‘I can learn any language just by watching TV.’
A bold claim by the Lingopie team, but one that probably pushed them to make such a unique language learning platform and app. It’s definitely what caught my attention and now, I’d like to give you a Lingopie review after tasting a slice.
Though I am known for not being a fan of learning languages through apps, I do use a lot of video content to create my own language learning materials, or as I prefer to say, build my SMART input learning machines.
Not to mention, I attribute my accents and level of pronunciation to consuming copious amounts of native-level content.
And I do mean… a lot.
However, If there’s a way to make that process smoother and even more effective, why not give it a try?
In this LingoPie review, I’ll talk about the pros and cons of Lingopie, dissecting its primary features, discussing its pricing options and weighing in with my thoughts as well.
Let’s dive in!
The Content
Lingopie offers a large collection of videos with dynamic subtitles in 8 languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
You’ll immediately notice that certain languages (especially popular European ones) have a lot more content than, say, the Japanese and Korean options.
This platform’s main objective is to facilitate immersion in your target language. And it definitely ticks that box. You’ve often heard me say that one needs rich, compelling and comprehensive content in order to luxuriate in a language and guess what? Lingopie has a multitude of media - ranging from telenovelas and documentaries to audiobooks and podcasts - to cover your area(s) of interest.
As you can see, much like Netflix, it has a “trending” or “top” list to show you which pieces of content users are enjoying the most.
Taking a note from the aforementioned streaming giant, Lingopie offers a sleek interface that makes it easy to find the appropriate content based on your needs.
Looking for a specific dialect of Spanish? No hay problema (no problem).
You can be as selective as you’d like and stick to whichever dialect fancies you.
Not interested in dialects? Would you rather learn via your level? They’ve got you covered.
However, I’d say if you’re a complete beginner, this would be a bit like jumping into the deep end of the pool. My suggestion is to get going with Lingopie once you’ve got a basic understanding of the language (A2 or above).
Tired of TV and movies? No worries, you can easily crack open an audiobook or listen to a fascinating podcast.
Regardless of your content-of-choice, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy. One of our team members here at SMART Language Learning Academy is a big fan of Club de Cuervos (Club of Crows) whereas another member would rather get a little help with their French grammar.
Speaking of Netflix, the company recently integrated its flashcard creation system with the famed streaming service.
Here’s a sample of which shows you can study with:
- Spanish - Money Heist and The Platform
- French - Lupin and Oxygen
- Italian - Suburra and The Hand of God
- Portuguese - Girls from Ipanema and Pele
- Korean - Squid Game and Seoul Vibe
- German - Dark and Freaks: You're One of Us
- Japanese - Alice in Borderland and FullMetal Alchemist (movie)
- Russian - Silver Skates and Sparta
Lingopie is not limited to these shows (for each of the respective languages listed), however, at the time of writing this article, you won’t be able to integrate any show you’d like. It’s not a deal breaker, but if you’re a fan of a less popular show on Netflix, chances are you won’t be able to use it with Lingopie… yet. My guess is that the team behind Lingopie TV and its catalog of movies is working to integrate as many Netflix shows into their already impressive library.
As much as I love the variety of content within their video library (including Netflix), I would love to see more options for audiobooks and podcasts. In fact, I break down podcasts (on a near daily basis) for a good chunk of my language learning. I firmly believe Lingopie has an opportunity to distance themselves from the competition in a massive way by growing their library of non-video content as well.
The Built-in SRS
With that being said, there are plenty of language learning apps and platforms built for language immersion. Whether they’re centered around reading and listening like LingQ or speaking like iTalki (affiliates), they function in a somewhat comparable manner.
- Find content to your liking
- Use it to immerse yourself in the language
- When done with that piece of content, find another
- Repeat that process
The difference with Lingopie is its built-in flashcard system. Yes, ANKI issues aside, Lingopie’s flashcard creation process is quick, intuitive and relatively painless. When you click on an unfamiliar word in the target language’s subtitles, a flashcard is automatically created. No need to find images, record audio or tinker around with any flashcard settings. Lingopie works its magic, so you can focus on what’s most important, consuming comprehensible content.
An example of what clicking on an unknown word or phrase does in Lingopie. From there, you’re one click away from creating a flashcard.
