Friday, June 20th
2025 Japanese Lesson Reviews
Mondly
- Pricing from $9.99 per month or $48 per year
- Sentence-reading and listening approach
- Latin alphabet alongside hiragana
- Preview content with a free account
- 7-day free trial of premium
- Can use both offline and online
- Gamified learning with points and leaderboards
- Learn from source languages other than English
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Mondly is a language learning program that's headquartered in Romania. This platform offers a fun and user-friendly approach to language learning, backed by recognition from Forbes, CNN, and Bloomberg. Mondly provides a dedicated app for kids, making it a competitive option for families who want to learn Japanese together. While the basic version offers free content, advanced features are available through a separate subscription. With a lesson design that follows a map-like structure, you can learn step-by-step as you progress through the language of your choice.
Sneak peek with free trial
Finding Japanese lessons on Mondly is simple. You just choose your starting language and indicate your proficiency level in Japanese and you're ready to start learning without even making an account. This free trial period allows you a sneak peek at the first six lessons, a vocabulary section, a Chatbot conversation, and bonus lessons on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
Mondly throws you right in
We tested out the first lesson, which throws you right into the language. You can toggle between hiragana and the Latin alphabet, but if you learn according to the way Mondly is set up by default, you'll be seeing only hiragana characters and pictures loosely related to the term you're learning. The lesson progresses quickly from pictures and vocabulary words to full sentences using hiragana characters. For an absolute beginner, this might feel frustratingly fast. It's almost impossible to complete the lesson in Hiragana without using the Latin alphabet back and forth during lesson one.
You don't have to start from English to learn
Mondly's distinctive features help it stand out. For one, Mondly was designed for students beginning from various languages, not solely English. This departure from the usual practice of assuming English as the starting point is particularly helpful if you're starting Japanese from a Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Polish, or other language background.
Monthly or annual payment options
While Mondly offers a free membership, it comes with certain limitations. The free version allows you to use Daily Lessons, the entire Hello lesson category, and a single chatbot lesson. However, to access more content, a subscription is required. To get an idea of what you might find with premium, Mondly offers a 7-day free trial. If you choose to subscribe, you'll find two primary plans available. The Mondly premium plan costs $9.99 per month or $47.99 per year with a 12-month prepayment option. You can also choose an annual access plan that provides access to 33 languages. At the time of our review, this package was on sale for the same price as the regular annual membership ($47.99). On the other hand, if you try to buy it outside of the promo period it can cost up to $479.99.
Learning style lacks grammar
At present, Mondly provides limited direct grammar instruction. From our observation during testing, the platform focuses on teaching through sentences and phrases, gradually incorporating grammar nuances without explicitly highlighting them in the lesson material. While this method may not appeal to everyone, especially those accustomed to structured lessons with explicit grammar explanations, Mondly's approach combines pictures, listening exercises, and written words. However, this can be overwhelming in more complex languages like Japanese where you may feel like you've been thrown into the deep end without a lot of explanation.
Extremely limited refund policy
One of the most disappointing parts of Mondly is its refund policy. Currently, only special circumstances qualify for a refund. These include things like a breach of contract terms by Mondly. Basically, Mondly has to be proven to be at fault for you to receive a refund. If Mondly is at fault and you've already paid for future services, Mondly will reimburse you for the unused portion of your subscription from the cancellation date. While this might not pose a significant issue if you plan to use a monthly membership, it could be disappointing for those who prepaid for a year.
Some mixed reviews on effectiveness
Based on student feedback, Mondly has gained a strong reputation, despite concerns about its refund policy. Reviews on the Apple Store and Google Play store both show high average ratings, with students praising Mondly for its effectiveness in helping them sound authentic and understand conversational language. However, there are some mixed reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot where Mondly has a more mid-tier rating of 3.3 stars out of 5. Students complained that some lessons were very difficult to follow and that Mondly doesn't spend enough time teaching clear pronunciation. While none of these reviews referred to specific languages, we noticed similar drawbacks in our preview of Japanese lesson 1.
