fun-French, Vol. 1: Eating and Drinking
(2007) 35 min. DVD. Little Pim Corporation. PPR.

Julia Pimsleur Levine’s Little Pim: Foreign Language and Fun language-immersion series follows the daily activities of the titular animated panda, presented here in French (with separate programs available in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese). Comprised of seven five-minute “episodes” focusing on foods, drinks, utensils, etc., Eating and Drinking combines clips of Little Pim engaged in activities ranging from hand washing to making a tall sandwich, coupled with real-life segments of youngsters and family members cooking and eating together. Featuring onscreen circling of specific items, as well as instant repetition, the program also includes optional English subtitles for words and phrases. With a projected 12 titles in 12 different languages slated for release over the next 18 months, this initial volume in a new language introduction series for toddlers and preschoolers is a promising start.

Recommended. Aud: K, P.

(J. Williams-Wood)

TEACHER TESTIMONIALS

I am an elementary French and Spanish teacher and have recommended your DVDs to parents who always ask what they can be doing at home to help their children practice the language. I searched around the Internet in response to their request and came across your products. Several of them have purchased them and are very happy with them. I have begun integrating the DVDs into my class curriculum as well. The students enjoy the character of Little Pim and look forward to seeing him. It is great to have the flash cards and the stuffed-animal version of Little Pim as well because it gives us an opportunity to bring Little Pim to life in the classroom.

- Joshua Cabral
Member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association

“I am recommending Little Pim as a supplement to my curriculum. This is a first-rate program that actually mimics the way we learn our own native language through immersion and interaction. Plus it is visually engaging for both children and parents. Key to the success of teaching foreign language to kids is making it a family affair. Little Pim is a revolutionary language tool because it fosters this connection.”

Yolanda Bricard
Founder and Director
Musical Kids International, NYC

“I was so excited to receive my first Little Pim DVDs. There is a definite lack of immersion-style language learning products in the marketplace for early language learners. I use Little Pim in my pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten French and Spanish classes. My students love watching the segments because they have real kids their age and the adorable animated panda, Pim. I appreciate the methodology used in the videos breaking the lessons down into short segments to match the shorter attention spans of youngest learners. Each lesson concentrates on a short list of words and expressions and provides visual stimulation and repetition of words spoken by native speakers enunciating the language clearly and at a reasonable speed. I look forward to the release of more titles!”

Nathan Lutz
Lower School World Language Teacher, Manlius Pebble Hill School, DeWitt, NY
Vice President, Foreign Language Association of Central New York
New York State Representative, National Network for Early Language Learning

“I teach K-8 Spanish and am always in search of new appropriate material. After finding your website, I ordered the Little Pim DVD on Eating and Drinking. You did a great job! I know that your program is designed for younger children but I showed it to the very bright first grade class (they had been studying food words) and they were enthralled. I am definitely going to put the rest of the series in my school budget for next year.”

Mary, School Teacher
Florida