Lingvist Review: Effective Vocabulary Builder, Yet Lacks Contextual Learning

Lingvist demonstrates that flashcards remain a classic and practical resource. It's a streamlined application designed to teach you a language primarily using flashcards, enhanced with modern features for efficient and accessible learning.

During my Spanish studies, I discovered Lingvist to be a clever vocabulary builder with a system suitable for learners at any stage, though it would benefit from greater interactivity and a wider range of exercise types.

The Features: What Lingvist Provides

Lingvist is a flexible language learning app accessible on iOS and Android. It launched globally in 2014.

The app's main objective is to teach the words "that you genuinely need" to comprehend in a language.

Lessons for seven languages

Lingvist presently provides seven languages: English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Estonian.

For Spanish, you can select to learn either European or Latin American Spanish.

Learning with both ready-made and personalized flashcard decks

Using its scientific, AI-driven method, Lingvist mainly employs a flashcard-based system for rapid and simple learning. You gain entry to a range of topic-centered decks holding key vocabulary. You also have the option to build your own decks.

If you ever wish to bypass a word (perhaps because you already know it well), you can "mute" vocabulary by selecting a flag icon when its flashcard appears.

Well-organized word lists for straightforward review

For a more direct summary of the words you've learned, you can also check word lists. These include audio pronunciations, sample sentences from the flashcards you've seen, and the duration since you last practiced that specific word.

In-depth progress monitor to gauge your development

You can monitor your achievements with the integrated progress tracking system, whether you want to view how much of a particular deck you've finished or examine your weekly activity.

The app will evaluate your objectives so you have a clear view of your progress. It informs you which words you've mastered, words "at-risk" that need more practice, and words you are currently learning.

Additional grammar and quiz areas

Lingvist's "Grammar" and "Challenges" sections are extra resources intended to strengthen your grasp of a language.

The "Grammar" feature gives short tips and clarifications for important grammar rules, while the "Challenges" section offers quiz opportunities to practice your speaking, grammar, reading and writing.

The Process: How Learning Works in Lingvist

Immediately after selecting a language and stating your learning motives, Lingvist shows a clear graph and a sample text illustrating the expected level of progress.

The app states that mastering the 500 most frequently used and relevant words in a language enables you to comprehend nearly 50% of standard text.

Learning with Lingvist is very straightforward. You receive a group of flashcards focusing on words connected to a specific topic or theme. For each flashcard, you type the required word (shown with its translation) and proceed to the next. That's all!

Occasionally, you are tested on vocabulary used in context within complete sentences. This is excellent for gaining broader practice with the language.

Lingvist even points out when you've entered a word that, while not wrong in meaning, isn't the exact answer they expect. This might seem a bit fussy, but it encourages you to practice the specific words the app intends for you to learn.

The decks are designed for quick completion. Lingvist intentionally makes the exercises fast so you can complete an entire set without much difficulty.

The company calculates that with only 20 minutes of daily practice, users can learn up to 30 words each day.

The Pricing: How Much Does Lingvist Cost

Lingvist currently provides a free seven or 14-day trial. If you want to keep using the app after that, you must subscribe to a paid plan.

Currently, the monthly plan costs $9.99 per month, and the annual plan is $79.99 per year. These prices may seem a little high, but Lingvist sometimes offers discounts, so you can take advantage of those when they appear.

What I Like About Lingvist

I used Lingvist for approximately a week, and in that period I found many positive aspects. Here are some of the notable strengths that I think highlight the app's appeal!

Clean and intuitive design

I have a strong preference for clean visual interfaces. Cluttered screens greatly reduce my digital enjoyment (especially with frequent app use) and they can also significantly hinder the learning process.

Fortunately, Lingvist's appearance is very refined and simple, yet not boring. The text blocks and icons are arranged to prevent your eyes from drifting.

The app is very easy to navigate and I encountered no technical issues or bugs.

Everything on the interface is clear and the screen mainly displays only what requires your attention, which is crucial for helping easily distracted learners maintain focus.

UI and UX design are very important for mobile apps, and it's not just about avoiding unpleasant visuals. The tactile and visual experience of using Lingvist is, in my view, a significant factor in its overall attractiveness.

Efficient spaced repetition system

Spaced repetition system (also called SRS) is a powerful learning technique based on timed intervals. Essentially, it presents material at specific points in your practice sessions when your memory retention is likely to be high. SRS can be a very effective educational method for language acquisition.

Lingvist uses SRS in a rather advanced way. When you first start using the app, you take a placement test where Lingvist assesses your language skill level.

Based on your performance with a chosen set of words, the app will concentrate on words you likely need to study more, while spending less time on words you appear to already know.

While working through the decks, all your responses are inputs that inform the Lingvist repetition algorithm about your strengths and areas needing practice. Specifically, the words you repeatedly get wrong are recorded and scheduled for repetition at different intervals.

From my personal experience, the app certainly has a talent for identifying which words I should practice. Over time, I noticed I made fewer errors and remembered initially difficult vocabulary better.

Of course, I'm not fully aware of the exact time between each repetition of a word. But consistently following the designed exercises has been successful in reducing my likelihood of forgetting the material.

Even after not using Lingvist for some time and returning to it, I didn't struggle nearly as much as I did in my initial attempts.

Supplementary instruction and review

Lingvist's "Grammar" and "Challenges" sections are, in my opinion, very necessary and welcome features.

While not extremely detailed or all-encompassing, they are still excellent ways to add more substance to your language studies.

