linguistica User Reviews

Top reviews

Generally helpful resource

News in Slow French is a worthwhile addition to your language-learning routine, but it’s not without its flaws.

The Good. Learning a language while reading the news keeps things interesting. The app lets you listen to the news in French while following along with a written transcript and it highlights key vocabulary with translations to build your vocabulary. With beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, you can challenge yourself as your comprehension improves.

The Bad. The app’s functionality is basic and occasionally clunky. You can “download” lessons, but they won’t play without an Internet connection—a major flaw that defeats the purpose of offline listening. Forget about using it on a plane or out on a trail run.

The Ugly. In classic French fashion, the podcast hosts love political commentary. Unfortunately, they have little grasp of U.S. politics and culture, and nearly every episode features one or two stories relying on vague sources to justify sweeping, inaccurate generalizations about Americans.

Bottom Line. Despite its drawbacks, News in Slow French can be a helpful learning tool. If you can overlook the political bias, it’s an often-enjoyable way to strengthen your French comprehension.
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Response from developer

To download content for offline play with the app (the links to the app are on the website's main menu), you must add it to an existing playlist or create a new one. Open any news story and at the top of the screen click on “add to playlist”. Select an existing playlist or create a new one. Repeat this process with other news stories from any category. Once you have finished building your playlist click on “playlists” at the bottom of your screen. Choose the playlist you want to download for offline continuous play and click on the download icon to the right. Now you’re ready to listen to your playlist offline! In the “playlists” screen you can also delete playlists from your device, edit their contents, and change their names.

Love the layout and translation function

Simple app. Solid news stories

Great resource!

One of my favorite ways to learn/listen to Italian! Keep it up! Only complaint is I wish there was more podcasts!

Love the layout and translation function

Simple app. Solid news stories

Leftist Drivel

While the concept is good, especially the phrase translation, the politics of the subject matter is offensively liberal. It would really be a great app, if the reporters would just report the news. Unbiased news.

Why webpage & not the app?

My problem is you have to go to the webpage instead of the app for most of the features. For example, if you want to slow or speed up an article you have to go to the web browser.

Response from developer

The speed control in at the upper right corner of the app's audio player.

Portrait mode only

Just wondering if you guys want to come back and explain why you took a very nice app, 'improved' it so it is actually worse. I notice you haven't bothered to update for seven months, so I guess you have lost interest. You had a great idea. You ruined it. That's not normally how developers go about things.
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The Latest Release...

Always been a great podcast. The last release of the app has cured a lot of the problems and now it’s possible to download entire episodes for later listening.

Landscape mode?

I enjoy the app very much, however I wish the developer could make landscape mode available.

Best app for language learning

It’s perfect. It’s got engaging and relevant content, pleasant readers and text with links to explanations of phrases(!) It’s great to see something so intelligently created. It is excellent.

Response from developer

Great to hear from you! We're so glad to hear you enjoy using our app. If you ever have any comments or questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@linguistica360.com

Great idea but the pronunciation not that great!

I really enjoy the idea of learning a language through the news. However, talking about French version, the man has a pretty strong (probably English) accent and seems not to know French very well, and the woman speaks with much more confidence but with a German accent. And this is about learning French without someone’s accent. Please, find French native speakers!
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Response from developer

Hi there – thanks for your feedback. All of our hosts are native speakers. Catherine and Nicolas are both from France. As we are committed to ensuring high quality, authentic French language content, please don't hesitate to email us if you have any specific issues or problems with our program and we can bring them to our team for discussion. Our address is amis@newsinslowfrench.com

Amazing!

This is so incredibly effective as an Army Officer learning French and preparing for the DLPT. I love this app!

Response from developer

Thanks for the kind words. We're thrilled to have you among our subscribers and are pleased to hear that it is useful to you. Let us know if you have any additional feedback or questions by emailing us at info@linguistica360.com

Great for military DLPT

This intermediate level of news is a great way to prepare for the dlpt. Love the tap to translate function. A ‘more info’ for explanation type would be great, but understand that’s a lot of additional work. Great job!!

Response from developer

Hi there – thanks for the feedback. We're interested in hearing more about your suggestion. Could you please email us at info@linguistica360.com so we can discuss this further? Cheers!

Awesome

Perfect for intermediate learners. The transcript is so helpful & there’s even build in definitions for words and phrases. I’d been listening to News in Slow Spanish for awhile.
This is a great upgrade & it’s free!

Response from developer

We're really glad to have you on board with us. Thanks for taking the time to write a review.

Great app but the text is cropped on either side of the screen

Great app but the text is cropped on either side of the screen so makes it difficult to follow

Excellent!

This app is an amazing tool for learning a language, thank you for creating it! It’s well made, simple, and easy to use.

Response from developer

Thanks for taking the time to review us. We're happy to hear you enjoy using the app. Never hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns at info@linguistica360.com

Great Practice

As an intermediate speaker this app is perfect to practise. Also enjoy reading along with it. The vocabulary hints are helpful. Glad I got this.

Response from developer

And we're glad to have you on board with us! After some time, when you're feeling comfortable with the intermediate material, don't forget to try our Advanced programs which come with your subscription.

Love it!

This app is awesome!!

Response from developer

Thanks for the positive feedback! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever have any questions at info@linguistica360.com.