Lingualift Review

Sunday, December 5th

2021 Japanese Lesson Reviews

Lingualift

• 4 levels of instruction, 25 lessons in each level
• First 3 lessons of each level are free
• Uses videos with native speakers
• Offers plenty of cultural context
• Tutors are always available to answer questions
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Japanese is one of just five languages offered by LinguaLift, an instructional platform resulting from more than six years of research by experts from Oxford, Stanford and Harvard University. Their studies revealed that when language learners have clarity - in organization, explanation and example - they're much more likely to stick with their studies. Their Japanese lessons aim to give you that very clarity and help you reach your fluency goals.

Customized learning plan comes with trial account

There are four levels of difficulty in the Japanese lessons offered by LinguaLift, and you can get access to the first three lessons in each level. You'll have a total of 25 lessons per level, or 100 lessons overall if you complete everything available here. Surprisingly, even with a no-cost account, students can get a customized "road map" to guide their studies. All you have to do is click on the link (in the first lesson or in the email you'll get after creating your account) and answer the questions about your desired fluency outcome, how soon you'd like to get there, and even what service you typically use for playing music. Your personalized plan will be delivered to your inbox within a week.

Lots of emphasis on culture, especially at first

Within the first three lessons on LinguaLIft, you'll learn a LOT about Japan and its culture, from capsule hotels to what you say when someone is arriving at home or leaving the house. These Japanese lessons place a great deal of emphasis on hearing the language in natural contexts on a regular basis: you'll get authentic materials in almost every lesson, from man-on-the-street interviews to dialogues and more.

Get a "reward" at the end of each lesson

And then there's cake. Yes, cake. When you get to the end of a lesson, there's always a "prize" - some kind of content to make you laugh or enjoy Japanese in a non-stressful manner. It could be a dog in Japan learning to catch a ball in his front paws, a recommendation for a great book (related to Japanese, of course), or many other treats. It's like the after-dinner mints at your favorite Italian restaurant!

Not much practice, especially with speaking

Compared with a lot of Japanese lessons, LinguaLift is light on the repetition/practice that are usually a hallmark of a language program. There might be a short quiz embedded in a lesson, but this program assumes you're going to work on things on your own (usually prompted by an icon that says "Over to you" and then gives you a short assignment). There's also not much for developing your spoken fluency in Japanese: no speech recognition exercises or even a recorder for playing your clips back and comparing them with the native speaker sample. That's the main reason LinguaLift doesn't earn our first-place ranking for Japanese instruction.

Teacher assistance included in your membership

On the other hand, these Japanese lessons come with instructor assistance - and not with a big surge in cost, but rather as part of your paid subscription. Many of those "Over to you" assignments direct you to complete a task and then send it to your tutor for feedback, like writing out a short dialogue or answering a few questions. They can also suggest extra assignments if you feel like your progress is stalling or if you need more practice with a specific concept. Don't expect an immediate response; these are real people who likely live in a different time zone than you, but rest assured that you have someone to turn to for any issues you have.

Costs

• $19.99/month for recurring month-to-month subscription
• $16.95/month ($50.97 total) for 3-month subscription
• $14.99/month ($89.94 total) for 6-month subscription
• $12.99/month ($155.88 total) for 12-month subscription

Reasonable pricing

So, you fell in love with LinguaLift and want to know how much it will cost to unlock all 500+ hours of Japanese lessons? Good news: it won't drain your wallet to subscribe. If you pay on a month-to-month basis, your cost will be $19.99. Paying for three, six, or twelve months at a time will bring your cost down by $3 to $7 each month, and all plans come with a 30-day refund policy.

Feels like learning Japanese from a trusted friend

Could LinguaLift provide a little more in terms of speaking practice and repetition exercises? In our opinion, yes. That's the only real downside, though. These Japanese lessons make us feel like we're sitting down in a big comfy chair and learning all about the language and the culture from someone we like - and who we can't wait to spend more time with. What are you waiting for? Go sign up for your free LinguaLift account and see for yourself!