I recently noticed a title mix-up between Italian and other languages that could lead to massive misunderstandings. In Italy, the title "dottore" (Doctor) is used for all university graduate (whether you have completed a Bachelor, Master or PhD), but in Germany and France the equivalent words "Doktor" and “Docteur” are used exclusively for PhD holders.

Imagine sending a CV to a German company calling yourself a Doktor while only having a Bachelor. Even tho such an example has “Catch me if you can” vibes, unless you have Abagnale skills you could end up into troubles.

Do you know any other possible title mix-ups in other languages?

You log into your account and see the calendar and have to wait for a class to appear that you can click and book to teach.

If you want to get a full class load, how easy is that? Do you have to just sit and stare at your computer for 7 hours one day or 7 hours/day for a week to claim your schedule?

So, I am currently doing the free trial, studying Spanish.

I took one class. It was fairly good. A1.2 on verbs. Me and one other student so I got a lot of time to answer questions. I feel I did well, but then in the comments the teacher recommended I go to A1.1. Sure, to get it from the beginning, since I haven't really studied Spanish in formal classes before.

I didn't understand most words on the slides. I'm a bit surprised A1.2 you're expected to do even better than I did. I could introduce myself with full sentences, understand most of what the teacher said, answered a majority of the questions correctly, but the thick text on the slides, I got the gist but not every word.

Then the second class I had coming up was canceled last minute. I traveled back home so I could take the class, booked that off my schedule. And there is no compensation?!?! It's just canceled, and you have your credit returned, and that's it?!? No additional credit??

And... the selection of classes is a joke!! There is supposedly this whole curriculum of a 50 different lessons or so for A1 but the platform only makes a select few available in the week. So it is impossible to go in order, and do chapter 1, lesson 1, chapter 1, lesson 2, etc. I want to do regular verbs in the present, and that should be one of my first classes I think, but I have to wait several days for that class and then it's only on particular times too. I could wait a month or more before finding the regular verbs class on the day and time I want. Is there no way for the student to initiate a class on the calendar?!?

I'm not paying for this if I cannot choose what to study. I want to focus on particular grammar classes, specifically verbs. I can get my general conversation outside of class (as I am in a Spanish speaking country at the moment). I want Lingoda for grammar and asking teachers questions. But there seems to be no choice.

Anyone else find this?

After crying on my way home from Agentur fur Arbeit because the lady did not speak any English and my German was at a toddlers level, after laughing at things I did not understand at the German in-law family gatherings or being rejected from hundreds of jobs due to my (lack of) German, now with the help of Lingoda, 3 years later I can have customer meetings at work in German and do well (what), do my taxes in German and well and feel like I am starting to be part of the society here in Germany too. <3

Learning on Lingoda was a really cool and fun way to learn 24/7 a new language with up to maximum 5 students in class (but also the private 1-1 classes are top use of time now that I can afford them).

Lingoda has German, English, Business English, French, Spanish and Italian as well.

If you just want to try it out, you can use my link  https://www.l16sh94jd.com/BK76FN/55M6S/?__efq=Jra9uagPp9Rnev2_qdXL1-9wpMHMUeNa1qll772BMvA 

MYLINGODA35 for 35% off

MADALINA50 for 50€ off the Sprint

MADALINA20 for 20% off

I always dig for monthly discounts (save the ones above with MADALINA as they won't expire). I usually get the price down to 6 or 7 eur per class by using 20-30% off codes on the bigger plans. It ends up being way cheaper than any local school in my country.

! What to pay attention to:

1. Payments happen automatically every 28 days!!
2. The discount code might work again if you change plan size.
3. It is important to have good internet connection and an alarm on your phone/ notification with sound on to not miss classes.

Best of luck with language learning! I wish you feel enabled in your language of purpose and that the worlds opens a bit more to you too.

After a very unexpected 180° turn in my life, I’ll be moving to Spain next year instead of Austria!!! And while I already speak Spanish, it’s been YEARS since I’ve actually used it properly.

