Glossika: Language Learning

I heard about this app in a YouTube video by Brian Wiles about the best language learning apps for each learner and I think Glossika is exactly what I need. I’m learning Norwegian (Bokmål) and I was surprised to see, given the diversity of languages the app offers, that it was not part of the courses. If you have plans on extending the language offer, please add Bokmål!

4.5 stars I haven’t been using the app for long, but already find it easier to listen to media in my target language, Finnish. The repetition/muscle memory model really seems to be an effective learning method for me. Also, this is one of the few resources that teach you to speak and understand spoken language, which is extremely beneficial. That being said, just a couple of suggestions. 1. Tailor things more to individual languages. For example, Finnish has a second person plural ending when speaking to more than one person or in a more polite manner (te -tte, -nne instead of sinä -t). It would be very helpful to hear how to use this when speaking. Like I said, I’m very new to the app, so maybe it’s addresses later on, but a little over halfway through A1, still nothing. 2. Have a way to repeat the previous sentence. I think #1 of these would be the most beneficial. Other than that, great app, use it every day.

Incorrect translations are the major reason even beginners shouldn’t deal with this. There is always leeway with translations but some are just incorrect, no interpretation necessary. Outside of that the vocabulary doesn’t progress in any meaningful way. The very first things a person should learn should be greetings, saying excuse me, basic questions, etc. it doesn’t help someone know how to say a color when they have no way to introduce themselves to a person. I like the native audio. That’s it. As someone who has collected languages like a cat lady collects strays I can’t see wasting my time with this.

Love the outlay of the new menu but 1. The tips pop up EVERY SINGLE TIME we open the settings menu. 2. It will not allow me to change my recall type from typing to recording. Love the outlay but please fix this

I really wanted this app to work well but it's too glitchy. I paid for the premium subscription and in my opinion it's just not worth the money. For example, I try to get reps in while i'm working and it will run about 3-5 and then just stop in review mode. This happens quite frequently and it's just annoying because if it would just run properly on a consistent basis I think it would be worth the subscription but unfortunately it has these annoying glitches.

A week into the free trial I was sitting in my car repeating random Irish phrases that had been stuck in my head, and that’s when I realized I needed to get the subscription. I wasn’t stuck with one off words, I got to remember whole sentences. Pair that with studying grammar off the app, and suddenly I can break down the sentences and make my own. The only issue I have is the voice that reads the sentences. Incredible pronunciation and isn’t some botched robot you’d find on Duolingo, but it might be too native. If I was teaching someone the english sentence “I want to go to the store”, I would pronounce each word clearly. Not “I wanna go to the store.” In my natural speed. But I feel like this is how every sentence is presented to me. They skip words and blend their words together as native speakers do, but as a beginner it’s intimidating to try to pronounce. I don’t have time to practice the correct sounds when I’m flying through the sentence. And I’m not sure exactly what parts of words we’re skipping over. This feels like the instruction I’d get after I learned the language and was interacting with native speakers. The harder the sentence gets, the less I find myself repeating them on my own. Good app and good course, I would like to see it more beginner friendly though.

I haven’t been using the app for long, but already find it easier to listen to media in my target language, Finnish. The repetition/muscle memory model really seems to be an effective learning method for me. That being said, just a couple of suggestions. 1. Tailor things more to individual languages. For example, Finnish has a second person plural ending when speaking to more than one person or in a more polite manner (te -tte, -nne instead of sinä -t). It would be very helpful to hear how to use this when speaking. Like I said, I’m very new to the app, so maybe it’s addresses later on, but a little over halfway through A1, still nothing. 2. Let me do more than 1 session of priority review a day or also let me do a weakest memories. 3. Have a way to repeat the previous sentence. I think #1 of these would be the most beneficial. Other than that, great app, use it every day.

Trying to learn Cantonese and after 2 weeks my instructor asked me if I had lived in Hong Kong. Fix the goal day streaks from being completely broken.

this is s better product for getting better at understanding spoken italian. my only complaint is that the translations don’t always match the sentences and i have to mentally retranslate them in my head. for instance, one sentence is the italian for “it’ll take me about half an hour” but the english translation is “it’ll take about half an hour”. probably about 5% of the sentences have that problem.

It is a listen and repeat app, which is great. But the app turns off when the iPhone screen is off. This goes against the listen & repeat purpose of the app. So many times I’ll put the phone in my pocket to listen hands-free and the app turns off. or I need to open another app and Glossika turns off. Or i turn off the screen and the app turns off. Fix this please folks.