Glossika: Language Learning

I really want to give this 5 stars because it’s so good, it’s just not 27-quid-a-month good. That’s more than my gym membership. For an app.

Just paid £150 for an annual basic subscription. The app is now totally unusable, with it frozen on a screen telling me that I can only change language once a month. But I’ve not even tried changing language! Have reached out for help; let’s see what their support team says…

this app is really good bc the sentences they give actually sound natural and like you could use it in real life? but its too expensive and theres also not enough time for me to record when they give you like a paragraph to copy. please make it free, or most parts free

Good app but why is it the one of the most expensive language learning apps on the market. Look at your competition and lower the pricing!

Ohh Glossika! I really wanted to love this app but if you want to command such a high priced subscription you’re going to have to bring a lot more to the table. After two weeks of use I’ve already spotted many mismatches between target language and translation. If you want users to correct this you shouldn’t be charging them a premium price for the privilege. The audio is beautiful and natural. That’s a huge plus compared to other apps. The spaced repetition algorithm is sadly brought down by the fact there is no room to make typos. Accidentally hit one wrong letter in a sentence when typing fast and you’re marked as incorrect even when you clearly knew the answer with 99% of it correct. People with some knowledge of the language are also penalise in that there’s no room to write alternative correct responses. Your only option is to answer parrot style from memory the exact thing offered in the original sentence. This seems a great shame when one of the joys of language learning is to be able to flex your brain and make connections. It’s also strange to be required to translate a sentence in a specific gender when it is being voiced by the opposite gender. And this is even more confused when the written text is blurred out in some exercises. I’m sure all these things are on your radar and in the workings, but until addressed, maybe rethink the pricing strategy to better reflect the current state? The visual look of the app is very nice, smooth and easy to navigate. So huge plus for that.

You should make all languages free and at least add some hearts like Duolingo and at least maximise the amount of languages by 4. And it would be more fair if your subscription features were more like: Removing hearts, communicating with an AI from the language you are currently learning and adding as many languages as you want. I want to keep learning the Egyptian dialect of Arabic and I don’t find it fair to pay a subscription to keep learning it.

Really, really good app! Glossika has been around for years, first as audio files / books combination, then as website; the app is the next stage. High quality, professional content, across dozens of languages.

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