Lingoda Review: Excellent for Structured Small Group Lessons, Though Not for Highly Customized Tutoring

Lingoda is an online educational platform that takes a distinct approach compared to similar services. Rather than sticking with a single tutor, you participate in various virtual classrooms with different instructors, following a carefully designed syllabus.

In my experience, Lingoda most closely resembles an online, small-group university class compared to other programs I've tested. It does have some drawbacks, such as the small number of languages available and the fact that you cannot select a particular teacher for your sessions, including private ones.

However, Lingoda is fundamentally a student-centered, immersive online program that encourages you to speak the language you are learning.

What Is Lingoda?

Previously known as Easy Languages, this online tutoring service was launched in 2012 in Berlin, Germany by brothers Fabian and Felix Wunderlich. The company changed its name to Lingoda in 2013 and began offering group lessons alongside individual tutoring.

Initially offering only German and English classes, the company expanded over time to include French and Spanish. The surge in online language learning in 2020 attracted many new users to Lingoda, aiding its growth and the refinement of its teaching techniques and course content.

Currently, Lingoda provides courses in German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Business English.

How Does Lingoda Work?

Lingoda's lessons are similar to a conventional language school but designed for virtual education. All instruction occurs online, either in small groups of up to five people or in individual sessions.

Every lesson follows a central curriculum and is taught by a qualified instructor. Additional study resources are provided for preparation and review.

In contrast to many other online teaching services, you select the lesson subject rather than the teacher, and classes are accessible around the clock.

Upon signing up, Lingoda asked me several questions about my language learning objectives (I selected Spanish), my current proficiency level, and other details about my language journey.

At first, Lingoda might appear similar to other online language tutoring sites. However, it functions less like a tutoring service and more like a digital classroom.

Classes are conducted one-on-one or in small groups of up to five participants. Each session starts with a friendly greeting and casual conversation as students join, creating a warm and relaxed environment. Students are encouraged to speak and participate frequently, making it a great choice for learners who find it challenging to start actually conversing in the language.

The classes have a clear structure—you know the material in advance. Yet, they are flexible enough for teachers to adjust their pace and style to suit the group. In all cases I saw, the teachers were skilled, confident in their roles, and very welcoming to students of all abilities.

Individual classes are even more tailored to the student, allowing you to progress at your own speed. You can also ask for lessons on specific topics of interest. While you cannot select your teacher, you can request a lesson on, for example, the Spanish Civil War or how to present an analysis of a specific English novel for a literature class.

Pros of Lingoda

Immersion-based Learning

When you enter your virtual classroom, you are greeted and taught completely in the language you are learning. This could be daunting for beginners, but it is a highly effective method for overcoming initial speaking anxiety and beginning to communicate in the language right away.

Teachers are skilled at ensuring comprehension, and the small group setting allows for regular check-ins with each student. They articulate clearly and speak at a pace that is easy for everyone to follow, so no one feels lost.

Another strength of Lingoda's immersion approach is that all supplementary materials avoid translations. This helps you rely less on your native language and concentrate fully on the language being taught.

Strong Focus on Communication

I've noticed that many language programs excel at teaching fundamentals like vocabulary and grammar but fall short in teaching practical application. Lingoda addresses this directly by encouraging you to use the target language from your very first lesson.

You get numerous chances to speak and are prompted to ask questions, join discussions, and generally interact with the class. In fact, every 60-minute lesson includes dedicated conversation time to practice the newly learned material.

This emphasis on communication will attract learners who are keen to apply their skills and become conversational quickly.

The lessons also center on practical topics you would actually use in real life, such as "I can order coffee," "I can discuss cause and effect," and "I can go grocery shopping." And because you can choose your topics, you're always learning content relevant to your personal goals.

Native Teachers from Around the World

All of Lingoda's teachers are native speakers with teaching qualifications and experience. They are based in various countries, exposing you to different regional accents and teaching approaches.

Instead of booking lessons with one specific tutor, you sign up based on topic or time slot. However, since you can see the instructor for each class, you can choose a teacher you've liked before. The platform encourages studying with many different teachers to increase your exposure to various speaking styles and accents.

Flexible Schedule

My schedule is often very busy, and I've struggled on other platforms to find classes that fit. But when I checked class availability on Lingoda, I was happy to see that there is a class starting nearly every hour—even very late at night.

With teachers located globally, Lingoda states that classes are available 24/7, making it simple to book lessons that suit your timetable.

