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65/100

LingQ

LingQ Italian Review

Nov 4, 2024 · 18 features · 39 languages · Web, iOS, Android

  • LingQ scores 6.5/10; strongest area: Pricing, weakest area: Course quality.
  • Best suited for: Learners looking to improve their reading and listening skills using personalized content will benefit most from LingQ.
  • Main upside: Content Import: Allows users to practice with personalized content.; main tradeoff: No Speaking Practice: Lacks integrated speaking exercises..
lingq italian review homepage two

Score

65/100

  1. Course quality

    40/100

  2. User experience

    60/100

  3. Pricing

    80/100
  • Technical Issues and Bugs: Users frequently mention encountering technical problems, such as app crashes, bugs in review mode, and issues with premium upgrades not being recognized.
  • Limited Free Version: Many users express frustration with the limitations of the free version, particularly the restrictive word limit and the inability to fully test the app\'s features without upgrading.
  • High Cost: The cost of the app is often cited as being too high, especially when compared to similar, free alternatives.
  • Customer Support Problems: There are multiple complaints about poor customer service, with users reporting unresponsive support and unresolved issues.
  • Useful Progress Tracking: The app\'s progress tracking features are noted as motivating, helping users stay on track with their language learning goals.

Pros

  • Content Import: Allows users to practice with personalized content.
  • Varied Material: Includes books, videos, and audio.
  • Gamified Elements: Point system to encourage continued use.

Cons

  • No Speaking Practice: Lacks integrated speaking exercises.
  • Unstructured Lessons: Courses feel disorganized and random.
  • Limited Free Features: Advanced features, such as tutors, may require purchases.

At a glance

Made by
LingQ Languages Ltd.
Concept
LingQ primarily centers on reading and listening exercises, but it falls short in offering structured courses and speaking practice.
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Levels
(A0) Total beginner, (A1) Beginner, (A2) Elementary, (B1) Intermediate, (B2) Upper-intermediate
Languages taught
Afrikaans, Arabic, Armenian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
Best suited for
Learners looking to improve their reading and listening skills using personalized content will benefit most from LingQ.

Pricing

Monthly
14.99US$
Yearly
119.88$

Free trial: Available; No credit card needed; 0 days

Refunds: Not available

Feature checks

  • Spaced repetition

    20/100

  • Customization

    80/100

  • Focus on learning

    60/100

  • Personalization

    100/100

  • Sentence accuracy

    80/100

  • Sentence relevance

    80/100

  • Variety and depth

    80/100

  • Audio quality

    60/100

  • Speaker's quality

    80/100

  • Speaking practice

    20/100

  • Ease of use

    60/100

  • Interface and design

    60/100

  • Performance

    80/100

  • Grammar notes

  • User-generated courses

  • Learning path

  • Speech recognition

  • Offline access

Conclusion

I wouldn’t use LingQ for fluency as it lacks speaking practice, which is crucial for mastering a language.

Utilize the content import feature to stay engaged with material you enjoy and focus on listening and reading exercises.

Alternatives

SpeakTwice

SpeakTwice is the only app that gets your to speak Italian all the time. It comes with hundreds of grammar lessons and readings to listen and repeat, plus an AI tutor to review the courses and practice conversation. See the full review.

FAQ

Does LingQ offer speaking practice?
No, the app focuses on reading and listening.
Is LingQ structured for beginners?
No, the app lacks a clear structure.
Can I import content into LingQ?
Yes, you can import videos and other materials.

Compare LingQ with other Italian learning apps

See the published side-by-side comparisons that include LingQ for Italian learners, or browse the full comparison hub.

All comparisons

Compare

LingQ vs Busuu for Italian learners

  • Busuu scores 6.5/10; strongest area: User experience, weakest area: Pricing.
  • Best suited for: Learners seeking to study with interactive content and community feedback would benefit the most from Busuu Italian.
CompareRead review

Walkthrough

First Impressions

At first glance, LingQ appears a bit overwhelming with a lot of content thrown at you. The content is categorized into mini-stories, vocabulary lessons, trending topics, and recommendations. It seems like a vast collection of different materials, which could be daunting for a beginner.

lingq italian review homepage

lingq italian review homepage two (1)

Navigating LingQ

The app boasts an array of lessons categorized by types like mini-stories and vocabulary exercises. While navigating the app, I encountered various features and options that I found very interesting. For instance, there's an option to import lessons, ebooks, and even integrate an extension for additional resources.

lingq italian review import

Course Content

As I mentioned previously, one of the most intriguing features is the ability to import external content, such as videos from YouTube or Netflix. The app purportedly creates transcripts for these imported materials, making it a personalized and engaging learning experience.

For instance, the Vocabulary section presents words and phrases but lacks a cohesive flow, making it feel disorganized.

lingq italian review activity

Points and Currency System

LingQ operates on a point system where users earn coins by completing lessons and activities.

lingq italian review progress

According to LingQ's website, users can purchase points or earn them by tutoring, referring friends, and sharing lessons in the Library. If you accumulate points through any of these activities, you can redeem them for cash. While this gamification element is appealing, it raises questions about whether you can earn enough points through regular use or if you'll need to purchase them to get the most out of the app.

lingq italian review tutors

Speaking Practice and Tutor Availability

A significant downside I found is the lack of speaking practice within the core lessons. While LingQ provides ample reading and listening exercises, there is a noticeable gap when it comes to speaking practice.

lingq italian review activity three

The app does offer the option to book tutors for learning sessions, but this feels more like an add-on service rather than an integral part of the learning process. Considering the importance of speaking practice in achieving fluency, this is a significant shortcoming.

lingq italian review tutors two

In-depth Course Review

To better understand LingQ's structure, I decided to dive into one of their advanced courses. Some of the che content appeared to be categorized by difficulty levels, but on closer inspection, it became clear that the “advanced” tag mostly indicated complex material rather than advanced instructional design.

lingq italian review advanced courses

For example, the advanced course included entire ebooks, allowing users to read and listen to the text. However, the format remained the same: a focus on reading and listening without much interaction or speaking practice. Although this method can be effective for expanding vocabulary and improving comprehension, it falls short in encouraging active language use.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, LingQ has some promising features that could potentially make it a useful tool for language learners. The ability to import personalized content is an innovative idea that could keep users engaged. However, there are significant areas that need improvement, particularly in the speaking practice area.