The flashcard system incorporates learning in context, because it features the full sentence containing the unknown word, accompanied by a video clip from the show. Essentially, you’re rewatching a sentence in isolation, but you’re also taking in body language, intonation and the rate of speech.
This feature works flawlessly with their native content, but it’s not quite there with their Netflix shows. For example, you’ll get the full sentence (audio only) for a Netflix show but not the accompanying video. Therefore, what you see is the cover image for the show, not a video clip from the show itself. Not the end of the world, but something I would have liked to see implemented from the start.
The front and back of a Lingopie flashcard created via non-Netflix show
The front and back of a Lingopie flashcard created via Netflix show
Another useful flashcard feature is the ability to record yourself speaking a sentence. You can play it back and compare it to the original recording. However, that’s as far as I would go with this feature. The recording gets “graded,” but it’s not an accurate reflection of your speaking. Whoever the “judges” are, they seem to be way too lenient.
When I spoke with my best Spanish accent, I got a 100/100 and when I purposely butchered my accent and clarity…I still managed to receive a 94/100.
Alright, I think you’ve seen enough about the app to get an idea of how it functions and what it can do for your language learning.
Let’s talk business!
LingoPie Subscription Cost?
If you get the yearly plan, then it’s $5.99/month, almost the same as YouTube Premium. But if you’re not sure you want to commit for a year, then you have a 7-day trial to make up your mind. And you could also give it a try for 3 months at only $12/month. That’s basically what you pay for Netflix in HD anyway. Finally, if you happen to fall in love with Lingopie (affiliate) they’ll love you back with a lifetime plan at $199. Not too shabby for a ‘til-death-do-us-part commitment.
However, you can get a very generous LingoPie discount by using our affiliate link.
Now that you have a better picture of what Lingopie is all about and its pricing, let’s sum it all up with a quick breakdown of the highlights and the areas which need to be improved.
Highlights
- A buffet of video content at your fingertips
Including select Netflix content and a catalog of non-Netflix TV shows, documentaries, cartoons, telenovelas, educational/cooking/travel shows etc.
- Great User Experience
The desktop version is extremely user-friendly and intuitive. Stats are displayed at the top all the time so that you can easily track your progress. And if you click on words added, you can jump straight into vocabulary review.
- Interactive Subtitles (aka flashcards made easy)
If you want to add a new word to your flashcard deck, you just need to click on it in the subtitles, so there’s zero friction in creating flashcards.
- Flashcards made easy
Language learning in context is essential to developing your language skills and the built-in SRS is pain and hassle free thanks to the interactive flashcards system Lingopie has created.
- Other Vocabulary Review Features
Apart from the flashcard system, there are 2 more options to review new vocabulary: pop quiz and word master. They are not as engaging and efficient as flashcards, but at least they add a bit of variety if you get tired of flashcards.
Areas of Improvement
- Limited content for some languages
For popular European languages, like Spanish and French, there’s a wider variety of content compared to Asian languages. This includes having truly “beginner friendly” content. Lingopie is more suited to A2 learners and above.
- The flashcards for Netflix shows lack video integration
In spite of having added a Netflix catalog of some shows, when you review new vocabulary, you don’t get the scene cut containing the new word. In turn, what you see on the flashcard is just the cover of the show.
- The recording feature needs an upgrade
It’s great to hear yourself compared to the original video content, but the “judges” need to be improved. I think it’d be worth it to have users, who are native speakers, be able to grade your recordings. That way you could get a more accurate assessment of your speaking skills.
Is Lingopie really worth it or should you bake your own pie?
If you love watching TV and movies as a way of immersing yourself in the language, go for it.
If you love using SRS and creating flashcards, even better. This is, hands down, the most intuitive and user friendly manner I’ve experienced in creating flashcards. Not to mention, it takes advantage of learning language in context.
Some languages have more content than others, so I’d love to see a larger variety for the languages which aren’t as popular as French and Spanish. However, the Netflix integration will surely address that issue as the company continues to grow.
Additionally, I can’t wait to see what they’ll add to their podcast and audiobook categories in the coming months.
If you’re still on the fence about it, take a bite and give the 7-day free trial a chance. You can explore the content and see if you find something rich, compelling and comprehensive. No harm done if it’s not your cup of tea… or slice of pie. Ok, I’ll stop with the food puns.
Whatever path you choose, just remember…
Happy language learning!
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