Lingopie and Netflix are both streaming platforms that offer diverse content in multiple languages. But what are the key differences between these sites, and which is better for language learners?
In this post, we will compare Lingopie and Netflix as tools for language learning, taking you through their best features, as well as areas for improvement.
Before we dive in, though, let's look at the benefits of learning your target language through TV and movies.
Learning Languages with Film and TV
The process of learning foreign languages is long and at times challenging, but the good news is that it can be fun and never needs to be dull!
Rather than studying textbooks and vocab lists, you can develop your language skills by engaging with movies and TV shows in different languages.
Language learning by watching TV and movies in a different language is not only fun but it is a valid and proven method for everyone from absolute beginners to intermediate and advanced learners.
There are many key advantages to this learning method. For instance, watching TV in other languages exposes you to different dialects, slang words, and natural pronunciation as demonstrated by native speakers. You can also learn about various different cultures.
Moreover, hearing native speakers is the best way to absorb a new language and build your bank of useful new vocabulary. By contrast, learning from a textbook or language learning app like Duolingo can cause you to sound stilted and sometimes unnatural.
Our brains naturally pick up other languages through exposure. Similar to how you learned your native language, you will start to build connections and repeat sounds and words you hear until you become proficient in speaking a new language.
Finally, you can choose which content to stream to focus your learning. If your focus is different verb tenses, for instance, you can select the content that features a lot of past tenses to develop the target language.
Language Learning with Netflix: Best Features
Now that you know why watching TV can be so beneficial for language acquisition, let's look at how far Netflix can take you toward your language goals.
Variety of Content
Potentially Netflix's single greatest selling point is its huge catalog of movies and TV shows. Not only is there a vast amount of foreign language content available on the site, but this content covers many languages and genres.
Shows and movies on Netflix are split into different categories so you can easily find the right one for you.
Netflix can also boast the rights to many very popular shows. This means that you can keep up with current trends in foreign language TV and movies, like Squid Game and Money Heist.
Subtitles and Dubbing
You can also choose to watch with either English or target language subtitles. Beginners who are learning Spanish, for instance, can watch a Spanish language show with English subtitles, while intermediate learners may prefer to watch the same TV show with Spanish subtitles, and advanced learners with none at all.
As well as this, many Netflix shows have an alternative dubbed version. This can be a great feature for more advanced-level students who want to immerse themselves in foreign languages and avoid all English content for maximum learning potential.
Areas for Improvement
The downside of using Netflix for language study is that this platform was not actually designed with language learning in mind. This means it does not offer special features or interactive exercises for language practice.
What's more, the price of a Netflix subscription can be a little prohibitive for some users.
Language Learning with Lingopie: Best Features
Next, we will look at the benefits of using Lingopie shows for language learning. You can also visit Lingopie and check them out for yourself.
Speaking and Listening Practice
Lingopie has a "say it" feature that allows you to speak a single word or phrase into your computer microphone and be instantly scored by Lingopie on your pronunciation.
On top of that, you can loop a sentence or phrase so that it plays multiple times, which is good for listening comprehension. Or, click "speak sentence" to have the line repeated slowly aloud by a machine-generated voice for better understanding.
Finally, you can alter the playback speed of a Lingopie video and choose between beginner (0.5x), novice (0.75x), intermediate (0.8x), advanced (o.9x), and full speed (1x).
Diverse Subtitle Features
Lingopie boasts a great feature called dual subtitles. When you are watching Russian content, for instance, you can choose to have both English and Russian subtitles showing on the screen to help you follow. There is also the option for subtitles in just one language or no subtitles at all.
Moreover, Lingopie's subtitles are interactive. Whenever there is a word you do not know you can click on it for an instant translation. This is something you cannot do with Netflix, which was not built with the purpose of helping language learners.
While watching movies or TV shows on Lingopie, you can also choose to have an on-screen transcription of the show on the right side of the display. Whenever you like, you can click on a word to hear the correct pronunciation and see the English translation.
Lingopie also offers a "mash-up" subtitles feature. Content plays with English subtitles, but when a useful word comes up, the foreign language translation also shows. This feature is good for contextual learning and building practical vocabulary.
Vocabulary Building
Before you watch any of the native content on Lingopie, a menu of "words to learn" will pop up featuring the key new vocabulary featured in the show. These words are highlighted by the Lingopie team as particularly useful. You can mark a word as learned once you know it.
When you are watching a show or movie on Lingopie, you can create interactive flashcards of any words you want to learn. Simply click on the word in the subtitles that you want to remember, and it will automatically save in the flashcard section of the site.
Finally, word master and pop quiz are both interactive games offered by Lingopie in which you match your flashcard words with their English translations.
