Lingvist: Learn Languages Fast

I very rarely leave reviews, in fact this is probably the second or third review I have left since I first got an apple device years ago, but I wanted other people int he app store to know that this app is extremely helpful, especially used in conjunction with a few other key apps like ‘pronounce’ and ‘lingq’. Together, all of these utilize multiple aspects of the language learning process to help you learn and retain the information. This app specifically is my favorite though, in just two session of about 20 minutes a piece, I have already seen a drastic improvement in my vocabulary retention. Even further, this app helps you with word forms, grammar and even explains some concepts that would be confusing to a new learner. The only thing I wish this app would include is the ability to utilize the enhanced siri/speech voices (like the ‘pronounce’ app does); utilizing the enhanced voices makes listening comprehension a lot easier, but either way, this app is absolutely amazing and an indispensable supplement for second language acquisition.

I downloaded Lingvist a few days ago because I have a passion for learning languages, and there are very few resources for learning Estonian out there. I was almost immediately put down from the very limited word and phrase count, after having searched for months on end. From what I’ve heard, Lingvist is an Estonian-made app, and so I can imagine it wouldn’t be very hard to teach a comprehensive Estonian course for English speakers. After thinking about alternatives for a while, finding none, I decided I’d make the most out of what I had. I started learning for a while, but then, I came across a banner saying I had 48 hours until my trial ended. What? I understand that you need to tax people for your blood sweat and tears while making this app, but you’re cutting off my lifeline to a slowly dying language that I would expect you (developers) would want to revive like the Duolingo-Irish relationship. You have no idea how sad I was to think that there was no way I could look back at the words I learned in 48 hours and many more disappointments. Please, I’m completely fine with you being no better than the crap Rosetta Stone pulls on the world, simultaneously lowering potential for attracting users, but PLEASE, save Estonian !!!

Using a free version. Couldn’t be happier. Approximately 100 flesh cards per day is enough for learning, revising and memorizing (together with the other types of learning of course). The only minus I could bring up is that sometimes it jams with calculating of the right amount of cards you’ve already done. Thus it just keeps going over the limit of cards you were supposed to cover, I suppose, in one sitting, which is not a bed thing at all unless you’re doing it before going to bed and instead of dealing with a 100 cards end up doing 200+ half asleep and a bit annoyed. Or maybe I simply haven’t figured out the whole system yet. All in all it’s a great app as an addition learning source!

I’m between a high 3 and a 4. It’s a beautiful, simple to use language learning app with a minimal interface that allows me to focus on the content. I love that aspect. The current release does has somewhat ugly grey shading over the action buttons which were not there before. Seems like an error to me? I also love the new slow Spanish news addition! Top request of mine: The ability to turn off the word length visibility on each card sentence. This was very helpful in the beginning but now I’m seeing I can almost guess the word based on the length alone. Removing that visual hint would give me a better challenge at this stage. This would make it a 5 star app for me. Minor requests: The progression is well paced, though I do see occasional “bursts” of new words which inevitably I trip up on in following days. Maybe those could be eased in a little better. 20 new words at a go is difficult to keep pace with if introduced multiple days in a row. This can be discouraging. Wish the top 5 most practiced was targeted at trouble words. My top 5 are words I practice often, but I also get them correct often too. I don’t see the words I have trouble with as I would expect. Wish there was Latin American Spanish but I appreciate the options available so far.

I tried to edit my previous review but couldn't, so I'm doing another brief one. App is great for vocab and even for some grammar points; love the resources and tips tab. But I am downgrading my rating to 4 stars because I'm still getting my progress obliterated if I even get one wrong answer. (It actually stopped doing that with one of the updates, but I think the newest one reverted that element).The correction is necessary, and I don't mind having my well cards come up more often, but I hate how getting one wrong answer basically puts you back at Square One in terms of finishing the 100 card goal. I'm going to be less inclined to practice everyday with the app when it's practically impossible to get to the daily goal. I'm *learning* a new language; I'm guaranteed to make mistakes. Correct me, but don't make progress seem unattainable.