LingQ | Learn 42 Languages 12+

Amazing

This takes language-learning to the next level. I began using it for French, German, and Spanish after having completed their Duolingo courses, and the results are astounding. LingQ give you the extra resources you need to not just become a competent conversationalist, but to reach fluency. It gives you real resources from native speakers, is tailored to the user’s interests, and accelerates your skills faster than I thought possible. I just wish the full version was free … oh well maybe in the future.

P.s. Developers, if you’re seeing this, then please make it free! I understand you need a sufficient income for your high quality services, but you can use Duolingo’s technique and use ads instead! It is my sincere hope that your mission is not merely to make an income (although the services you offer are incredible), but rather to give everyone the equal opportunity to immerse themselves and attain fluency in any language. If you would do that, you would revolutionize language learning for millions more around the globe, and would probably receive a much more vast audience. Please, if it is at all possible, I ask you to prudently consider this request. Thank you.

Awesome way to practice reading and listening

LingQ is honestly the best resource someone can have learning a language at any level to practice reading from native materials. Where other apps go slow and encourage dominating every aspect of a language before moving on to new content, LingQ pushes you constantly to expand vocabulary and go outside of your comfort zone. To me, this is way more effective. I don’t lose motivation as fast (grinding “el gato” 15 times before being allowed to learn any other words probably robs a lot of other people of their motivation too) and it feels like how I learned my native language. Definitely give it a shot and put it into your rotation of resources (remember, just one app won’t get you fluent).
The only reason I gave 4 out of 5 is that as an advanced learner, I’d like the definitions of new words I come across to be in my target language (Spanish), but despite switching dictionaries in-app and even the translation language, I constantly am getting words translated into English. I think it’s because of the “popular definitions” feature, but they’re marked as Spanish when they’re literally just English definitions. It takes me out of the article and thinking in the language. I have to cover up my screen so I don’t see it, and copy and paste a Spanish definition in instead. That’s my only complaint (also a back button within dictionaries would be really helpful but that’s a tiny issue). Overall great experience it’s just that one thing!

LingQ: Great Reading Platform, Forums distract

The system, with its highlighted words, is great. 5 stars.
The feed needs fixed, it's just a bunch of random articles. I can't find my own uploaded content half the time, even under Imports, without searching specifically by name. 4 stars.
The forums are toxic - there's a 85% male ratio on there, I'd estimate. Questioners are a mix of internationals, and "bros" who use their words-learned as a way to measure themselves. I thought the forums had a bit of toxicity to them, then I got straight up attacked by someone I had never talked to. Another time, spam was posted in a forum, and I called the person out on it, and a group swarm came after me. They also accused me of "group think" while they swarmed, without ideas/original thoughts backing up their opinions, just insults. The spam they posted had a gender-dynamic to it; trying to convert men (and men only).
I don't know if Steve's looked at the user data, or even cares, but I'd bet he's pushing away women users from his site. I'm someone comfortable swinging it with the guys, and dang, do I not want to be on those forums. Within 7 days of starting my membership, I was being bullied [and by someone who thought I was a man, since he called me a "little boy."] The fact that very few women ever speak on the forums is an extra sign that LingQ has cultivated a bad chat culture that is (likely) driving away female potential users.

Developer Response ,

Imports can be found in Imports or in My Lessons. It sorts by recently opened so the lessons you looked at most recently are at the top of the list. You can open the My Courses tab in Settings to view Courses instead of Lessons. This may work better for you.
Regarding the forum, I'm sorry you had a bad experience there. The vast majority of interactions on the forum are perfectly pleasant and relate to language. There can be some unpleasant interactions just like on any other public platform. We will look into recent threads to see if there are any members who should be sanctioned for their comments.