The Imitum method

An efficient and effective language learning

The best things for man are natural things. Naturally, people have always learned by watching and imitating. The Imitum Method is based on this simple principle (derived from Latin imitation – to imitate).

Little children learn by watching and imitating everything they see, and they learn their mother tongue like this as well. They listen to their parents and people around them, trying to understand and imitate them. It is not easy for them, but finally, they learn to speak well before they learn grammar at school. It is the same with foreign language studies – just listen and imitate (see for example Paul Pimsleur).

The Imitum method is based on this simple, natural principle, and contrary to the classical methods using grammar and translations usually taught in schools, this method requires no cramming.

Imitum is suitable for self-taught learners of all levels – for beginners as well as for advanced learners.

The Imitum method principle

The Imitum method starts at the other end of teaching from what is taught in schools or typical language courses. Rather than learning a foreign language by single words with which you later compose sentences and larger segments, it is much more effective to understand a segment (a phrase, a sentence). It is just like a puzzle – you work faster if you know what the final picture will look like. In this way, you use logical memory which is much more effective than mechanical memory (memorising). In higher ages, the logical memory prevails over the mechanical one.

Logical memory works so that it saves individual words in the context of phrases, sentences or simply in connection with a certain theme. Meaningful sentences and logical units, as well as information based on emotional aspects, are more easily saved in the logical memory.

The text material for the Imitum method includes only complete sentences. The sentences are not isolated – they are incorporated in dialogues and wider contexts (in a restaurant, in an office, entertainment or with friends etc). With these, you learn to understand and later to imitate the sentences used in everyday conversations. In these sentences, you learn the vocabulary and subconsciously absorb the grammar.

You not only hear the sentences, you also see them on the monitor for better memory, since most people remember (source: Wikipedia):

The purpose of the Imitum method is to learn to think in a foreign language (without translating into one’s mother tongue).

Properties of the Imitum method

The most effective method for learning
Real situations are simulated (in a restaurant, by the road, when it rains, ... )
5 times faster than other methods
An intuitive settings
Karaoke with verbatim translation
Listen to English dialogues

Key features of the Imitum method:

  • Native – natural teaching method - (learning by imitating)
  • Efficient – excellent results achieved with a minimal effort in minimal time
  • Simple – without cramming vocabulary or grammar
  • Practical – no need of other textbooks, notebooks and dictionaries
  • Credible – texts and recordings prepared by native speakers
  • Fast – 5 times faster teaching method than traditional methods
  • Realistic – simulation of real situations (in a restaurant, at a hotel, in a travel agency, a business meeting…)
  • Effective – use your logical memory much more effectively (information stored in larger units).

Teaching

Where to find the Imitum?

Teaching foreign languages with the Imitum method may be best when used with recent multimedia technologies – on a computer, notebook, netbook, tablet or smartphone.

What the teaching looks like?

While listening to the recording you see highlighted individual words being spoken (like karaoke). You learn how to pronounce the word and its written appearance simultaneously. Each word may be accompanied by a verbatim translation, which replaces the need for a dictionary. Such “translated” sentences help one to understand how a native speaker compiles a sentence, though its grammatical appearance may not always be correct. For better understanding, explanations are added to the translation.

English sentence:
What is your name?
The literal translation to
Czech:
jaký je tvůj jméno
Slovak:
aký je tvoj meno
German:
was ist dein Name
Russian:
какой есть твой имя
Ukrainian:
який є твій ім’я
Arabic:
ما هو خاصتك اسم
French:
quoi est ton nom
Italian:
che cosa è tuo nome
Japanese:
は~です あなたの 名前
Spanish:
cuál es tu nomre
Chinese:
什么 你的 名字
Polish:
jaki jest twój imię
Turkish:
ne dir sizin isim
Korean:
무엇 이다 당신의 이름
Brazilian Portuguese:
qual é teu nome

The meaning of the sentence is obvious even from the verbatim translation. In grammatically correct Czech your question would be “Jak se jmenuješ?”, but with the verbatim translations you learn how to think in English.

1.
Why there is “tvůj” in the literal translation, instead of “tvé”?
Because there is no declination in English – it is important for understanding the English thinking.
2.
Why there is a small letter at the beginning of the verbatim translation?
Because we do not translate the sentence, only individual words are translated.

Instructions for effective learning

Learning with Imitum method is most effective if the following procedure is observed:

  1. Understand the principle of the method.
  2. Listen to the recordings in the background, for instance when doing other things (passive listening).
  3. Listen and read (silently) the text with verbatim translation (active listening).
  4. Try to understand the situation and the meaning of the sentences (without seeing the translation).
  5. Listen, read the text and repeat – silently first.
  6. Repeat the sentences aloud.
  7. Study 15 – 20 minutes every day and relax after each lesson.

Origin and evolution of the Method

The Imitum method has been developed according to the research concept of Cool English.

Imitum is based on experience from previous generations of teaching as well as on scientific findings from an American psychologist Paul Pimsleur and a Bulgarian neurologist and psychotherapist Georgi Lozanov. In the 1970’s Lozanov´s method was examined by a UNESCO expert group, which recommended the method as suitable for teaching foreign languages in 1978.

When developing Imitum the principal aim was to find a way in which everybody is able to learn a foreign language. And to learn a foreign language means that a person is able to think in that language without constantly translating to and from his/her mother tongue. A combination of scientific findings with teachers’ and native speakers’ experiences led to the Imitum method, which teaches you a foreign language as fast as your mother tongue was taught to you.

Passing times

2004
1st generation - a concept of Cool English
2007
2nd generation - the first teaching and a practical effectiveness measurement of the Cool English
2008
3rd generation - the complete teaching system Imitum
2009
4th generation - the complete teaching system Imitum online

Written about the method, in the press

HOW MANY LANGUAGES YOU KNOW…

… you are as many times a human as the number of languages you know. What if I don´t want to spend the rest of my life in language schools? I want to speak a language that is understood everywhere and I can travel comfortably around the world using it. One language I will learn and use on every step. Does it exist? …
read more

Online courses with the Imitum method

Currently the following online courses with the Imitum method are available and known:

English without cramming

Online courses for general public with the Imitum method (for all who want to study, for people looking for a better job, for mothers on maternity leave, for active seniors, etc.). These courses are suitable for beginners as well as for intermediate students.

Business English

Specialized online courses whose topics and vocabulary you can use not only during working meetings but also for informal communication with colleagues and business partners. This course is suitable for beginners and intermediate.

Czech for foreigners

Czech language: www.cesky-jazyk.online
Czech for foreigners for English speakers: en.cesky-jazyk.online

Online Czech language courses for foreigners. Carefully selected topics for travel, work in the Czech Republic and obtaining permanent residence in the Czech Republic. This unique online course is available for English, Russian and Ukrainian speakers.

Mobile application

Cool English www.cool-english.online

It includes courses in ordinary English, Business English, English for children, English irregular verbs and bonus lessons.

Courses for general public, beginners and intermediate. For all who want to study and be better in English conversation. This courses contains topics and vocabulary necessary for everyday situations that you can use not only during working meetings or for informal communication with colleagues and business partners but also for travelling conversations.

All courses can be found at www.cool-english.online
All courses can be found at iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®.

English online tests

Universal test portal for English language tests. This portal is non-commercial for those interested in testing as well as for teachers and test authors. Soldiers can also test their knowledge on the same principle - according to STANAG (NATO) standards.