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
- Regular content updates
- Natural-sounding dialogues
- Structured courses for all levels
Cons
- Limited interactivity
- Old-fashioned lesson format
- Basic, non-engaging quizzes
Best suited for
Learners seeking regular content updates to practice listening skills and natural audio dialogues.
At a glance
App name
News in Slow Italian
Made by
Linguistica 360®
User base
Sentiment
- Account Creation Issues: Many users complain about the inability to create an account within the app and find the developers\' responses dismissive.
- Password Reset Problems: Users note the lack of a password reset option within the app, considering it a basic function that should be included.
- Highlight and Note Features: Users request the ability to highlight text and make notes within the app to enhance interactivity with the content.
- Export Options for Vocabulary: There\'s a strong desire for features that allow exporting vocabulary and phrases to external tools like Excel or Quizlet for better review and retention.
- Playback Order: Users prefer an option to play news programs chronologically forward rather than backwards for a better learning experience.
Concept
News in Slow Italian offers the opportunity to improve listening skills with interesting and current content, however, it is not the best option for people seeking speaking improvement.
Available on
Web, iOS, Android
Levels covered
(A1) Beginner, (A2) Elementary, (B1) Intermediate, (B2) Upper-intermediate, (C1) Advanced
4 languages taught
French, German, Italian, Spanish
Pricing, free trial, refunds
Pricing
Free trial
Refunds
First-hand review
Walk-through
First Impressions
When logging in, you\’re greeted with a main page that presents various languages to choose from. Apart from Italian, the app offers Spanish, French, German, and more.
News in Slow Italian categorizes lessons into different levels such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
Exploring the Beginner Section
I decided to dive into the beginner section first. The app organizes content by different topics like world news, politics, science, and culture. One of the immediate positives is the frequency with which these topics are updated—at least once a week, which keeps the learning material fresh and relevant.
The app includes various types of content: dialogues, lessons, quizzes, and more. My experience with the beginner section revealed that the lessons tend to be very text-focused and reminiscent of traditional grammar books. While this might suit some learners, I found it somewhat lacking in interactivity, missing features like clickable words for pronunciation assistance or more dynamic quiz formats.
Intermediate and Advanced Sections
Moving on to the intermediate section, the app continues to categorize content into engaging topics such as politics, culture, and trending technology. Additionally, News in Slow Italian seems to create its own content series, which is a nice touch. However, the structure remained largely the same—dialogues, lessons, and quizzes—each retaining a traditional approach that could benefit from modernization.
The advanced section didn’t differ much from the intermediate one either. Despite the topic variation, the overall structure and presentation were consistent, with text-heavy lessons and standard fill-in-the-blank quizzes.
Grammar and Expression Section
One area worth mentioning is the \”Grammar and Expressions\” section. This part is organized by practical expressions and colloquial sayings, which can be very useful for real-world communication. Again, the dialogues in this section are high quality, feel very natural and provide ample opportunities to listen to native speakers.
Audio and Pronunciation Features
A notable feature in News in Slow Italian is its focus on audio. The dialogues are delivered naturally, and they offer a recording feature where users can match their pronunciation against native speakers. This part of the app, while limited to one sentence at a time, helps in practicing speaking skills. However, I felt it could be expanded to include more comprehensive feedback and a greater variety of sentences per session.
Areas for Improvement
While I appreciate the app\’s extensive content and organized structure, there are areas where it could improve:
- Interactivity: Lessons are text-heavy and could benefit from richer interactive elements.
- Pronunciation Assistance: Given that News in Slow Italian emphasizes audio learning, the app should offer more comprehensive pronunciation tools, such as clickable words that provide audio pronunciations.
- Modernized Quizzes: The current format feels outdated and could be made more engaging with interactive, game-like elements.
Cultural and Educational Content
Another highlight of News in Slow Italian is its diverse cultural content. Whether it’s articles about Italian cuisine, art, or current events, the app offers topics that are not only educational but also interesting. As someone who values cultural immersion in language learning, I found this aspect particularly engaging. Consuming content on such diverse topics made the learning process feel less like a chore and more like a cultural exploration.
Final Thoughts
News in Slow Italian offers a solid foundation for learners looking for listening practice, particularly with its variety of content and frequent updates. However, it does feel somewhat old-fashioned in its approach. Enhancing interactivity and providing detailed pronunciation assistance could significantly improve the user\’s experience.
Despite its traditional feel, the app serves as a valuable resource for language learners, especially those who appreciate a mix of audio and text.
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 it for the authentic audio content but miss more interactive and dynamic features.
How to get the most out of the app
Focus on the natural-sounding dialogues and regular updates for effective listening practice.
Alternatives
Think In Italian is better than News in Slow Italian 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
Is there a free version of News in Slow Italian?
Yes, but with limited access.
Are the lessons interactive in News in Slow Italian?
Mostly text-based with minimal interactivity.
Does News in Slow Italian offer a pronunciation feature?
Yes, but limited to certain exercises.
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Rave Reviews
★★★★★
Rated 4.9/5 based on 170+ reviews