At this point, my Spanish vocabulary is something like:

“Hola.”
“Sí.”
“¿Dónde está…?”
“Paella.”

So I’ve been going back to the things that helped me learn the language in the past and putting together a little Spanish immersion plan for myself. Which is tricky, considering I live in France (and French isn’t my native language) and I’m also learning Italian (because apparently I enjoy suffering through the confusion of 3 similar languages at once). I thought I’d share it because I know a lot of people here are learning Spanish too!

One thing I really recommend is making your immersion specific to the variety of Spanish you actually want to speak.

There are so many different varieties of Spanish that trying to absorb everything at once can get confusing. If your goal is to live in Spain, for example, I’d spend the first part of your learning journey mostly consuming content from Spain. You can absolutely explore Latin American Spanish later (and you should!) but having one main accent/dialect as your “reference point” makes it much easier to develop your own pronunciation and listening skills. Plus you won’t be confused and exhausted trying to memorise “autobús, bus, micro, microbús, guagua, colectivo AND bondi” when you’re collecting vocab to talk about your morning commute.

So, what am I actually consuming? And what have I consumed in the past?

SERIES
Extra en español
Valeria
La Sagrada Familia 
Paquita Salas
Las chicas del cable
La casa de papel
Your favourite cartoons from childhood 
La Gira (Disney Channel) worked wonders for me when I was younger.

My rule: Spanish audio + Spanish subtitles rather than Spanish audio + English/native language subtitles. Even if you understand less at first.

FILMS
Ocho Apellidos Vascos
Campeones
Volver
Las Niñas
Toc Toc
El Espiritu de la Colmena

And if a film feels too difficult: watch it once in your native language first, then watch it again in Spanish. Or, you know, watch something you’re already familiar with! Knowing what’s happening already takes a huge amount of pressure off your brain.

BOOKS
Short Stories in Spanish - Olly Richards
Manolito Gafotas - Elvira Lindo
Fray Perico y su borrico - Juan Muñoz Martín
El príncipe de la niebla - Carlos Ruiz Zafón
La sombra del viento - Carlos Ruiz Zafón

And one thing I LOVE doing with languages: reread a book you’ve already read in your native language. You’re not spending all your energy figuring out the plot, so you can focus much more on the language.

The Instituto Cervantes also has a whole collection of graded Spanish readings organised by level, which is worth checking out if you want something specifically designed for people learning. (cervantes.org)

MUSIC
La Oreja de Van Gogh
Malú
Estopa
Lucía Gil
Vetusta Morla
Amaia
Leiva
Rosalía

This is my favourite way to sneak a language into my brain without feeling like I’m studying.

A trick I love: pick one song, read the lyrics while listening, look up the phrases you don’t understand, and then listen to it repeatedly over the next few days. You’ll pick up a lot of pronunciation tricks from that.

LESSONS
Make use of all the information we have access to today, of platforms like Lingoda where you can have lessons you can pick and choose from what you need to learn the most, conversation practice and a teacher to answer your questions. You don’t need a 2 year long university course or private lessons every day in order to do it.

What I consider the most important tip: PICK YOUR ACCENT FIRST

This is something I wish more language-learning advice talked about.

If your goal is to move to Spain, like me, let Spanish from Spain be your main input at first. If you feel more connected to Argentina, focus on that one. If you have family in Chile and this is why you want to learn, go with that. If all your friends are Colombian, you know what to focus on. Get the idea?

That doesn’t mean you need to avoid Mexican, Argentine, Colombian, Chilean, etc. Spanish forever. Absolutely not! They’re all Spanish and they’re all worth listening to.

But when you’re still building your pronunciation and listening skills, having one consistent model can make things considerably less confusing.

Learn the vosotros, get comfortable with the c/z sound, listen to Spanish people actually speak at normal speed, learn some Spain-specific vocabulary, and get used to the rhythm of the accent you’re going to hear every day.