The main vocabulary-training exercises are a good workout, but reviewing basic grammar rules and putting in extra effort with supplemental quizzes can lead to more productive learning sessions.

I visited these sections frequently due to their usefulness to my studies. I found it most helpful to glance at them before a learning session, as they improved my ability to understand flashcards containing sentences.

Useful statistics and tracking system

Learning with apps is often quick and convenient, but monitoring your progress can sometimes be overlooked.

Fortunately, Lingvist makes it very simple to see your performance. If you are someone who sets weekly targets, you can view a graph to check if you've achieved them.

If you are more curious about how much vocabulary you've acquired, you can see the number of words you've covered and whether any need further revision.

Lingvist offers sufficient detail to give you a good picture of your current status and how to advance.

The statistics are not so excessive as to be burdensome. They can act as a great motivational aid, especially for learners who are focused on reaching specific proficiency levels or study timelines.

What I Don’t Like About Lingvist

No app is perfect, and Lingvist has some shortcomings that deserve mention.

Activities may become repetitive

Flashcards are excellent learning tools because of their accessibility and simplicity. However, if they are your only resource, your studies can rapidly become routine and dull.

I did value the occasions when I encountered flashcards with full sentences because they challenged my brain more than isolated vocabulary did.

However, after completing several decks, I must admit I grew somewhat tired of the similar exercises.

There are a few ways digital flashcard programs like Lingvist could offer slightly more interactive or varied learning. Including visuals, such as images or even brief video clips, could be wonderful additions that significantly impact successful vocabulary memorization.

Limited selection of languages

Currently, Lingvist only provides seven languages. This might limit the app's potential user base, particularly those interested in learning languages outside of Europe.

Lingvist has been available for seven years and is quite well-known, so it's probable that more languages will be included in its catalog to broaden its appeal. However, this could take some time, since the decks for each language are quite detailed.

Offers minimal context

Lingvist excels at helping you learn and review vocabulary. Yet, most words are taught largely in isolation.

That's typically how flashcards operate. By using only Lingvist, language learners can acquire a sort of "phrasebook" of individual words or short phrases. But there isn't much explanation or "background" provided for them.

In other words, you aren't given much context or cultural clues about what you learn, even though these could likely be incorporated into the flashcards somehow.

Comparing Lingvist to Other Language Learning Apps

Undoubtedly, the app market is filled with language learning apps. Considering all its advantages and disadvantages, how does Lingvist compare to two of its stronger rivals?

Lingvist vs. Duolingo

Duolingo provides a somewhat similar learning experience to Lingvist. You learn through a series of repetitive activities, progressing through structured units and lessons while gradually expanding your vocabulary. Duolingo heavily emphasizes gamification, giving you perks and rewards for your accomplishments.

Lingvist mainly focuses on a language's essential words, whereas Duolingo seems to expose you to a wider variety of terms. Lingvist's context-providing sentences are also more coherent and natural than Duolingo's—indeed, Duolingo's quirky and occasionally absurd sentences have often amused users.

But regarding cost and long-term use, Duolingo might have an edge over Lingvist. Duolingo's extensive lessons are completely free. I imagine many potential users (especially very casual learners) will consider this a major advantage.

For a more detailed review of Duolingo, check out our review.

Lingvist vs. Memrise

Memrise, with its flashcard-based structure, is even more comparable to Lingvist. It also uses spaced repetition to introduce new words and help you concentrate on those you find challenging.

Memrise and Lingvist both excel in providing direct vocabulary training. The listening parts mainly assist with pronunciation.

Video content is something Lingvist does not currently provide, but Memrise's courses sometimes include video clips that further help you absorb the material.

Memrise's pricing is also quite affordable. Most of its features are accessible with a free account, though a membership unlocks a few more features. As of August 2022, the price for a premium plan begins at $8.49 per month, making Memrise a more economical choice than Lingvist.

Overall, Memrise is fairly evenly matched with Lingvist in terms of content format and utility. A learner who prefers a more linear, course-like structure might find Memrise more suitable. Lingvist can be somewhat less predictable in material difficulty, although this may appeal to learners who enjoy a challenge.

For a more extensive look into Memrise, you can check out our review.

Lingvist vs Lingflix

Many language learning apps like Lingvist teach vocabulary without stressing the importance of context and culture. Both significantly influence how and when you can actually use the words you learn.

This is where an app like Lingflix can be useful. If you choose to use Lingvist, you can combine it with Lingflix for a more rounded education that prepares you for real conversation and cultural exposure.

Final Thoughts: Should You Get Lingvist?

In conclusion, Lingvist is a valuable tool for training you in the common and necessary vocabulary of the languages it offers. Because its format is so simple, any learner can begin using it without any difficulty.

Learning is quick, easy and very informal, making the app especially handy for learners not aiming for high fluency in a new language but still wanting a solid introduction.

Lingvist's monthly cost of $9.99, while not extremely pricey, could still be somewhat off-putting for casual learners who wouldn't use the app daily (particularly if they must pay for other programs to obtain a more thorough learning experience).

That said, if you truly wish to concentrate intensely on vocabulary lessons for a period, it could be worthwhile to pay for this app for a few months (at least until you've studied all the flashcard decks that interest you).

Currently, Lingvist functions best as a supplementary resource to more comprehensive and in-depth learning tools. Alternatively, it also works very well for review needs if you ever need to revisit the fundamentals of a language's vocabulary.

Hopefully, with future updates, Lingvist can further boost its educational potential and strive to offer more intensive language training for learners seeking a challenge. Ideally, it can achieve this without losing its simple and polished interface.