Along with Duolingo, Babbel is one of the most popular apps to help people learn a new language. In this review, we cover everything you need to know about the Italian language course from Babbel, so you can determine whether it is the right fit for your budget and learning style.
Babbel
- Multiple Subscription Options
- Money Back Guarantee
Pros
- Affordable subscription plans (less than $10/mo)
- Concise, engaging lesson format (5-15 minutes each)
- Accurate speech recognition technology
- Regular review sessions to drive home material retention
- Grammar instruction that is easy to understand
- Stellar digital platform and mobile app
Cons
- Speaking exercises are somewhat basic
- Not an ideal course for advanced learners
- Live classes are expensive
The Babbel Italian Learning Method
In comparison to other language learning programs that focus only on either receptive skills (listening and reading) or expressive skills (speaking and writing), Babbel offers a more comprehensive approach to learning Italian.
Their lessons encompass aspects of writing, speaking, reading, and listening, as well as grammar. Babbel believes that this well-rounded approach is the most effective way to develop the necessary language skills for communication in Italian.
Then in addition to their standard lessons, Babbel regularly encourages users to complete review sessions, games, podcasts, and stories to ensure that new vocabulary progresses through the brain’s necessary memory stages, ultimately becoming part of your long-term memory.
Therefore, essentially Babbel condenses the four essential language competencies into concise, engaging lessons and then reinforces what you’ve learned through regular review sessions and activities.
Babbel Italian Cost
Babbel is positioned near the more affordable end of the language learning industry.
The company’s subscription options range from around $7 to $15 per month, which puts Babbel in line with most apps like Rosetta Stone, but more affordable than the likes of Pimsleur or Rocket Italian, for example.
All in all, Babbel’s subscription plans are an excellent value considering what you get.
Pros Explained
Now that we’ve covered cost and how the Babbel Italian program works, let’s discuss the pros and cons that our team discovered as we tested this course.
Engaging Lessons
First, our team really likes the way Babbel structures its lessons, and really there are two main reasons for this.
For one, each lesson is short, lasting only 5 to 10 minutes, which we think is perfect for people with busy schedules like working professionals and parents. Let’s face the facts, most individuals don’t have an hour each day to spare for Italian lessons, so being able to complete a lesson during your lunch break, or while riding in an Uber is incredibly convenient.
This approach ensures that learners consistently feel like they’re progressing without feeling overwhelmed.
Then secondly, Babbel’s lessons are actually enjoyable. They’re fast-paced and incorporate a variety of engaging exercises that span reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This dynamic mix makes the learning process stimulating, so we have to tip our collective hat to Babbel for making learning Italian both efficient and enjoyable.
Accurate Speech Software
Another advantage for Babbel is its speech recognition software. While many language learning companies boast about having a top-notch speech tool, Babbel’s software truly stands out for its user-friendliness, speed, and accuracy.
In our experience, it’s one of the most precise speech recognition tools available on the market. Honestly, when it comes to receiving feedback on your pronunciation following verbal practice exercises, we think Babbel’s speech recognition technology is on par with Rocket Italian’s, which is definitely saying something considering Rocket utilizes Google’s Web Speech API.
Grammar Instruction
Another area in which Babbel excels is grammar instruction. Instead of bombarding you with lengthy, dull textbook-style explanations, Babbel seamlessly integrates grammar insights into its lessons.
These insights typically consist of brief one to two sentence explanations followed by a few quick examples. This approach provides you with a fundamental grasp of the various rules governing Italian speech patterns without overwhelming you with minutiae.
This is important because we believe that an excessive focus on grammar can lead to information overload and hinder the learning process, especially when you’re a newcomer.
Fortunately though, Babbel manages to strike a harmonious balance between depth and conciseness in its grammar content.
Review Sessions
We’d also like to highlight Babbel’s review sessions. Not only does Babbel consistently prompt you to complete review sessions for material retention purposes, but they also allow for flexibility in how you want to review the material.