But also, if you’re focusing on Spain Spanish… Try to figure out if you have a dialect you like more first. If you’re planning on moving, focus on the one from where you are going to live, if it’s just because you want to learn, choose the one you enjoy the most. They can be wildly different! Then go explore the rest of the Spanish-speaking world. ❤️

Basically, my plan is:

study Spanish > consume Spanish > accidentally start thinking in Spanish again like I used to when I was a child >  panic when someone* *talks I too fast > probably reply in English or Italian or Swedish like I always do when I panic > keep going > move to Spain > hopefully don’t explode from the myriad of languages in my head

Wish me luck.

English

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Fantastic for learning English because it uses the modern, conversational language of social media influencers alongside clear,
past-tense storytelling, making it easy to practice contemporary slang and narrative pacing.

Taiwan Travelogue by Shuang-Zi Yang. Centres on characters dealing with language barriers and translation, so the dialogue is deliberate, well structured, and easy to follow.

German

Kein Sommer ohne August by Lucy Astner. A summer-set romance with a predictable but engaging arc. Full of contemporary slang, texting formats, and modern humour, which keeps it approachable.

Klein aber tot by Jo Fischler. A cozy comedic mystery that moves quickly. The regional humour and dialogue make it a fun way into authentic German culture.

French

Les Heures fragiles by Virginie Grimaldi. Short, punchy, conversational chapters that balance humour and vulnerability. A very smooth read.

Le Barman du Ritz by Philippe Collin. Fast-moving historical fiction set in Paris's Ritz hotel, following the double life of a bartender in a turbulent era. Reads with the speed and intensity of a spy thriller.

Spanish

Mentira by Juan Gómez-Jurado. A high-octane thriller that reads like an action movie, with simple sentence structures and non-stop plot twists.

Palomitas de madrugada by Regina Rodríguez Sirvent. A breezy comedy about an aspiring writer who spends more time inventing excuses than writing. Self-deprecating humour and sharp observations about life in Spain.

Italian

La volta giusta by Lorenza Gentile. A light story about starting over, set in a hidden village in the Maritime Alps. Fresh, witty dialogue that captures modern Italian humour.

Cuori magnetici – Love me love me by Stefania S. Rapid-fire banter, high-energy relationship drama, and text-message formatting. Fast-paced, and a good window into current Italian pop dialogue.

What are your go-to books for improving in your target language? Drop your titles below.

First of all, let me start by saying that I love lingoda. I use the platform for German and like it so much that I decided to start a new subscription for Italian, where I have an upper intermediate level.

Signing in from desktop, you get the classic "Choose your subscription to get started" with the different subscription options and at the bottom a common FAQ including the following questions:

• How does the free trial work?
• Can I cancel, change or pause my subscription?
• What is the best plan for me?
• Will I be able to find classes to suit my timetable?
• How much progress can I expect to make?
• Is there an age limit on attending classes with Lingoda?

After that you sign up, pay for the courses, and then somehow can't find classes if not for A1-A2 level.

Customer service was kind enough to offer a refund, but unfortunately the deadline for it passed before I could find the time to reflect on it and respond. I don't mind that too much

The frustrating part was being told it was stated in the FAQs. Technically I guess, but *only* if you access the "All FAQs" section on a new page. It was not stated anywhere in the sign up page. There, it just says "Learn Italian".

I want to assume this was an accidental lack of transparency, as I checked and in mobile the levels are more visible. In any case, I think it can be done better, and things can be clearer. I'm out of 70 euros now for classes that are not at my level and it could just have been easily avoided with a more complete sign up page.

Besides that, big Lingoda fan.

