There are a lot of Apps and programs out there for language learning. Some of them are great! Others, not so much. Sometimes, it really just depends on the language, the style of learning you prefer, and what preferences suit you.
I have spent a lot of time searching for an App I enjoy using for learning Mandarin. There are many challenges in trying to find an app that suits every need, and in my experience a one-size-fits-all solution really doesn’t exist.
Every App has its own strength and weaknesses. While I enjoy many programs that aim to teach grammar and writing systems, finding proper pronunciation has always been a challenge as someone who’s focused on learning proper, Taiwanese pronunciation. So far, Glossika has been he best resource I have found for this niche.
Promoting Culture
When I first found Glossika, the first thing I notice was how diverse their language selection was. They offer the basic languages of Spanish, French, German, and East Asian staples like Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. But they have a unique selection of languages that I have not seen in many other places. I’m referring to their endangered language selection, which is largely comprised of native languages that have long been falling out of use. To promote education and revival for these lesser-known languages, Glossika actually offers these programs for free.
Some of these languages include:
- Catalan
- Gaelic
- Hokkien
- Hakka
- Kurdish
- Manx
- Welsh
- Wenzhounese
Glossika is not the cheapest program out there, but the fact that they have complimentary languages offered specifically to promote cultures that have been cast aside only made me want to support this program even more.
Getting Specific
Another thing I noticed about this program instantly caught my attention: they recognize that countries sharing the same languages still diverge from one another substantially. Many of us has probably seen English offered in the US or UK form, but this is the first time I had seen language software differentiate Chinese Languages (Beijing and Taiwan), Arabic (Egypt, Morocco, Standard) and Vietnamese (northern, Southern).
The Interface
Glossika’s Dashboard does not differ too far from other programs. Like many other language software options, you will find a progress bar, learned phrases, and your lessons.
It also has the option to set up goals which focus on repetitions and learning new phrases. It’s useful for giving yourself a daily goal to achieve. The standard they recommend is 75/25: 75 review repetitions and 25 new phrase repetitions. It sounds like more than it is: overall this is about 30-45 minutes of language practice a day.
The Learning Process
Glossika is primarily focused on speech and pronunciation. The app reads the meaning in English (or whatever native language you speak), then speaks the phrase in the selected language you wish to learn. After two repetitions from their recording, you will record yourself repeating the phrase. The process repeats through the series of phrases in the lesson, and then you can choose to repeat this again or let the program know you are finished.
Review lessons will run through your current list of phrases you are learning. New lessons typically teach five new words and run through 5 repetitions of them so you get some practice. The goal is to have the meaning stick in your mind through repetition and improve your speed and pronunciation each time.
Accuracy
My husband has overheard me practicing Taiwanese Mandarin with the app, and the first words out of his mouth were “that’s very Taiwanese.” That is the first time I’ve ever heard him say that about a language learning app. They have programs catered to regions, and they follow through with the nuanced language and pronunciation in their programs. I have a lot more confidence in knowing I am saying this correctly, and the Taiwanese way when I work through this program.
I also enjoy the fact that they give you options in the language learning process. Although the primary focus of this app is to teach you how to speak, they still display the written form, the Romanized form (they use pinyin for Chinese languages), and a phonetic pronunciation.
Limitations
As the title suggests, Glossika has huge potential, but it’s actual uses are extremely limited. What they do, they do well. But like many programs of this kind, it would be quite difficult to fully learn a language using it alone.
Glossika focuses on teaching phrases rather than grammar or vocabulary. This does not mean you can’t pick up on these things by using it, but it does take much more effort on the user’s part to make that happen.
A Hefty Cost
Their price is also quite high for their paid program. While a subscription covers unlimited languages for the duration, their cost is $24.99 a month for an annual plan ($299.88/ and $30.99 for month-to-month. For the cost, I do feel the program should be more in-depth.
My Takeaway
Glossika has a lot to offer and a great deal of potential in the language market. Their focus on promoting endangered languages and their focus on region-specific dialects were the biggest draws for me. It’s very rare to find a language program that offers these as a part of their core curriculums.
However, Glossika is not a one-size-fits-all solution to language learning, and it does carry a hefty price tag for the program that is offered. If you do choose to use Glossika, definitely take advantage of their free trial first to test it out. If you do find it helpful, I would suggest using it alongside supplemental materials. I have included a few Amazon Affiliate links below for some of the resources I found helpful.
Mandarin:
Practical Audio-Visual Chinese
Japanese:
Genki
Minna No Nihongo
Glossika isn’t for everyone: It’s fantastic if you are looking to learn a few key phrases quickly, or you are looking for something to supplement your current routine. If you are looking to get everything you need in one place however, Glossika is probably not right for you. If you do decide to give it a try, I would love to hear your thoughts.
