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Thursday, March 27th
Are you looking to learn Italian? Then you might want to consider Ouino, a platform that was established in 2021. The term "Ouino” possibly derives from the French and Spanish words for "yes" and "no" respectively. Cleverly, it also sounds like the phrase "we know" in English. The company hasn't shared much about its history or the team behind it, but they provide a detailed 13-page explanation on Ouino's functionality and the rationale behind its design.
Ouino encourages immersing yourself in external sources
Ouino explains that to truly learn a language, you need two things: a core method and external sources. The core method is like your main learning tool. It's where you learn the fundamentals like pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. But learning a language isn't just about the basics. You need to immerse yourself too. That's where external sources come in. These are activities like watching movies, reading news articles or books, or speaking with native speakers. What is Ouino? They're vying to be your chosen core method. We like that they talk about the importance of external sources, because a lot of online Italian courses pretend to be enough to take you to fluency. Ouino even lets you mark on the progress tracking calendar the days you've studied Italian using external sources.
All the main language skills covered
Ouino has all the resources that a core method should have. It offers you a comprehensive understanding of grammar, a vast vocabulary, and the ability to conjugate hundreds of verbs in many tenses - which is something other Italian courses avoid. It'll also help you improve your conversation skills and perfect your pronunciation. You'll learn these things through reading, listening, writing, and speaking activities, providing you with a well-rounded language learning experience. You can take the lessons in any order that makes sense to you, or follow the recommended learning path, which shows you the most frequently used Italian words first.
Pronunciation practice is self-graded
Just so you know, Ouino doesn't use voice recognition technology for pronunciation due to its current limitations in detecting subtle accents. Instead, you can record yourself speaking and compare it to how a native speaker says the same thing. This lets you self-correct and practice until you sound right or feel confident. Ouino also shows hints in English to help you pronounce words correctly. Plus, you can choose how long and difficult the sentences are. There are thousands of phrases to work on in the "Extra Language Practice” tab.
Highly customizable
In Ouino, you can adapt the lessons to fit your learning pace and style. By clicking the gear icon, you can adjust the speed of the pronunciation, the frequency of word repetition, the time between each word, and the subtitles. As you improve, you can speed up the lessons. Don't worry, you can always adjust these settings later. We found the audio to be really clear and conversational, and even though we are familiar with Italian, the slowed-down audio helped us hear nuances in the pronunciation we'd normally miss.
Module-specific settings
Each module has its own settings, but you can also change all the settings at once from the home screen. The exercises have a timer to challenge you to respond quickly, an important skill in language learning. If you find the timer too stressful, you can disable it. However, the most challenging exercises, the "Fluency Sprints," always have a timer to push you to your limits.
Try it yourself for free
Ouino is very transparent about how their language lessons work. You don't need to give them your email or sign up for a trial to see their Italian lessons. You can watch videos that show every part of their teaching method. You can even click on a "Try It Free” button and give it a try. You'll get to see all areas of language learning including verbs and conjugation, vocabulary, and conversations.
Customer service is done by Ouino's creators
If you ever need help with the Ouino Italian language learning program, you'll be talking directly to its creators, who describe themselves as a family of language lovers who are eager to help you reach your goals. If you're ever stuck or feel like you're not progressing, they want to help you overcome those obstacles. And if you're not sure about committing to Ouino yet, they'd be happy to chat with you about it on the phone. If they believe Ouino isn't the right fit for you, they'll tell you and guide you towards an alternative that can better suit your needs.
Customers love it
The last time we reviewed Ouino for Italian lessons, it was too new to talk much about what customers think. However, at the time of this review, we found a good amount of people who used it to learn Italian, and they have a lot of good things to say. They praise Ouino's structure and excellent customer service, and they're fans of the updates and new learning materials, the ability to track progress, and the thorough activities for learning Italian verbs. Users also enjoy the ability to download the course to their phone for on-the-go learning. One user particularly appreciated the repetitive lessons for mastering verb conjugations and plans to use Ouino for learning German next.