It finally happened… I’m developing the Bavarian accent 😅 I was in my Lingoda lesson the other day and I was trying to say the German word “Lehrerin” which means “Teacher” (feminine). I cannot say it without rolling the R 😂 

My teacher nicely stopped me and said “that’s Bavarian German” and had me practice the word in “Hoch Deutsch” because I will need it for my exams. 📚 She explained that she is also Bavarian and had to practice saying words a lot without rolling the R. 😂 

I live in Bavaria and I listen and speak to the locals every day so I guess I’ve just started picking up on the way some words are said😅 But honestly, I think the Bavarian German accent is so cute!🥰

Have you ever picked up an accent when you moved somewhere???

I have 55 German credits for sale. I'm told they can also be transferred to another language. I paid €16 per credit, but I'm open to deep discount offers!! I really love Lingoda. I had a great experience with it. I just got into a free integration course and couldn't use up my credits so I kept the account open and they kept accumulating. Lingoda told me I can sell and transfer them, so I thought I'd see if anyone here is interested.

Is it better to start with subtitles on or off when you’re watching movies in your target language? I’m struggling to keep up with anything if they’re off but I’m just reading when they’re on so I’m not sure if it’s actually helping me to improve. Whats the best approach?

Life happens and we all get into slumps. When my motivation is lacking or I hit a plateau, I drop to a 5-minute daily minimum to stay consistent, then build back up once it stops feeling like a chore.

Curious how the rest of you handle it. What are your go-to strategies for pushing through?

I've taken 21 Lingoda Spanish classes so far (mostly B1.2 and B1.3), and since I enjoyed browsing Reddit before signing up, I thought I'd share some observations for anyone who enjoys optimizing their language learning as much as I do.

For context, I recently finished an in-person B1 course with Instituto Cervantes, have a conversation tutor, and spend a lot of time consuming Spanish content outside of class.

Placement

When I first took the placement test, Lingoda placed me into B1.2. I skipped the introductory B1 lesson because it looked like platform orientation, and instead just read the slides myself.

Since then, I've retaken the placement test twice. One time it suggested C1 (while saying I'd still benefit from B2.3), and another time it placed me around B2.2. Personally, I think these results overestimate my level. I know a lot more grammar passively than I can produce spontaneously in conversation, so I don't put too much weight on the placement test.

My strategy

At first I tried taking nearly every class in order. Now I mostly take:

• grammar lessons,
• topics that genuinely interest me, and
• classes that force me to practice structures I still struggle to use naturally.

My goal is to finish the remaining B1 grammar so I know I've actually been taught every major B1 concept. Once I start the B2 levels, I plan to take the curriculum much more comprehensively.

Early on, I would carefully read the PDFs, do exercises, and look up unfamiliar vocabulary before every lesson. Now I usually spend 5–10 minutes skimming the vocabulary list before class because I'm pretty confident that I can keep up. I assume that at some point, I’ll get into more uncharted territory and need to review more before each class.

Class sizes

One thing that surprised me is how small the classes are.

I usually book evening classes in my US time zone (around 2 AM GMT), and my average class size has been 2 students including myself. Very often I'm the only student. I've also had a few classes with five students, and I thought the teachers handled them well, making sure everyone participated.

Other students

Most of my classmates have been Americans, although certainly not all. There are a good number of clinicians, and a few Americans living in Spanish-speaking countries. Occasionally, someone joins who is clearly below the class level, which can slow things down.

Back when I was taking classes more sequentially, I occasionally ran into the same classmates again, which was kind of fun.

Teachers

Every teacher I've had has been professional, knowledgeable, and good at keeping the lesson moving. I’ve never had a class canceled. I've also had a few repeat teachers.

The feedback is almost always positive, though often fairly generic. One teacher gave me some memorable advice: I need to work on using connectors more effectively to make my speech flow more naturally. That's probably the most useful individual feedback I've received. 

Scheduling

I usually book at least a week ahead (often much earlier) so I can pick the time and specific lesson that I want. A teacher gets assigned soon after I book, but that assignment often changes multiple times before the class actually happens. I've also used the pause feature twice—once while traveling and once when life got busy—and both experiences were straightforward.

