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Search Results for: speechling

An Honest Review of Chinese Zero to Hero! With Image of Chinese Architecture

Chinese Zero to Hero! Review – A Structured and Affordable Online Course

Chinese Zero to Hero!

Rating 4.3

Summary

I like Chinese Zero to Hero! a lot. Their courses cover HSK1-6 of the HSK Standard Course textbooks. While it’s not in-depth enough to be the only resource you use, few courses are. It’s a great option for those looking to add structure into their independent study routine or are preparing for the HSK tests. It isn’t meant to be a replacement for a textbook, but those with textbook phobia would really benefit from this course.


Quality 4.5

The videos are very well made while limiting the amount of English and using appropriate vocabulary.

Thoroughness 3.5

You’ll need to use other resources for additional practice.

Value 5.0

The Ultimate Bundle is absurdly good value.

I Like
  • It’s perfect for someone like me that likes to study using lots of different resources but wants to add some structure.
  • The videos are well-made with clear explanations. They don’t rely too heavily on pinyin or English.
  • Great value at a low price.
  • Covers everything from HSK1 to HSK6.
I Don’t Like
  • If you don’t use other resources with this course, you’ll struggle to get enough practice.
  • Works best used alongside the HSK Standard Course textbooks and not as a standalone course.
Price

There are several different options to buy the courses. You can choose the ultimate bundle which gives you access to everything for $219. The HSK 1 – HSK 4 bundle costs $134 and the HSK 5 – HSK 6 & Path to Fluency bundle costs $109.

You can also purchase each HSK level individually. HSK 1 & HSK 2 cost $29 each, HSK 3 costs $36, and HSK 4, 5, & 6 cost $64 each. As each HSK level is made up of a few smaller parts, those smaller parts can also be purchased separately.

I’m a big fan of Chinese Zero to Hero!

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An Honest Review of GermanPod101 With Image of German Countryside in Winter

GermanPod101 Review – New Contents Added All The Time

GermanPod101

Rating 3.8

Summary

GermanPod101 offers a large number of audio and video lessons for German learners that has been added over many years. There isn’t a clear structure where lessons build upon each other, instead they’re grouped by difficulty level and into pathways.


Quality 4.0

Useful information presented in a podcast manner, and the recent updates have improved the offering a lot.

Thoroughness 3.8

Not much material for non-beginners, but for other learners it has many good stuff.

Value 3.5

As a supplemental program, the price is OK.

I Like
  • The lessons contain useful information about the German language.
  • The lesson notes have helpful information about the grammar encountered in that lesson.
  • The flashcards are nice as they contain audio, pictures, and example sentences.
I Don’t Like
  • The lessons are among the most boring I’ve ever listened to.
  • Video lessons are very short and aren’t anything special.
  • The vast majority of the content is only for the absolute beginner and beginner levels.
  • Not a structured course or very good as a supplemental resource.
Price

There are many plans available from one month to two years, with prices lowering the longer you subscribe. One month plans cost $4 for Basic, $10 for Premium, and $23 for Premium Plus.

After trying GermanPod101, I definitely wouldn’t recommend paying for a premium subscription. It was a really disappointing experience. <– In the recent updates, the contents have gotten much better (edit in October 2023). We will update our review soon to reflect this knowledge.

GermanPod101 Review – New Contents Added All The Time Read More »

Japanese Language of Nightlife in Shinjuku, Tokyo

Most Recommended Resources For Learning Japanese

We’ve tested tons of resources for learning Japanese to help you figure out which ones are worth using and which ones should be avoided. The best way to learn Japanese will very from person to person, based on learning styles and language goals. Hopefullt this list will help you narrow your search to find the right Japanese course for you. These are our top choices!

Most Recommended Resources For Learning Japanese Read More »

Most Recommended Resources For Learning Korean

We’ve tested tons of resources for learning Korean to help you figure out which ones are worth using and which ones should be avoided. We’ve scoured the web to bring you the full gamut of Korean course options, from well known courses like Rocket Korean, to less known ones like Talk to Me in Korean. Here are our top choices!

