Lingopie: An Indispensable Platform For Learning French
Nicole Baptista
Learning a new language doesn’t have to be boring and centred around grammar books and comprehension exercises. Lingopie enables students to practice their French (as well as other European languages) whilst watching TV. Lingopie users are spoilt for choice with a range of movies, documentaries, cartoons, cooking shows and a lot more.
The platform is especially beneficial for those who are not being exposed to the language they are learning on a daily basis. This is why Lingopie is so great. Learners are now able to practice their listening, reading and speaking skills through its streaming service. Lingopie has a very similar visual layout to Netflix with thousands of TV shows divided into different sections depending on their genre. Thankfully it is extremely easy to use.
Subtitles to help you along the way
One of the best things about Lingopie is that every TV show or video offers subtitles in both English and French. This makes the listening experience a lot easier as it is usually one of the hardest parts of learning a new language. When you are able to put the words together with the sound you will be able to learn a lot more quickly and efficiently.
However, if you are already at an advanced level you can choose to completely switch off the subtitles. If a word pops up that you are unfamiliar with, with a simple click of the word its translation will appear. It is so much quicker than having to write it down and then scramble around looking for a dictionary to find its definition!
Whenever you click on a word you are unfamiliar with, this word will be saved and added to a flashcard pile so that you may review it later on. Repetition is super important when learning a new language so this is a really great feature as it will encourage you to go back and see if you actually remember the meaning of the word. Once you click on 5 words you are unfamiliar with, a ‘quiz’ feature is triggered. When this happens you will be presented with a multiple choice quiz for the words you clicked on. You will be required to click on the correct answer. Think of it as a teacher making sure you are taking in all the information as you go along.
Change the speed of the video as you like
Another valuable feature is the speed button. This button gives you the chance to change the speed of the video’s speech. Options range from beginner (0.5x -slow) to full speed (1X). As your French learning progresses you will probably be able to follow the words at a faster pace, but you can start with whatever speed you feel most comfortable at.
On the right side of the video screen you are also able to see a transcript of the video content. With this tool viewers can actually see what words are coming next or what words have just been said before. It is quite easy to miss a word or an entire phrase when you are in the process of learning a new language- often you will still be trying to decipher a phrase when the next one is already under way. But this transcript feature facilitates things for you.
A way to practice your pronunciation
Language learning in schools is so heavily focused on grammar and reading exercises that often the most important aspect is completely neglected- speaking! What is so great about the Lingopie learning platform is that users can practice their oral skills with the option of the microphone button. When you click on the microphone button, you are required to say the selected phrase. Once the recording is sent to the ‘judges’ you will be given a score out of 100, depending on your pronunciation accuracy. You can repeat this as many times needed. It can be difficult to notice pronunciation errors in your own speaking, so this option is really valuable as it will help you to really perfect your pronunciation.
Is it worth the cost?
Although Lingopie is similar to Netflix in that it offers subtitled TV shows and movies in foreign languages, the translations seem to be a lot more accurate on the Lingopie platform. Plus you do not get the speaking practice and the change-the-speed option on Netflix. So in this case, Lingopie definitely has the upper hand. Lingopie also comes in a mobile app format now so you can watch all those fun shows on the way to work or whenever you find yourself with nothing else to do. Every video has a “difficulty” level: beginner, intermediate or advanced, so you can choose a movie or TV show depending on what level you are at.
So how much does Lingopie cost? Lingopie offers a 7 day free trial, and then charges $12 per month. An annual subscription costs $65. Is it worth it? We think so. Lingopie is fun, it’s interactive. It’s a fantastic way to pick up new vocabulary, develop listening skills and practice your pronunciation. The best bit is that this can all be done from the comfort of your couch, or from your phone (minus the feeling of guilt that you are being lazy) because you are actually learning the whole time. When you combine grammar practice, reading exercises and some French TV show watching, your language skills will progress rapidly. So what will you watch first? A cartoon? A cooking show? A documentary? A movie? Maybe even a Podcast? The choices are endless.