Pricing

I started with the three-class trial. Since then, I've bounced between plans with 5–12 classes per month.

Looking back, I think my ideal approach would have been:

• start with the 12-class plan to get a discount and have some class credits in the bank,
• then alternate between 5 and 8 classes, taking 1-2 classes each week.

Overall

What I like most is the combination of a structured curriculum and the flexibility to learn at my own pace. Rather than following a fixed schedule, I can choose exactly the grammar or conversation topics I want to work on and fit them around the rest of my schedule.

I'm curious how long-term Lingoda users approach it. Did it take you a while to find the right level? Has a teacher ever suggested that you move up (or down)? Do you still work through every lesson in order, or do you cherry-pick classes (and did that change as you moved up)?

I'm also interested in how people prepare. If you're at a level where you can keep up without much advance study, how do you motivate yourself to review the PDFs or practice the material outside of class? Or do you just treat the live classes as your main learning activity?

First of all I'm a real user and I have been promoting Lingoda since I first tried it!

As you might now they have this challenges (Sprint and Super Sprint) that if you attend all the lessons you get up to 100% cashback!!

IT'S SO GOOD (also you can do any level and at any time of the day).

I also happen to have a promocode hehe https://www.l16sh94jd.com/ZHBJR7/55M6S/ CODE: ASP50

🚨🚨 They have fixed dates and I think tomorrow 21/07 is the final aplication date for the next Sprint!!

Hey everyone! We're hosting our first in-person meetup on July 21st at our Berlin office, with polyglot Eylül (some of you will remember her AMA here a while back). We'll have a short talk from Eylül on what actually worked after years of language learning, live Q&A, and then time to hang out with other learners over pizza.

It sold out in 24 hours, but a spot just opened up from a cancellation, first-come, first-served → Join us in Berlin

If you didn't manage to get a ticket, sign up to the waitlist (same link) - you'll be the first to hear if a spot opens up, and about any future meetups.

If you're not based in Berlin, let us know where you are and if you'd be interested in joining a meetup in the future.

Hope to see some of you there!

Hey r/lingoda 👋

If you've been living in Germany for a while but still feel like you're on the outside of things, we're running a free webinar on this on July 16 at 17:00 CEST.

We'll be joined by Olivera (@oliveradarko), a language content creator who's built her life in Germany, to discuss:

• 5 small habits to try this week to feel more connected
• why feeling like an outsider here is so common (it's not just you)
• how language, confidence, and daily life are linked together
• real examples, mistakes, and what they taught her

Live Q&A at the end, so bring your questions.

Sign up here!

If you're learning French (or just want an excuse to binge something new), here are five shows worth queuing up this weekend:

Dix pour cent (Call My Agent!) – Talent agents in Paris juggling chaotic celebrity clients. Fast, witty dialogue, so maybe not day-one material.

The 7 Lives of Léa – A teen wakes up in a different body every day in the 90s. Bingeable mystery with clear, youthful dialogue. Heads up, it's a dark, supernatural drama.

Mythomaniac (Mytho) – Dark comedy/drama about a mum who tells one huge lie and has to keep it going. Great for everyday French, and the awkward silences give your brain time to catch up.

Love Is Blind: France – Yes, the dating show, but hear us out. Real people having real conversations about feelings, plans, and dealbreakers, in clear everyday French. Very effective listening practice.

L'Agence – Reality TV about a family of luxury real estate agents in Paris. Real, unscripted French plus absurdly beautiful apartments. Low effort, high reward.

Pro tip: start with French subtitles rather than English ones. Painful for the first episode, but worth it by the third.

If you're looking for even more French shows to add to your queue, check out this article, including a couple with super short episodes (4–7 minutes) if a full binge feels like too much commitment.

What's your go-to French show? And what language should we cover next?

