Memrise Review

Learning a new language is an achievable goal if you have the right tools and, of course, a sense of discipline. It could be overwhelming at first, considering there are so many language learning methods you can try, from self-studying with textbooks to attending language classes. If you want to learn languages conveniently at your own pace, maybe it’s time to consider using a language learning app like Memrise. Even when you’re busy, this app makes it easier for you to squeeze in a few minutes of language lessons to your daily schedule. Plus, you can learn using only your phone or your computer!

Memrise was founded in 2010, and now offers a total of 22 languages including Asian languages and European languages. You can use it to learn new vocabulary words, useful phrases, and grammar concepts without the need for textbooks. After the lessons, they have review exercises to determine how much you’ve actually learned and to help you go back to lessons you’re having difficulties with.

Memrise’s fun approach to language learning is helpful in encouraging users to continue their learning streak. Put together by experts, there’s also science behind this app’s method of teaching. (Fun fact: Memrise was created by a neuroscientist and a Grand Master of Memory!) They’ve developed a learning algorithm based on cognitive science that helps users learn more and faster compared to traditional teaching methods. It’s also what makes them a standout from among a multitude of language learning platforms available today.

Memrise Pros & Cons

Memrise Benefits

• Learn on-the-go
• Beginner-friendly
• Available on web, Android, and iOS
• Offline app access
• Lessons taught by native speakers
• Learn multiple languages at the same time
• Learn a new language directly through your mother tongue

Memrise Drawbacks

• Features on the app and the web version are slightly different
• Not enough to make learners completely fluent

My Memrise Review

Online language courses by Memrise start with the basics like the alphabet of your chosen language and common greetings. Memrise app offers rich content, including video and audio lessons based on the real-life language used by actual native speakers. Textbooks are great, but nothing beats learning from the people who speak the language! Especially for beginners, this is a great way to expand your grammar and vocabulary skills and also to immerse yourself in the language you want to learn without having to travel.

Content topics vary, from using public transportation and ordering food in a restaurant to introducing yourself in a formal situation and more. Aside from video examples and practical phrases taught by native speakers, I was looking forward to gamified tests to train my language skills and it was indeed fun. Getting from one level to another is so fulfilling!

Merely reading words and phrases over and over again doesn’t guarantee retention in the long run, and Memrise knows that we absorb lessons best when we’re enjoying ourselves – that’s the principle they applied to all the courses available in the app by adding language games.

Is Memrise worth it?

If you are committed to learning a second language or being a polyglot, Memrise Pro is a great deal. Unlike enrolling in actual classes where you pay per class, Memrise Pro gives you access to all 22 languages in their app. If you have to stop your lesson abruptly, no worries because the app automatically saves your progress. The app even keeps track of your daily streak. When you’re outdoors and there’s no signal or you’re out of mobile data, you can still learn by using Memrise in offline mode. If you only want to get a feel of how it works or you’re still assessing what language learning method suits you best, you can sign-up for a free Memrise access. Note that features on the free membership are limited. Although Memrise alone is not enough to make you fluent in a foreign language, the good news is that most courses can get you to at least an upper-intermediate level.

Whether your reason for learning a new language is to improve yourself, get a job in another country, connect with other people, or understand different cultures, Memrise can help you with your language learning goals. Their fun approach and rich content make the perfect combination to boost your proficiency!

All About Memrise

How does Memrise work?

Memrise app can be downloaded on iOS and Android, and lessons are also accessible on the Memrise website. You can access Memrise with a free account, but its features are limited and you will not be able to unlock all the lessons. To make the most out of Memrise, you need to sign up for a premium account.

When you subscribe to Memrise Pro, you will get access to premium content, including thousands of video clips of people speaking in their native language. These are filmed in their respective countries, so you will also get to enjoy the local scenery and have a sense of the country’s culture!

There are currently 22 languages available on Memrise: Chinese (simplified), Danish, Dutch, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Japanese (no script), Korean, Mongolian, Norweigan, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Slovenian, Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), Swedish, Turkish, and Yoruba. Also, there are two types of courses in Memrise: the courses created by experts from Memrise and the courses made by users. Memrise’s official lessons are high-quality, but community-created courses are not guaranteed to have the same features and lesson quality.

Memrise has a lot of available language pairs, which means you can choose to learn a new language directly from your native tongue. For example, Spanish speakers can learn German, Korean, or French without having to switch to English, as well as Italian speakers who want to learn Chinese, Japanese, or Portuguese. Other learning apps tend to focus on English as the starting language, but Memrise knows that it’s a lot easier to learn a new language directly from your mother tongue. This is one of Memrise’s biggest advantages, no wonder they attract language learners from all over the world.

What are the unique features of Memrise?

App features vary depending on which language a user chooses to learn and whether they’re using the iOS app, Android app, or the Memrise website. For instance, Learn with Locals and Grammar features are available only for selected Memrise official courses. If you want to use the Pronunciation mode to fine-tune your speaking skills, it’s available on all official Memrise courses, except for Slovenian. For iOS users, you can use the Explore feature to take photos of objects around you, then the app will show the word for the objects in the photo in your target language. The app also has an offline feature! Memrise Pro users are able to download lessons to their devices and access them without an internet connection at a later time.

Here’s a full list of Memrise features for premium users:

Most Memrise courses are heavy on audio and videos, which are great for auditory and visual learners. Compared to learning only through textbooks, this is more advantageous since users are able to hear how words and phrases are properly pronounced and this greatly helps in developing speaking and listening skills. Memrise also incorporates flashcards in the lessons to help users learn new words quickly. Other types of Memrise content are culture and history lessons from the region where the user’s target language is being used.

What’s the science behind Memrise?

It’s actually pretty simple! Memrise uses spaced repetition, a method known to be useful in storing knowledge in your long-term memory. This means that they repeat words and sentences at an interval determined by the app’s learning algorithm. In the review exercises, if you get an item correctly, it will show up at a longer interval. If you get it wrong, the interval will be shorter. These intervals are the keys to transferring your knowledge from short-term memory to long-term memory.

Simply put, Memrise keeps track of words or sentences you’re having difficulties with and they help you recall them better by making them appear in the review exercises more often. When what you’ve learned is already in your long-term memory, it’s likely that you will be able to use it in real-life conversations and situations.

How much does Memrise Pro cost?

Prices depend on the length of membership and the platform you choose to use. A monthly membership is $8.99, while a quarterly membership is available on iOS and Android apps only for $18.99. A yearly subscription is $59.99 for web-only access or $79.99 for iOS and Android apps. If you’ve decided to be a language learner for life, you can get a lifetime membership for a one-time payment of $119.99.

Subscribing in-app allows you to pay through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Payment methods when subscribing using the web version are debit and credit cards, as well as PayPal.

How do I sign up and subscribe to Memrise Pro?

If you’re signing up on the web, visit Memrise.com and click on the Sign Up or Get started button. Select the language you speak and the language you wish to learn. No worries if there are multiple languages you want to learn because you can explore other courses after signing up. Then, select your level (beginner or intermediate), enter a username, an active email address, and choose a password. After signing in, click the Subscribe button at the top of the page.

For mobile app users, download the app from the Google Play Store or the App Store. Then, select the language you want to learn then the language you speak. Signing up via Google, Facebook, or your email address is possible. A username will be automatically created but you can change it in the Settings. Then, subscribe to the paid membership by tapping the Upgrade button.

Are you learning a new language with Memrise?