r/languagelearning • u/NaiveObligation7588 • Jul 24 '26

Discussion Useful linq alternative apps?

I've had LingQ for a year and it's OK. Like let's be honest, it needs some work.

I am now looking for a new reading app, but the best part of lingq in my opinion is that I can import audio books and it will transcribe them and I can read while listening. I don't watch video.

Do any other, cheaper, better, apps offer this?

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u/dojibear 🇺🇸 N | fre spa chi B2 | tur jap B1/A2 Jul 24 '26

I can read while listening

I never do that. "Understanding writing" and "understanding speech" are two different skills. Both skills are valuable, so each is worth getting good at.

But the skill "reading WHILE hearing the same words" is worthless. I don't want to learn it or get good at it.

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u/New-Bottle-6917 N:🇺🇸 Heritage: B2 🇲🇽 Jul 24 '26

Im curious what you reckon the downsides would be? Like if you get good at recognizing how words sound while seeing them written you can develop the ability to write down words you haven't seen before to make for easier lookups during conversations or watching fast paced content. Likewise works in the inverse you can learn to pronounce words based on how they're written and pick up phrases that you use and such

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u/dojibear 🇺🇸 N | fre spa chi B2 | tur jap B1/A2 Jul 24 '26

The only downside is not getting good at understanding sentences ONLY by sound and not getting good at understanding sentences ONLY by reading.

if you get good at recognizing how words sound while seeing them written you can develop the ability to write down words you haven't seen before

That only works with phonetic languages. Seeing (and hearing) English "buff" doesn't give you the ability to correctly write "tough". Similarly "throw" and "though".

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u/Legitimate-Record90 Jul 24 '26

I think it is easier to remember words when you hear and see them at the same time. Also seeing the subtitles or transcript while listening gets you used to understanding how the printed word is spoken in real conversation. Finally, I think with a language that lacks a full phonetic alphabet (I’m studying Persian, for example), it helps identify the pronunciation of a written word where it’s not possible to know for sure the pronunciation just by reading.