An Honest Review of My Experience Using the Chinese Learning App [LingoDeer]

Hello, I am Ijichi (the courage from Chinese coaching @taroijichi).

Recently, more and more people are using apps to study foreign languages, not just Chinese.

At the same time, I have been receiving more consultations from people who are unsure which app to use because there are so many options, so this time I have summarized my thoughts after actually using the app called LingoDeer. Please use this as a reference when choosing an app.

📲LingoDeer Download: iOS / Android

1. What is LingoDeer?

LingoDeer is an app that allows you to easily acquire language skills up to an intermediate level through self-study. While I will focus on Chinese study this time, you can learn not only Chinese but also multiple languages such as Korean, English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Vietnamese using Japanese or English.

When learning Chinese in Japanese, there is a course specifically for native Japanese speakers. You can not only select levels from beginner lessons (equivalent to HSK 1-2) to intermediate lessons (equivalent to HSK 3-4), but there are also menus such as travel phrase collections.

2. Introducing 3 good features of LingoDeer

① You can learn according to a curriculum

Since LingoDeer is a curriculum created by professional teachers, you can learn according to the curriculum, much like studying with a textbook at a general school.

For the basics, it starts with pronunciation and proceeds in order from 1 → 2 → 3.

② You can learn like a game

I actually took the course, and there are various approaches to questions, such as reordering problems and problems where your own pronunciation is recorded and checked. Since it is a style where you clear these, you can work on it like a game even in a short amount of time.

▼Part of the Intermediate Course▼

3. You can hear various native pronunciations

This is surprisingly important. Chinese in teaching materials often ends up being 'textbook Chinese,' and sometimes the pronunciation is so overly formal that it feels unnatural. In LingoDeer, you can listen to audio of actual native speakers of various ages and genders. Even though they pronounce things quite slowly and carefully, it provides a good realization that 'Oh, this is a bit different from the textbook.'

▼Video of the actual beginner level▼

3. Who LingoDeer is recommended for

1. Beginner to intermediate Chinese learners

The curriculum content is aimed at beginner to intermediate learners, so it is the perfect level for those who are curious about what kind of language Chinese is, or for those who have studied it just a little bit.

2. People who want to study consistently every day over the medium to long term

Because it is easy to continue every day with a game-like feel, I think it is a good app for people who want to study daily over the medium to long term, such as over the course of a year, at a relaxed pace. On the other hand, if you need to build your skills all at once, for example, right before an overseas assignment, you will likely find the speed insufficient.

3. People who want to learn Chinese through English

People who have studied English in the past sometimes come to me asking, 'Can I learn Chinese through English?' because they don't want to forget the English they've learned but also want to start learning Chinese. I thought LingoDeer would be useful for such people, as it allows you to learn Chinese through English.

4. Recommended ways to use it

If you are going to use LingoDeer, I think it would be very beneficial to keep the following two points in mind.

1. Set a specific time to use the app

Since it is an app that makes it easy to continue with a game-like feel, it is best to set a specific time to work on it.

By deciding this in advance, it becomes much easier to maintain consistency.

2. Use it in conjunction with a textbook

It is truly convenient that you can study with an app, but at the same time, if you also acquire systematic knowledge through books, the effectiveness of your app-based study will double. Therefore, I think it is better to use it alongside a textbook and separate the purposes, such as using the app for maintaining your study habits and for testing.

▼Recommended textbooks are here▼

5. Conclusion

You can download the LingoDeer app introduced here.

📲LingoDeer Download: iOS / Android

When studying, always keep the purpose of your training in mind. The same applies when using apps; even just thinking about what your goal is for using this app this time is enough to ensure your training isn't aimless.

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If you are serious about learning Chinese, Chinese language coaching will surely be helpful. You can see the details here.

▼Details on Chinese Language Coaching▼