Well-designed Curriculum

Lingoda uses a fixed curriculum created by language and education specialists. Every bookable lesson focuses on a specific topic, and you can preview the vocabulary and grammar points that will be covered.

You can browse the entire course and pick any topics that interest you. The format is reminiscent of a guided textbook, with each lesson representing a chapter.

At the beginner levels (CEFR A1 and A2), information is presented in English (or your default language), but from the intermediate level (CEFR B1 and B2) onward, everything is entirely in your target language.

Additional Learning Materials

Your learning continues after the virtual class ends. Exploring the website, I discovered several useful features that were accessible even without booking a specific class. I appreciate this because it allows me to avoid enrolling in a class that covers material I already know.

A vocabulary trainer helps you review key terms for each lesson, both as preparation and for post-lesson reinforcement.

A complete PDF summary for every class is available for anyone to review. You are actually encouraged to spend five to 10 minutes reading through the class material before it begins.

Some lessons also include vocabulary lists, extra flashcards, and reading passages to support your learning before and during the class.

Cons of Lingoda

Small Roster of Languages

Lingoda currently provides classes only in German, English, Business English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

This is a relatively limited selection compared to competitors that often teach 20 or more languages. This is reasonable given that each language requires curriculum development and a team of certified teachers, but it does mean Lingoda may not have the language you wish to learn.

Only English and German Are Offered Beyond Level B2

English and German have courses up to the advanced levels (C1 and C2), including some "open discussion" classes where students can converse about various subjects like current affairs, films, TV series, and other engaging topics.

However, the other currently available languages only extend to the upper intermediate level, so you cannot advance to proficiency in those languages.

What Is the Lingoda Sprint?

Lingoda provides its well-known "Lingoda Sprint," an intensive course program designed to rapidly improve your language skills.

A sprint runs for two months, and you commit to finishing either 15 or 30 classes within that period. Not only do you receive an intensive course in your target language, but you also have an opportunity to receive a discount. Finishing a sprint successfully earns you a 50% refund of the sprint's cost (or even more in class credit).

How Much Does Lingoda Cost?

I appreciate that Lingoda removes the uncertainty of choosing a teacher by having a fixed price and ensuring consistent teacher quality.

The cost varies depending on whether you choose individual or group classes and the number of classes you purchase at once. Buying more classes reduces the price per class, with the lowest cost being $10.50 for a one-hour group session.

The available class packages are five classes, 12 classes, 20 classes, or 40 classes.

You can test the service before committing with a seven-day free trial, which allows you to take three free group classes or one private lesson during the trial period.

Lingoda Alternatives

italki

italki is an online language tutoring platform similar to Lingoda, but its classes are organized differently and it is more recognized for individual sessions.

On italki, you can select your tutor. You begin by choosing the language you're learning and can then browse through (typically) hundreds of tutor profiles until you find a good match.

Each tutor has a profile with a biography, an introductory video, the languages they speak, their offered subjects, and their available schedule. You can book single sessions as needed or purchase a package of lessons.

You can find an italki tutor to teach specific subjects or simply book sessions for conversational practice. It's fully customizable, and your tutor tailors the lessons to your goals, unlike Lingoda's fixed curriculum.

italki also offers a vast number of languages—from popular ones like Spanish and French to less commonly taught ones like Maori—and tutors set their own hourly rates, allowing you to work within your budget.

You can read our full italki review here .

Lingflix

Preply

Preply is another online tutoring platform.

You can opt to use Preply's tutor matching service—which asks you several questions and then presents a curated list of tutors matching your criteria—or you can browse all tutors independently and apply filters as you wish.

Similar to italki, tutors list their specializations, schedule availability, individual prices, a biography, and an introductory video.

You first book a trial lesson. This requires payment for a single session, which is fully refundable if you are not satisfied. After the trial, you must choose a subscription package to continue with your tutor. For instance, you can select packages such as six hours per month, 12 hours per month, or 20 hours per month.

Finally, you can either work with your tutor to create personalized lesson plans based on your objectives, or you can choose to follow one of Preply's pre-made courses.

Final Thoughts: Should You Use Lingoda?

If you are seeking a structured, classroom-like environment where you can practice your target language in a supportive setting, I strongly recommend Lingoda.

My main wish is for a wider selection of languages and the availability of advanced-level courses for all languages, not just English and German.

Overall, if you need structure, accountability, a clear learning path, and guidance from native speakers, I suggest trying Lingoda.