Country-Specific Content
Lingopie's shows and movies are all labeled with the flag of the country they are from. This is important as, for instance, if you want to learn Spanish, you can decide if you want to learn European Spanish or watch more Latin American Spanish shows.
The same applies to Lingopie German and other languages that are spoken in multiple countries.
Areas for Improvement
Something that you will notice about Lingopie compared with Netflix is that it has a much smaller catalog of available TV shows and movies. Moreover, the TV series and movies on Lingopie are generally less well known than Netflix productions.
The content on Lingopie is limited to eight, albeit popular, languages, and the quiz activities are very similar. However, Lingopie is always adding new features, so the site will continue to improve.
Netflix and Lingopie: The Similarities
Both of these streaming platforms offer a wide variety of foreign language shows and movies which provide an excellent opportunity for learners to practice their listening comprehension, cultural awareness, and pronunciation.
On top of that, Netflix and Lingopie have optional foreign language or English subtitles for all content.
Netflix and Lingopie: The Differences
The main feature of Lingopie is that it is absolutely geared toward language acquisition and active learning, while Netflix and other streaming services are not.
What's more, Lingopie's features include exercises and interactive flashcards for vocabulary practice, while Netflix does not have games or interactive features.
Netflix offers subtitles in a range of languages but does not offer dual subtitles. Meanwhile, Lingopie has a host of subtitle features to choose from.
Finally, a key difference between Lingopie and Netflix that has been demonstrated is the different sizes of catalogs they boast. Netflix can offer more mainstream content, while Lingopie is home to some obscure and quirky, but nonetheless entertaining, content.
Which Platform Is Best for Language Learners?
Having analyzed the best features of both streaming platforms for target language acquisition, it is clear that Lingopie is the better platform for learning languages.
Lingopie is the best option particularly for beginner and intermediate learners, as it offers several interactive learning features and options to test your progress.
Meanwhile, Netflix can suit more advanced learners who do not need to pause a show frequently to practice pronunciation or vocab. These learners can use Netflix to binge current popular shows in many languages and join in worldwide conversations about them.
Provided you want to learn one of the eight available languages on Lingopie, this service is definitely the best choice for learners focused on development and improvement.
Although Netflix has a larger breadth of shows in more languages, it falls short as it is not a platform specifically designed for learning, unlike Lingopie.
If you have the goal of language acquisition and comprehension, then Lingopie is much more likely to meet these expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lingopie
Can you become fluent with Lingopie?
Lingopie will build a very solid foundation for you to continue on your language journey. Fluency is definitely achievable with Lingopie if you watch content daily in conjunction with speaking the language, reading, and writing as well.
It is important to practice all of the skills associated with language learning (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) and use other study methods alongside Lingopie if you want to optimize your learning.
Are the shows on Lingopie real?
Yes, the shows on Lingopie are real and often locally made. The content on Lingopie covers the following languages: Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and Korean.
Moreover, it is split into genres, making it easy to find the right content for your language learning needs.
What is the best language-learning App?
Popular language learning apps include Duolingo, Mondly, and Babbel, among other apps. These apps focus on learning through memorization and language learning exercises.
However, Lingopie offers the chance to stream content like TV shows and movies in different languages. Moreover, Lingopie's interactive features set it apart from other language apps and streaming services.
How much does Lingopie cost per month?
Lingopie offers a 7-day free trial for people signing up for its annual or family plan packages. Monthly subscribers pay 12$ per month, while annual subscribers pay just 5.99$ per month. The annual subscription saves 50%.
If you get a group of four language learners together, Lingopie offers friends and family a plan for 8.25$ a month.
Meanwhile, Netflix costs from 9.99$ per month to 19.99$, depending on how many streamers have account access and what level of video quality you want to pay for.
How does Lingopie help you learn the target language?
Lingopie offers quiz games based on the words you have selected to learn. Moreover, with its "say it" feature, Lingopie promotes speaking practice, and its many subtitles options offer reading practice.
When it comes to streaming platforms, there are no Lingopie alternatives that offer this level of practice and focused study.
Summing Up: Lingopie or Netflix, Which Is Best for Learning Languages?
So, there you have it; Lingopie is the ultimate streaming service in the language learning world. This platform is designed to teach languages through immersion in foreign content.
Lingopie offers an effective method for acquiring and comprehending a target language. It also offers advanced features for language development that other platforms do not have.
Netflix is also a great tool, particularly for intermediate and advanced learners who rely less on interactive flashcards and other Lingopie features, like dual subtitles. However, Netflix is not designed with language learning in mind.
Sign up for a Lingopie subscription and a 7-day free trial today to see for yourself how binging great shows and movies can help you to practice comprehension and build vocabulary in any of the popular languages available.
