FluentU Review 2024: Worth Your Money?
This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
FluentU teaches languages with videos. It uses real videos instead of textbook lessons. This helps learn vocab and grammar from the videos. You learn how words and rules are used in real conversations. Read this review to see if FluentU helps you learn languages better.
What is FluentU?
FluentU takes real videos from songs, commercials, news and speeches. It turns the videos into language lessons for you. You hear languages as native speakers use them in real life. The videos are personalized for your learning level. FluentU helps you learn languages from how real people use them.
FluentU Pricing
FluentU has two payment options:
- Yearly costing $11.99 per month
- Monthly costing $29.99 per month
There is also a 14 day free trial.
Who Can Benefit from FluentU?
FluentU is perfect for visual learners and anyone who wants full immersion in a language.
It’s also great for:
- Intermediate students building vocabulary
- Advanced learners sharpening listening skills
Beginners learning conversations for the first time may not find it to be the easiest learning method. More on that later.
How FluentU Works
FluentU makes learning fun by adding interactive captions to videos. As you watch, tap any word to see its translation or meaning. FluentU uses these clicks to suggest more helpful videos and examples that use the same word so you can learn it in different contexts. Over time, you build vocabulary and real-world language abilities.
What FluentU Lessons Are Like
FluentU lessons are engaging and feel completely different from textbook units.
As you explore interesting clips ranging from movie trailers to news reports, it’s just you, your interests, and real media.
The program groups videos by category and difficulty level.
As you improve, FluentU you can watch new, more complex videos to continue challenging your skills.
There are quizzes that you can do after the videos to test your comprehension.
Inside the FluentU App
FluentU’s user-friendly website and mobile apps make finding and watching videos a breeze. Let’s explore how it works.
Finding Videos
Based on your interests and level, FluentU recommends videos for you to watch. You can also browse videos by topic or difficulty. Search for videos about any subjects you want to study.
Watching Videos
Each video is only a short 2-5 minute clip (at least most of the ones I saw). Interactive captions let you instantly look up words. Tap terms you want to learn more about, and you can save them for review.
Video Player
Features FluentU’s video player lets you replay lines, read transcripts, take notes, adjust audio speed, and more. Captions appear in the language you’re learning and your native language.
Looping Sections
Having trouble understanding fast native speech? Use FluentU’s loop feature to replay challenging videos as needed. Slow it down, check translations, and analyze every word.
Key Features
Here are some of FluentU’s best features:
- Personalized Vocabulary Lists: Save words using the flashcards
- Offline Access to transcripts: Download video transcripts to watch without WiFi
- Follow-Up Activities After you watch a video, FluentU creates a personalized quiz to test your understanding.
- Flashcards and exercises allow you to practice saved vocabulary words.
- Audio lessons are also available
Mobile Apps
FluentU offers free iPhone and Android apps. You can download audio and flashcards for offline viewing and take lessons on the go.
Is FluentU Good for Beginners?
It depends! FluentU provides subtitles and translations, making it a good choice for beginner leaners that are more visual or who just like watching interesting videos. Videos are organized by level, so you can start with simple conversations. Use built-in dictionaries and transcripts to look up anything confusing.
However, most of the video content on the platform is for intermediate and advance learners.
So, if you’re using it alongside other learning resources then it can be a good way for beginners to have exposure to real-world use of the language. But, if used on its own, beginners may struggle to have a comprehensive learning experience.
FluentU Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Videos are fun and engaging
- Interactive features improve learning
- Personalized content matched to your level
- Frequent quizzes boost memorization
Cons:
- Video library is still growing for some languages
- Not much beginner content when compared to other learning levels
- Can feel overwhelming by itself
- Monthly fee
Learn a New language with FluentU!
If you want to immerse yourself in a language and learn vocabulary within real-world situations, FluentU is a top pick. From cooking shows to commercials, you’ll explore languages you love through real media. Tap any word to instantly see definitions, more videos, and example sentences. Save what you learn for practice activities later. It’s an entertaining way to build vocabulary and understand how native speakers talk. Try the free trial to see if FluentU’s video-based approach works for your learning style.
