The app then helps you remember those phrases using a flashcard system powered by spaced repetition – something I’m a big fan of.
So, in other words, you learn new phrases, and then you memorise them.
Nothing new, you might say.
True, there’s nothing new about useful phrases, flashcards, or space repetition, but the reason MosaLingua is very effective is that it gets the basics right.
What you’ve got here is an app that teaches you well-chosen, useful phrases that you’re actually going to want to use.
Then inside the app itself, you’ve got everything you need to practise and learn them:
- a good flashcard system that is user-friendly and works well
- audio
- images
- …and complete control over which phrases you study and don’t
I completely accept that flashcards are not for everybody. I usually even recommend making your own digital flashcards, so that you can have more control over your learning.
But the thing about apps, is that when you make them well, and they do the job they set out to do, they can be incredibly convenient as a portable language learning aid that you can carry anywhere and study throughout the day.
Let’s dive in and look at some of the features.
Level Assessment
When you first launch the app, you’re met with a basic level test that gives you a rough assessment of your level. Now, you can always change this afterwards, but it’s a good example of how the creators really make an effort to ensure you’re learning the right stuff, and not waste your time on phrases that are too easy or hard.
Once you have selected your level, the app then creates a personalised plan for you based on your results.
There are quite a few advantages that MosaLingua has as a Spaced Repetition App. The website gives you all of the science behind it but, science aside, I much prefer to judge an app on how useful it is, how easy it is to use, and whether or not I want to use it every day.
So there are lots of useful features…
- It always uses full sentences rather than individual words.
- By default, you study 5 cards at a time, but you can click more to increase this by 5 more cards, giving you control of the level.
- Within the app itself you have the option to record yourself on the card too and directly compare your pronunciation with the native speaker. You can re-record as much as you like until you get it perfect.
- Each card is presented to you in various different ways. As a card with a sentence in either English or Spanish, a card where you write the phrase, or a jumbled up sentence where you select the words. You also have the option to self-assess where you select how easy or difficult it was.
- You can also back up into the “Useful Lists” section, where you can view all of the cards you are currently learning or, if there are specific sentences you want to learn, then you can also add your own.
- Adding a card is simple, just click “Add Card” and then enter the phrases both English and Spanish, set the level – and you are done. The app will also automatically add the audio for the sentence if available.
Now, would you actually use all these features?
Who knows…
But what’s impressive is that they’re all well-chosen and practical learning aids, which I think demonstrate the creators know what they’re doing when it comes to language learning.
Bonus Materials
In terms of the content itself, you begin with straightforward language based on the results of the level test.
As you continue to progress through the app, you gradually unlock more materials like Proverbs, Fun Sentences and Things of Interest. These introduce more and more everyday vocabulary that you
might not get with a traditional course.
Conclusion
Remember, no one single app is going to be a complete language learning solution, so you will need to supplement Mosalingua with all the usual advice I give on this channel, on the podcast and on the blog.
But because Mosalingua allows you to choose what you study by topic (restaurants, conversations, transport etc.), it really does prove to be a good complement to learning with more traditional methods.
All in all, Mosalingua is mightily impressive, and I definitely recommend you give it a shot if it sounds like your kind of thing.
The full version costs a measly $5, which is cheaper than a large Starbucks, and you get full lifetime access. Pretty good!