$6.99 to $12.99 per month, paid in one-time fee
Ouino offers three subscription plans for language learning: 3-month access at $12.99 per month (one-time payment of $38.97), 6-month access at $9.99 per month (discounted one-time payment of $59.94), and 12-month access at $6.99 per month (discounted annual price of $83.88). All plans include ad-free and offline use, over 450 lessons and 1,300 exercises, availability on multiple platforms, cloud sync, personal language mentoring, and free lifetime upgrades. Generally, we're not a huge fan of one-time payments for subscription services like these, even though they try to make it sound like a benefit to you, the user. This model means the service already has your money for the 3-,6-, or 12-month period if you decide 2 months in that the service doesn't meet your expectations. However, there is a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Get lifetime access for $95.76
Ouino also offers lifetime access to their Italian course for $95.76, equating to $3.99 per month when used for two years. This package includes no ads, offline use, a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, over 450 lessons and 1300 exercises, compatibility with multiple devices, personal language mentoring, and free lifetime upgrades. A second language can be added for a 50% discount, and all languages can be accessed for $191.52.
We know you'll like Ouino
Ouino may not be the talk of the town just yet, but we think it's a hidden gem in the language learning world. The creators have clearly poured their hearts into it - you can tell they genuinely care about your Italian-speaking dreams, not just their bottom line. And with lifetime access for less than $100, the price is as tempting as a gelato on a hot Roman day. In short, if you're eager to start conversing like an Italian, we say, "Andiamo!" (Let's go!) with Ouino.
Learning any new language opens up a world of opportunities, and Italian, with its rich history, captivating culture, and melodious rhythm, is no exception. Learning Italian online has become an increasingly popular choice for people around the globe, thanks to the convenience, flexibility, and variety of resources available at their fingertips.
It's no wonder that learning Italian online has surged in popularity. You've got plenty of options to fit just how you like to learn. If you prefer to learn by listening and getting the hang of how Italian sounds, there are programs made just for that. They help you get used to the language's rhythm and pronunciation. And if you love games, there are fun platforms where you can learn new words and grammar through play, earning points and badges along the way.
If you're someone who likes a clear and structured plan, there are courses that mix video lessons, quizzes, and even writing tasks. This way, you can get better at reading, writing, speaking, and listening to Italian, all in a balanced way.
Prefer talking to real people? You can connect with native Italian speakers through tutoring services. They can talk with you in real time, which is a great way to learn how people actually use the language and learn more about Italian culture.
Whether you're drawn to Italy's enchanting cities, passionate about its cuisine, an admirer of its contributions to art and music, or simply looking to connect with family roots, learning Italian can enrich your life in myriad ways.
Imagine strolling through the cobbled streets of Rome, ordering gelato in flawless Italian, or enjoying the operas of Verdi and Puccini in their original language. Or perhaps you're an avid cook, eager to dive into authentic Italian recipe books without the crutch of translations. Learning Italian can also be a stepping stone in your career, especially if you're involved in fashion, architecture, or the culinary arts, industries in which Italy holds a prestigious position. Moreover, for those with Italian heritage, learning Italian could be a bridge to understanding your ancestry and connecting with relatives in a more meaningful way.
When comparing the process of learning Italian to other Romance languages, like Spanish, there are a few unique aspects you might encounter. Italian's pronunciation is often more straightforward than a language like French, with most letters having a consistent sound, which can make speaking it a bit easier for beginners.
However, Italian has its share of challenges, such as the use of gendered nouns and a plethora of verb conjugations, aspects that are also present but differ slightly in Spanish. The musicality of Italian, with its emphasis on the flow and melody of speech, offers a distinct learning curve but can be incredibly rewarding to master.
Not sure where to start? Think about these things as you weigh your options:
To steer you towards the best Italian lessons that align with your goals and preferred learning style, our team at Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated today's leading options and provided honest feedback on what each one offers. So, what are you waiting for? Start your Italian learning journey today!
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