Japanese lessons may move too quickly
Mondly distinguishes itself as a cost-effective choice for Japanese lessons. However, as we know, not all sites are one-size-fits-all for language learning. While Mondly's method and continually evolving lessons position it as a preferred option for many languages, it misses the mark a little with Japanese. The program dives too quickly into full sentences without taking time to parse characters in hiragana and pronunciation to match the new character shapes. With this problem, along with some concerns about refunds and proficiency in the long term, Mondly doesn't come out as a favorite for learning Japanese.
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Where Can You Find the Best Japanese Lessons?
Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities, and Japanese is one of the most intriguing languages you can choose. Suppose you're fascinated by Japanese culture, anime, manga, or traditional arts like tea ceremonies and calligraphy. In that case, delving into the Japanese language can provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of what you love.
Fortunately, with the increasing popularity of online learning, you can easily find Japanese lessons on the internet. Whether you're a complete beginner or seeking to refine your conversational skills, online Japanese courses offer a variety of teaching styles. From immersive audio lessons and interactive quizzes to multimedia resources and virtual language exchanges, online platforms offer an engaging learning environment.
Japanese Lesson FAQ
Continued from above...
Whether you dream of exploring the bustling streets of Tokyo, immersing yourself in the serene landscapes of Kyoto, or simply connecting with Japanese speakers, learning the language can be a rewarding experience.
Japan has a rich cultural heritage, steeped in centuries-old traditions and modern innovations. From the graceful movements of traditional dance forms like Noh and Kabuki to the intricate artistry of sushi-making and bonsai cultivation, Japanese culture offers art, history, and innovation. By learning Japanese, you gain access to a vibrant cultural world that spans ancient history and contemporary pop culture phenomena like J-pop music. From the elegance of Japanese architecture to the dynamic energy of modern city life, learning Japanese allows you to delve deeper into the heart and soul of Japan.
In today's interconnected world, proficiency in Japanese can open doors to many personal and professional opportunities. Japan is a global economic powerhouse, home to leading technology companies, automotive giants, and influential cultural exports. Whether you aspire to work for a Japanese corporation, pursue academic research in collaboration with Japanese institutions, or engage in cross-cultural exchange programs, fluency in Japanese can significantly broaden your horizons.
As you embark on your journey to learn Japanese, it can be hard to narrow down the options. Here are some key factors to consider to help you find the best resource for your Japanese lessons:
- Teaching methodology. Identify your preferred learning style - whether auditory, visual, or kinesthetic - and select a Japanese course that works best with how you learn. Whether you thrive on interactive exercises, audiovisual content, or structured grammar discussions, make sure you prioritize platforms that offer methods that support how you learn best.
- Free trial option. Look for Japanese language platforms that offer free trials or sample lessons. This allows you to check out the program before committing to a subscription. Some platforms offer course previews or multi-day trials. These will give you the best chance at trying a language program before you have to pay.
- Cost. Evaluate the cost of Japanese language courses with respect to the value they offer in terms of educational content and language proficiency outcomes. Many Japanese language lessons are free, but you may not get full proficiency from those sources. On the other hand, some programs are very expensive, but you still might miss some key features. Balance the cost and value of the language instruction to find your best fit.
- Reputation. Research the reputation and credibility of Japanese language platforms through customer reviews, ratings, and testimonials. Explore third-party review sites, language learning forums, and social media channels to see if your favorite Japanese lesson provider offers the results you want. Look for platforms with positive feedback regarding instructional effectiveness, customer support, and learning outcomes for a rewarding and fulfilling learning experience.
To help you get the most out of your language studies, Top Consumer Reviews has tested, evaluated and ranked the best options for online Japanese lessons today. We know this information will give you all the info you need to choose the best program for your learning style and schedule.
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