Updated April 1, 2021
Review: How Much is Lingopie and How Does It Work?
Updated Review: Some recent upgrades take Lingopie to the next level for language learning
What Makes Lingopie Different
Lingopie is not your run-of-the-mill language learning program, and it has tons of things that make it different from the others.
Firstly, I love that Lingopie has its own unique library of high-quality foreign language television shows. After initially launching with Spanish, its library now offers new languages: French and Russian. Lingopie has plans to add many more languages to its list (Italian and German appear to be right around the corner)
Aside from that, Lingopie has tons of standout features which are advantageous to language learning, making it different from watching another standard streaming service, and far superior to most other language learning apps.
Mobile app for smartphones
Finally! The Lingopie mobile app has been something that I've been excited for since I started using Lingopie, and I'm so glad it's available. The app has a smooth interface, which makes watching from your mobile device super easy and enjoyable. This fully-functional mobile app contains all of the great features of Lingopie. I love using it while I'm on a bus or train, or even from my bed. It's available for both Android and Apple devices.
Interactive binge-watching
Lingopie has plenty of interactive features which make language-learning a breeze while binge-watching. Each video is organized by level, dialect, and comes with interactive captions, flashcards, and exercises, so you’re actively building your vocabulary while you watch.
You can adjust the playback speed of the video, so you can hear the language more clearly, which I love to do to focus on my listening and comprehension. You also have the option to click on each word, and hear the pronunciation of the word, phrase, or sentence, so you know exactly how to say it.
The video player also has an auto-repeat feature, which continuously repeats a section of the video. I learn best when I hear and say something over and over again, so I love this feature.
Lingopie also has an “auto pause” feature, where the video player pauses after each sentence. Plus, all of the words you click through are then added to a “dictionary,” which you can review by show.
Mashup
This super cool new feature translates certain words in the subtitles, to help you understand all the better. Think "Spanglish." It combines both the language you're learning, with your native language, for a totally immersive in-context learning experience.
Shows by region:
Most language learning apps or programs gloss over the fact that regional dialects can vary greatly, but not Lingopie.
It’s Spanish-speaking programs tell you which country the show’s dialect is from (I’ve been watching shows from Spain, Argentina, and Mexico). This is great because accents, slang and phrases are very different from region to region.
For example, I just learned that while many Spanish-speaking countries say “dinero” for money, Argentina says “plata,” which means “silver.”
Advanced caption options
Captions are pretty standard when watching a foreign language program, but the advanced options on Lingopie make it much easier to learn.
There are several options, including having only the foriegn language up, or having both the foreign language and English displayed. Right now, I prefer to have both languages displayed, to maximize my comprehension, but when I’m looking for an extra challenge, I switch off the English captions. I’ve noticed that I’m actually retaining a lot more vocabulary than I thought.
Other new features
Lingopie has been rolling out tons of new features. The platform got a facelift,. They also added much more shorter videos, and beginner-friendly content, in order to provide bite-sized learning opportunities for all levels.
Extensive library
The Lingopie library for their Spanish, Russian and French shows is quite extensive, with plenty of options to choose from. For Spanish, they have about 90 shows with around 1,000 episodes, and counting. I love that Lingopie has all authentic international content, which is actually played for local audiences in those respective countries.
This really helps me understand the cultural nuances of each country, and I truly feel like I’m building a better understanding of the language. Genres include Beginner Friendly, Classic Spanish Movies, Thriller, Cool Cult TV, Telenovelas, Travel & Food, Cartoons, and Family & Kids.
Progress tracking
Lingopie automatically tracks your progress, which is to be expected with a language learning program, but differentiates it from a typical TV streaming service. Plus, Lingopie actually analyses the vocabulary you’re learning, and uses it to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples. A new feature of the flashcards is that Lingopie's ultra-smart technology can actually detect if you've actually mastered a word.
For me, this is awesome because I can see that by the end of a binge-watching session, I’ve actually learned dozens of new words, and even entire phrases and sentences. Plus, if you can’t decide what to watch (like me, all the time), Lingopie’s suggestions have you covered.
Reviewing what you learned
After you’re finished watching, you can head over to Lingopie’s Review section, and go over all of the words and phrases you learned from the shows that you watched. Similarly to how you can in playback mode, in the Review mode, you can listen to each word or phrase, you get to see it in a sentence, and you can hear it pronounced. You can even watch a clip of the show, to see exactly how that word or phrase was used in conversation. This is super helpful for me, because I’m big on reviewing what I learned, and this feature allows me to go over what I learned in the context of conversation, really building a link between the word or phrase, and how it’s naturally used.
How much is Lingopie?
How much is Lingopie?
Plans and pricing:
Lingopie has two different plans, both of which are very affordable. First of all, if you’re like me and prefer to try things out before you commit to buying them, you can try Lingopie free for 7 days with their trial. That’s what I did at first, and I was hooked.
After the free trial, Lingopie is a reasonable $9 per month if you pay by the month, or $4.50 per month if you pay annually, which ends up being half off. Lingopie is much cheaper than some other language learning apps out there, especially if you do the annual payment. Even just enjoying the shows at that price is basically a steal, even if you’re not interested in the studying component.
Bonus pricing options
If you’re a student or a teacher, Lingopie has some special offers, which is awesome. If you’re a student or educator, reach out to Lingopie to find out how you can access their bonus pricing options.
Why learn a language on Lingopie?
Why learn a language on Lingopie?
I really appreciate the fact that Lingopie offers diverse learning techniques, such as listening, reading, and absorbing natural conversation. Learning languages with Lingopie is simplified and fun, due to the fact that they have their extensive library of videos that are from authentic sources. Plus, the shows are totally binge-able, and fun to watch.
It appears Lingopie will be adding a ton of languages to its library, and I expect to see Lingopie Russian, Lingopie German, Lingopie Italian, and Lingopie French in the near future, which I’m looking forward to. You can also use Lingopie TV from your smartphone, which is great for when I’m on the go (or admittedly watching right before bed with my phone in my face).
Right now, I’ve been watching La Cacica, which is a Colombian show based on the life of a revolutionary politician and journalist. As a journalist myself, I find the story of Consuelo Araújo Noguera inspirational, as she worked to change the tides in her hometown. I’m also watching Oswaldo, a really popular Brazillian cartoon for both adults and kids, that first aired on Cartoon Network in Brazil. It’s produced by Birdo Studio, one of the biggest animation houses in Brazil.
Final thoughts on Lingopie
Final thoughts on Lingopie
Overall, I definitely think Lingopie is an awesome tool for learning languages. I love the interface and the mobile app, as well as its extensive features, including the playback speed options, flashcards, and autopause.
The review mode is super helpful for retention, and I love the detail put into the features, such as playing back specific clips, in order to retain the words in context of how they’re used naturally.
If you want to learn Spanish, but in a fun and engaging way, then I definitely say Lingopie is the way to go. It doesn’t focus on complicated grammar lessons which are hard to implement in the real world, but instead gives you a really natural way to learn, with the high-quality local Spanish TV shows and movies It’s basically the closest thing you can get to local immersion from wherever you are. Make sure to check out Lingopie's website to learn more!
Now that I’m brushing up on my Spanish, I’m definitely looking forward to my next trip to a Spanish-speaking country. Last time I was in Costa Rica, my Spanish was terribly rusty. But I think next time I go, using my Spanish will be a breeze.