How I test and score
I sift through the plethora of language apps, delivering reviews based on deep expertise in language learning and teaching.
My review process starts with an initial walk-through, using the app for at least 15 minutes to capture first impressions and usability.
I then conduct a criteria-based evaluation focusing on key features like spaced repetition, user customization, and the balance between educational content and gamification.
My reviews are thorough, with a scoring system that emphasizes course quality (70%) over user experience (20%) and price (10%).
Importantly, I do not receive payment for these reviews.
Learn more on my review policy and process page.
Summary
Course quality
User experience
Pricing
Pros
- Video content with native speakers
- Comprehensive coverage from A1 to B2
- Community feedback on submissions
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Many features require a premium subscription
- Peer feedback can be inconsistent
- Advertisements disrupt the learning flow
- Limited immediate feedback on speaking exercises
- Dependency on community corrections
Best suited for
Learners seeking to study with interactive content and community feedback would benefit the most from Busuu Italian.
At a glance
App name
Busuu
Made by
Busuu Online S.L.
User base
Sentiment
- Some users find the initial levels helpful but criticize the lack of advanced content, particularly after level A1, and the app\'s competitive gamification aspect.
- Users have reported difficulties canceling subscriptions, experiencing unintentional auto-renewals, and poor customer support regarding refunds.
- While some users find the point system motivating, others believe it detracts from genuine learning and leads to empty competition.
- Users report text formatting problems on iOS devices, making it difficult to read exercises, and inadequate responses from technical support in some cases.
- Despite issues, many users appreciate the helpfulness and prompt responses from customer service, praising specific representatives and overall support quality.
Concept
Busuu is a language app that it offers a combination of self-paced study and the chance to practise with native speakers around the world.
Available on
Web, iOS, Android
Levels covered
(A0) Total beginner, (A1) Beginner, (A2) Elementary, (B1) Intermediate, (B2) Upper-intermediate
14 languages taught
Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish
Pricing, free trial, refunds
Pricing
Free trial
Refunds
First-hand review
Walk-through
Busuu Italian is a language app that stands out with some unique features, including real videos of native Italian speakers and an interesting feedback mechanic. However, despite its strengths, the app falls short in one crucial area: helping users improve their speaking skills.
The lack of dedicated speech exercises limits its effectiveness for those looking to boost their conversational abilities.
Exploring the Navigation Bar
Busuu is divided into several key sections. Let\’s have a look:
Learn
This section contains the chapters you can do in order to progress, starting with beginner-friendly topics such as \”introductions\”, \”nationalities\”, and \”family\”.
For Italian, the app covers levels A1 to B2 (beginner to upper intermediate).
Review
This section is divided into two parts. One dedicated to grammar and the other one focused on vocabulary.
Grammar Section
The grammar section contains several categories that aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of basic Italian grammar. However, much of the content is locked behind a paywall.
Vocabulary Section
This section saves new words learned from previous lessons, creating a personalized list for easy review and vocabulary retention.
This feature allows you to keep track of your expanding vocabulary. By consistently tracking your progress, you can determine which words you\’ve mastered and which ones require additional practice.
Community
This section contains one of the most interesting features Busuu has to offer. It allows you to submit your audio or text for review by other students.
While this peer feedback is a nice touch, I think feedback from actual teachers or tutors is far more helpful. Their expertise and experience can provide more accurate, detailed, and constructive insights, which are crucial for effective learning and improvement.
While exploring the community section, I realized that despite not being a native English speaker, I was still asked to correct the work of people learning English. This was surprising to me, as I expected Busuu to have a better way to determine whether a person is proficient enough to correct other people\’s work or not.
It\’s also important to notice that being a native speaker does not necessarily mean having the expertise to provide accurate corrections. This experience emphasized the importance of expert feedback for effective language learning.
Testing a Lesson
Now, let\’s have a look at an actual lesson. I chose the lesson \”Say How You Feel,\” which teaches expressions like bene and grazie.
Lesson Content
The lesson starts with a video featuring native speakers saying the phrases. This is a nice touch that I haven\’t seen in other apps.
The exercises involve listening, repeating, and completing phrases. The format is similar to Duolingo but with the added benefit of having videos where actual people talk to the user.
The lesson is short and concise, followed by advertisements which can be a bit disruptive.
Additional Features
The app offers specific courses like \”Italian for Travel\” and \”Italian Pronunciation,\” though most of the content requires a premium subscription.
Conversation Practice
This feature encourages you to speak about provided pictures and videos and submit your recordings for review. While it\’s a promising concept, it would be more effective if integrated with specific lessons learned.
Leagues and Gamification
These features resemble those in other apps, like Duolingo, which heavily rely on gamified elements to promote consistent usage.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I found Busuu Italian to offer a better experience compared to some other apps due to its unique video content. However, despite these strengths, Busuu doesn\’t put particular emphasis on speaking exercises, and the reliance on peer feedback for corrections can be limiting.
The addition of speech recognition software and feedback from qualified teachers would significantly improve the learning experience.
Features
Spaced repetition
Does the app offer plenty of repetition to acquire vocab and grammar naturally?
Customization
Can users customize settings, interface, content, etc.?
Focus on learning
Is the interface and content focused on the course content instead of fluff and gamification?
Personalization
Are the materials automatically tailored to the user’s profile?
Sentence accuracy
Are sentences free from typos, grammar errors? Do they sound natural?
Sentence relevance
Are sentences realistic and useful?
Variety and depth
Is there enough variety of materials in terms of topics, formats and levels?
Audio quality
Are audio materials easy to listen to in terms of recording quality and speech rate?
Speaker's quality
Do speakers speak correctly, clearly and naturally?
Speaking practice
Does the app offer plenty of speaking practice?
Ease of use
Is the app easy to set up, use and navigate?
Interface and design
Is the user interface neat and visually appealing?
Performance
Does the app load fast? Is it free from glitches and crashes?
Grammar notes
Do the courses come with grammar notes?
Learning path
Do the courses follow a well defined path?
Speech recognition
Does the app recognize user speech?
User-generated courses
Can users actively generate materials from their interests?
Offline access
Are the courses available offline?
Conclusions
Would I take these courses?
I would use the app for its unique video content, but the reliance on other learners´ feedback and the premium paywall are limiting factors.
How to get the most out of the app
Combine lessons with community feedback, utilize the vocabulary review feature, and engage actively in conversation practice for optimal results.
Alternatives
Think In Italian is better than Busuu to master Italian
Think In Italian is the only app that gets your to speak Italian all the time. It comes with hundreds of grammar lessons and readings to listen and repeat, plus an AI tutor to review the courses and practice conversation. See the full review.
FAQs
What levels does Busuu Italian cover?
From A1 to B2.
Does Busuu have a free version?
Yes, but features are limited.
Is Busuu's peer feedback reliable?
It can be inconsistent.
Are there advertisements in Busuu?
Yes, in the free version.
Does Busuu focus on speaking practice?
The app includes speaking exercises but they are limited.
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Rave Reviews
★★★★★
Rated 4.9/5 based on 170+ reviews