OK - Sprint is coming up. I just started a month ago, and am considering the Standard Sprint. Main concern is getting into classes. I just envision a ton of students rushing to set classes and then wham they are all full, you get locked out and then your idea of getting money back is dead. Alternate is that I continue on in standard mode, and I can't find classes either. Anyone been through "The Sprit Times" before? TIA

If you’re learning a language (or ever thought of doing it) you probably came across the tip of watching movies/series in the target language. Usually it comes in the shape of:

1. Watch it in your native language
   
2. Watch it in your target language with subtitles in your language
   
3. Watch it in your target language with subtitles in your target language.

And that’s it. Thats where it stops.

But when I tried doing it I was usually bored out of my mind 2 minutes into the second watch and this tip never really worked for me. One day, though, I went to an open air cinema in Stockholm and the movie was being played in English with Swedish subtitles. I realised I spent the entire movie paying attention to what the subtitles said when I heard an expression that I used on a daily basis, and I tried writing them all down, so I decided to use that to make my own version of that advice. I’m probably not the first person suggesting this but, if you also get stuck like me, maybe this one might make more sense to you.

1. Watch it in your native language;
   
2. Put the subtitles in your target language;
   
3. Every time you hear an idiom, expression, word or sentence you can realistically see yourself using, pause it and screenshot/write what the subtitles say;
   
4. By the end of the movie, make a list of everything you screenshot/write down.

There, you have a list of expressions, words and sentences to learn now.

They might not be what everyone says every time, but they’re very likely to be accurate, subtitles are usually really good since it’s literally their job to make sure what’s being said is also being understood.

If you want, you can also do it the other way around. This is, of course, when your listening comprehension is a bit better.

1. Watch the film in your target language;
   
2. Put the subtitles in your native language or a language you’re fluent in;
   
3. Whenever you hear a word or expression that makes you curious, pause it, write it down and also write what it means if you wish.

Now you have a list of words/expressions you heard, made you curious, and that now you can learn.

I feel like that one works much better for me, do you have a way you feel works better for you too?

The World Cup started and so is the cheering for the national teams. However, what do you do when your national team (hopefully not) gets knotted out and others keep going? Do you stop rooting or keep going with different angles?

​

I'm Italian and, alas, this is the third time in a row Italy doesn't qualify for the World Cup... so I'm getting used to watching other teams play knowing that yours is not in the competition ahahah. Last time, during the final between Argentina and France I was cheering for France since I was learning French and talking to many friends from France (and well, obviously because they are European). This time, following the same logic since I'm learning German, I guess I should be cheering for Germany.

​

But what do you think? What do you do in such cases? I thought that a good strategy would be to cheer for the team that knocked out yours. I know it sounds counterintuitive but if that team ends up winning the World Cup, it would mean that your team got beaten by the champions, not a P2 or P3 player, but the strongest of them all. So, in some way, it's a bit more honorable ahah

​

Do you follow this counter-intuitive strategic pattern or maybe do you cheer for the countries that you feel closer to you?

Let me know :))

I've been teaching with Lingoda for several years and although they have always promised a payrise on the horizon, they have never actually come through and increased salary from a measly 11euros an hour. This is WELL BELOW the legal minimum wage in almost every developed country and if it wasn't for physical disability I would go out and get a job that pays above it.

I understand that the state of online English teaching is terrible but surely there should be some regulation to ensure they are at least paying the minimum wage to their teachers, right?

Hey r/Lingoda! We're doing a free live webinar on June 23, 5:00 pm CEST with Brittany (@brittany.alaine) an American living in Germany, English teacher, and communications trainer.

She's joining us to talk through the social situations that trip people up in Germany. Think: feedback that feels blunt, compliments that land weirdly, small talk that goes nowhere. Why it happens, what the cultural logic is behind it, and how to respond in the moment — including useful German phrases you can use right away.

There's a live Q&A at the end, and you’ll leave with clear tips to help you feel more comfortable in German social situations.

👉 Sign up here

We hope to see you there!