What makes one want to write a review about a language app?
Well, usually there are 2 reasons.
1. You’re so moved by the app (for better or for worse) that you do it on your own volition.
Or…
2. You do it for money and/or because they ask you to.
And I’d think 99.9% of language reviews online fall under the second reason.
Myself included.
But, I’m not doing it for money.
I am doing writing a Ling App review because they’ve contacted me… again… and again… and again… and again… and again…
And this is just from the past few months.
There’s much more from 2022 and 2023.
All those emails asking me to add their link to my site.
(For those of you unaware, the more sites you have linking to you, the more google likes you, In other words, to manipulate google. Do many companies do this? Yes.)
But jeez, given how many times I’ve been contacted… and not replied… and then replied to some and they stopped.
And more emailed.
You’d think they’d get the message.
Except they seem to be using “outreach specialists” who operate from gmail accounts and don’t explicitly state they’re emailing on Ling’s behalf either.
I figure Ling does not want to dirty themselves by doing spam, so they pay others do the dirty work.
And it seems I’m not the only one… you can see people spot this on Reddit as well:
So, I figured I’d do them a favor and write a review…
And before you immediately protest, “why are you hating? Have you even tried it?”
First, see above. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t receive so many emails.
Second, you can go google for another Ling Review. There are no shortage of positive reviews that likely got $100 for writing nice things. I’m sure you will trust a review that was done for money.
So…
What is the Ling App? It’s a DuoLingo clone.
If you’re researching reviews about this app as a learner… again, it’s a DuoLingo clone. You play translation games. You learn words. You hear example sentences. You diddle around with vocabulary quizzes and arranging games. There are cute noises and pictures. A monkey. Maybe you feel productive over the button pressing you’ve been doing on a daily basis…
…but you won’t learn to speak a language.
Look, I have my own opinions on DuoLingo… (they’re not great)…
But if you’re wondering about Ling vs Duolingo and if Ling is any good… you may as well get the original version – DuoLingo. It’s the same exact thing anyway.
Now, what are my thoughts on the whole DouLingo vs Ling…?
I wouldn’t bother with cute vocabulary apps for a myriad of reasons.
1. I don’t care for learning words alone if I want to speak a language. But if you just want to collect words, go for it.
2. I don’t care for fun, game-like apps with funny noises — that doesn’t make me feel like I’m learning. (I know, I must be “fun” at parties.) If I was 10, maybe I would.
3. I prefer learning languages through conversations, sessions with teachers, and material I can immerse myself in for an extended period of time. Not playing “arrange this sentence” for a few minutes a day.
4. I prefer such repeated practice… whether listening to conversations, talking with natives, or repeated lessons with teachers.
5. Apps are almost always supplemental materials and only solve one issue — and in this case, it’s just learning words. But words alone won’t help you read, speak, or write the language.
6. The return on my time isn’t worth it. How would you like to spend 10 minutes? Playing vocabulary and translation games? Or listening to a dialogue between native speakers and getting every word explained? One offers a million times better return on your time invested.
7. I hate learning on my phone unless I have no choice. My phone, like yours, comes with notifications and distractions. I’ll use it when I’m outside, but not when I want to sit down and learn.
8. I prefer real people or content using real people that’s not shortened one measly word or phrase at a time.
9. If an app claims to teach all the languages in the world, there’s a good chance they’re not good teaching them well because they’re using the same cookie cutter approach — which is easy to do if it’s just words and phrases.
10. Textbooks provide a better ROI on your time even if they don’t have noises and sounds. You get a more comprehensive approach, more explanations, and material that was designed by actual teachers.
11. Apps are mostly built by programmers and marketers (not teachers) that have no experience in teaching and are in it for the money. Not a great recipe for actual learning.
– Lingua J.