Mini Review: Babbel

Note: If you read my last post and were anticipating a new update on a Thursday, just know I did dive into a post yesterday that ended up driving me deep into the night. Once midnight drew near and the source list grew longer, I decided that at least the intention was pure. To give myself more time on that post, here's a flash-bang review of the Babbel app.

Babbel: a language-learning app known for its sleek interface and structured approach; offers courses in 14 languages up to different levels

• Slay: easy, clean UX with few distractions

• Slay: Listening conversations feel relatively natural, even though they are AI; they don't have a stilted or overly formal vibe.

• Slay: I tested the app with the Latin American Spanish course, and I enjoyed a basic listening conversation between a Mexican man and an American man, where they were both using accurate Spanish, but there is a difference in accent so you can hear the contrast.

• Slay: Lessons are structured around real-life, practical conversations with grammar principles incorporated throughout; for example, I went through a lesson about traffic and transportation that also taught/drilled conditional verb forms.

• Nay: requires a paid subscription after 7 days, and even during those 7 days, most lessons and all speaking practice are locked

• Nay: layout feels like an app for a newspaper; feels uninviting and under-stimulating. The minimalistic, academic vibe (which I would normally adore) makes the UX feel dry and unmotivating, reading as a tool that's tailored toward professionals who need to get familiar with a target language for a business trip.

• Nay: This is more of an "Eh" than a "Nay," as there's a possibility my ADHD was raging when I was trying out the app, but I found the speed at which the lessons progressed somewhat frustrating. The way the lesson unfolded felt similar to a cut scene or a lengthy monologue in a video game (which I am notorious for having a hard time waiting through). However, if you have more patience or a longer attention span than I do, the slower approach does force you to slow down and match reading with listening skills, without giving you the option to skip through and not actually retain.

For a more in-depth, expert review, check out this Medium article by Ilam Padmanabhan; it's a great resource for exploring the pros and cons and evaluating whether the app is worth the investment.

Recommendations:

• Babbel seems to be best for beginning learners who prefer to have a good amount of structure and acknowledge that Babbel can only get them past the beginner level before becoming relatively obsolete.

• Advice that applies to Babbel as well as to other apps: Once you achieve B1 and especially B2, start diversifying and using other tools. Apps are great to get you started, build your vocabulary, and supplement as you go, but it's highly unlikely you'll achieve fluency with an app. Take live classes if you can afford them or use YouTube conversation practice videos, get a language buddy if you feel comfortable, or start doing more advanced/creative exercises like writing diary entries, reading short stories, or shadowing podcasts. This will get you actively engaging and thinking in your language rather than simply answering questions.