You can choose among flashcards, listening exercises, speaking practice, or writing tasks, which is great. This flexibility allows you to focus on areas where you feel you need improvement.
For instance, if you want to work on your pronunciation, you can select the “speaking” option to enhance your verbal skills, while also moving recent vocabulary into your long-term memory.
Stellar Mobile App
Before we move onto the negatives, we want to acknowledge the Babbel digital platform and mobile app. The user experience is exceptional, whether you’re using a desktop computer or your phone (similar to the Pimsleur Italian app).
It’s evident that the company has invested heavily in ensuring that their digital platform is contemporary, user-friendly, and intuitive. Without a doubt, Babbel boasts one of the most outstanding user interfaces in the entire industry.
Cons Explained
Now that we’ve covered the positives, it’s only fair we also discuss the negatives as well.
Basic Speaking Exercises
Our first criticism is that we wish Babbel offered more extensive verbal practice exercises. While the exercises included in the lessons are helpful, they tend to be somewhat basic.
Typically, you’re just asked to listen and then repeat words and phrases independently. In other words, a lot of the Babbel speaking exercises lack context.
Instead, our team always prefer speaking exercises that require spontaneous language usage. At the end of day, it’s just much more beneficial to have exercises that simulate a genuine, in-depth conversation, similar to what the Rocket Italian course includes, for example.
Not An Ideal Fit For Advanced Learners
Given the relatively basic nature of their verbal practice exercises, we wouldn’t consider Babbel to be a good option for advanced learners. While their verbal practice drills work well for beginners or even intermediate learners, once you reach a certain level of proficiency, you need more advanced conversational practice to continue improving.
Therefore, unfortunately, you may begin to plateau with the standard Babbel lessons at a certain point. However, Babbel does provide live classes where you can engage with experienced Italian instructors and fellow learners at your level, which are an excellent way to supplement the standard Babbel lessons with authentic conversational practice.
Live Classes Are Expensive
The only issue with the live classes, and this is my last negative, is that they are somewhat expensive. The classes are not included within the standard Babbel subscription, and in order to upgrade to Babbel Live, it will run you around $50 to $100 per month, depending on which subscription you choose.
Now with that said, if money is not an issue, and your goal is to progress rapidly, then it’s important to note that the live classes are truly fantastic.
With a maximum number of participants per class, you receive personalized attention and feedback from the instructor, and there’s no limit to the number of classes you can join.
Therefore, if you are committed to mastering Italian, it might be worth upgrading to Babbel Live. By doing so, you’ll also gain access to the standard Babbel app and lessons at no extra cost.
Verdict: Is Babbel Good For Learning Italian?
It’s time to tackle the big question: Is Babbel a good option for learning Italian?
Well, having tried out well over a dozen Italian language programs at this point, we can confidently say that Babbel stands out as one of the best, particularly for beginners.
The lessons are short, enjoyable, and engaging, offering a balanced approach that covers both receptive and expressive language skills. This comprehensive approach allows learners to develop all four foundational language skills simultaneously.
Not to mention the other areas in which Babbel excels, such as its high-quality speech recognition software, and excellent user experience.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the standard Babbel subscriptions are quite affordable. Really, the only drawback is that once you reach an intermediate level of fluency, you might find yourself needing to upgrade to Babbel Live, which can be costly.
Apart from this, Babbel is a highly reliable choice for learning Italian.
Babbel offers several different monthly subscription options ranging from $7 to $15 per month, on average. In addition, Babbel also offers a lifetime plan for around $350 (after discounts).
There are 15 different levels within the Babbel Italian program. Then breaking it down even further, there are a multitude of courses within each level that include around 10 lessons, on average.
It will likely require around 200-300 hours to learn Italian using Babbel. If you complete all of the company’s lessons, you should be able to reach an intermediate level of fluency.
Yes, the Babbel Italian program is worth the money. Not only are the company’s subscription plans quite affordable, but their learning framework is also highly effective for learning Italian.