Most Recommended Resources For Learning Korean Read More »

An Honest Review of Fluencia With Image of Spanish Architecture

Fluencia Review – My Experience Trying It Out

Fluencia

Rating 4.3

Summary

Fluencia is one of the better online Spanish courses I’ve come across. The course content is very well designed including tons of detailed explanations and exercises to practice what you’ve learned. While some similar courses are more gamified and less challenging, Fluencia is more challenging and less game-like. While I like Fluencia quite a bit, you’ll probably want to get more speaking practice elsewhere.


Quality 4.5

It’s obvious that a lot of thought and planning went into making these lessons.

Thoroughness 4.5

The cultural and grammar lessons stood out as being exceptionally thorough.

Value 4.0

It’s a good course and affordable for most.

I Like
  • You’ll have actually needed to have learned the content to answer the exercises correctly.
  • Everything is explained clearly with a lot of attention spent on the details.
  • Recordings are done by native Spanish speakers with various accents.
I Don’t Like
  • You’ll want to get more speaking practice by working with a tutor.
  • You may also want to supplement your learning by listening to Spanish podcasts.
Price

1 month costs $14.95 12 months costs $95.40 24 months costs $166.80

Most people studying Spanish have probably come across SpanishDict.

Fluencia Review – My Experience Trying It Out Read More »

An Honest Review of Synergy Spanish With Image of Spanish Architecture

Synergy Spanish Review – Boring, Old, And Overpriced

Synergy Spanish

Rating 2.3

Summary

Synergy Spanish is an often-recommended course, but I found it to be old, overpriced, boring, and not as good as competitors. The good side is that their lessons force you to start speaking right away. Even with a limited vocabulary, you’ll be able to express a lot of different things. Still, I wouldn’t recommend using it.


Quality 3.0

Fairly well structured but feels outdated.

Thoroughness 2.5

It may not be meant to be the most comprehensive course, but I’m shocked at some of the things that weren’t included.

Value 1.5

I don’t think it’s as good as cheaper alternatives.

I Like
  • Start speaking Spanish from the first lesson.
  • The content builds upon itself pretty well.
  • If you use it, you’ll learn quite a bit.
I Don’t Like
  • The platform and some of the content taught in the lesson feels outdated.
  • The content is among the most boring I’ve seen.
  • It’s more expensive and not as good as competitors in my opinion.
Price

Synergy Light costs $67 and includes the audio lessons. Synergy Video costs $97 and adds in video lessons and email coaching. Synergy Video + CDs costs $145 and adds in CDs and printed out pdf.

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An Honest Review of SpanishPod101 With Image of Spanish Architecture

SpanishPod101 Review – Good Content with Some Pointless Extras

SpanishPod101

Rating 3.8

Summary

SpanishPod101 primarily offers audio lessons for beginner level Spanish students. Unfortunately, the number of lessons available at the intermediate and higher levels drops off quite a bit. There are a lot of extra features, some of which are pretty cool, but many of which aren’t that useful. Overall, I think SpanishPod101 is pretty good but not sufficient by itself.


Quality 4.0

Everything works well and the lessons are high-quality

Thoroughness 3.5

Great for beginners but intermediate and higher levels won’t get much out of it.

Value 4.0

They’re sneaky about hiding the real prices but it’s still a low cost and extensive option.

I Like
  • An absurd amount of content for lower level students.
  • Uses Spanish from lots of different countries and includes interesting cultural insights.
  • As you move up levels, English is used less and less.
  • Grammar is taught very well.
I Don’t Like
  • The lack of content for those past the beginner level.
  • Lower level lessons include lots of English banter between the hosts.
  • Some of the extra features are pointless, while others like the quizzes, aren’t very well done.
  • Constant hard selling and email spamming.
Price

There are three subscription plans with lengths between 1 month and 2 years. If you subscribe longer, the monthly cost lowers.

Basic Plan – $4/mo Premium Plan – $10/mo Premium Plus Plan – $23/mo

Use the coupon code “ALLLANGUAGERESOURCES” to save 25% on a subscription.

For this review, I spent about five days trying out SpanishPod101’s Premium Plan.

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