MosaLingua Review

MosaLingua supports 9 languages with Arabic and Korean coming soon:

Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and English

MosaLingua is a language learning platform founded in 2009.

Its team consists of language experts and teachers from 15 different countries. They’re available for email support and keep site content and learning tools up to date and relevant.

It offers lots of different options for language learning. But basically, languages are taught using a system based on 5 cognitive science and psychology concepts:

• Spaced Repetition System -- correctly spaced out review sessions to commit information to long-term memory
• Active Recall -- techniques that help you extract information easily from your memory, without assistance or a clue
• Metacognition -- Opportunities to reflect on your learning 
• Pareto Principle – Focussing on the most frequently used words to make fast progress
• Learner Motivation and Psychology -- in-person support via email to personalize your learning method

Together, these 5 concepts form the MosaLearning® method (Motivating Optimized System for Adaptive Learning).

By joining MosaLingua, you will connect with over 12 million users and native speakers of your target language. You will also have access to constantly updated advice, resources and techniques from the Mosa team to help you learn and master foreign languages.

There are several different ways to learn a language on MosaLingua. They are designed to suit different goals and learners of different levels. The levels are set according to the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR). These are:

• A1 - A2 beginners
• B1 - B2  Intermediate
• C1 - C2 Advanced

Overall, MosaLingua works with a set of flashcards, dialogues, and audiobooks.

For this review I trialled MosaLingua Premium and used it to learn Spanish.

The Spanish course consists of 19 levels. Each with a set of flashcards, dialogues and audiobooks. The number of flashcards varies. For example, Level 0 (basic) has 25 flashcards, whereas Level 9 (medium) has 897!

Using the flashcards you exercise your auditory and visual memory while you record yourself repeating the word or phrase. There are no quizzes or exams for each level.

The MosaLearning® Method is used each time you start to learn a set of flashcards and you'll be alerted when you to stop to avoid memory saturation.

A typical Spanish lesson (and I assume other languages are the same) will start with some flashcards. It uses an approach based on visual, auditory, and written memory.

You first look at the flashcard which will have an image and accompanying audio with Spanish pronunciation.

Then, you have to record yourself repeating the word (you can record and repeat as many times as you need).

Once you have finalized your flashcards, MosaLingua generates learning statistics which give an idea of your learning speed.

You’re then invited to use the Dialogues and the Hands-Free section for practice.

There is a free section with a great selection of audiobooks, videos, and music in Spanish. These are divided according to your level and interests and some can only be unlocked once you have learned specific flashcards.

You can also navigate through the additional resources tab, which will guide you through an extensive variety of free newspapers, magazines, music, and cinema.

During my experience, I was able to practice the vocabulary I learned on the flashcards, my reading comprehension, and my pronunciation. After a week, I was able to track my progress, the number of flashcards that I had memorized, and new reading and listening material had been unlocked.

MosaLingua has 5 different programs to choose from:

MosaLingua Premium pricing is mid range compared to other language learning platforms and it generally offers more features. Discounts are sometimes offered, and even at full price MosaLingua is far cheaper than in person learning.

I used the free trial of MosaLingua premium to take their Spanish course, levels 0 and 1. I spent one hour per day and managed to do a total of 48 flashcards.

I had to choose my reading and audio material to add to the daily flashcards.

I did have a little Spanish knowledge so leveling up was easy but memorizing so many flashcards was a real challenge.

What I liked about MosaLingua

Effective

At its heart, MosaLingua’s main goal is to help you learn  a lot of vocabulary words and phrases that you can use in real life. The MosaLearning® method it uses to help you achieve this is based on sound cognitive science and psychology concepts that make it extremely effective.

Comprehensive

Though MosaLingua has a big vocus on using flashcards to learn new vocabulary and phrases, each course comes with tons of content that incorporates all of the elements of language such as speaking, listening, grammar, reading.

For example, I found MosaLingua’s grammar guides and flashcards really helpful. They provided easy-to-understand explanations of tricky grammar topics and you can add the examples from the guides to your flashcard decks to help you practice.

It also has an extensive selection of audiobooks, videos, and even music. You won’t have to go on other platforms and search for “music in Spanish” or google “audiobooks in Spanish for beginners”. MosaLingua has already curated content within its platform.

This means that you will always be able to practice with different materials according to your goals and your level.

MosaLingua Chat AI

MosaLingua’s eTuor, Aida, gives you 24/7 access to a personal language ‘tutor’. Aida continuously adjusts to your level and learns about your interests.

You can use it to simulate a conversation prior to going on holiday, prep for a job interview and have your answers analyzed, ask grammar related questions and get answers in real time, or just practice vocabulary - Aida will suggest activities that incorporate what you’ve learned.

Adaptable

If you have a specific weakness or want to focus on particular content you can easily add it to your flashcards to help you memorize that content

Connects you to their active team of native speaking teachers  

The teachers at MosaLingua are very active on the blog and social networks. And you can chat (via a message service) with a teacher that can help you and support your entire learning.

In fact, they will be able to guide you through the MosaLingua content or help you find the content or resources you are looking for.

Overall, this is a very important tool for all language learners at any level and it shows that MosaLingua wants to ensure a “human aspect” to language learning.

Flexible

Available on desktop or mobile and with hands free and offline learning which literally allows you to learn anywhere at anytime.

Lessons cover everyday topics and content is regularly updated

MosaLingua uses lessons based on everyday topics for general learning, or commercial topics for business purposes. It doesn’t focus on topics such as colors or weather, but instead looks at things like how to socialize at parties or hold a telephone conversation.

And it offers cultural tips that help you learn when and how to say something appropriately, such as formal and informal situations.

Its team of polyglots and language experts ensure that the resources and content on MosaLingua is constantly updated.

Fewer languages offered than its competitors

Although the number of languages offered by MosaLingua is increasing, it is still significantly less than some of its competitors. For example, Mondly has 30+ languages on its platform.

Navigation is not as intuitive as I’d like it to be

MosaLingua doesn’t have flashy gamification, graphics and animations like some other apps and Navigation isn’t as intuitive as I’d like it to be.

But once you get used to it you can find your way around and use it to your advantage.

The MosaLingua learning style would suit anyone who:

• Wants to learn a new language from scratch
• Has some grasp of a language and wants to improve
• Has a busy schedule and needs to fit lessons around their life
• Is looking for a flexible, self-directed language learning resource packed with high-quality content
• Wants a focus on developing conversational language

MosaLingua offers a number of features that make it an ideal choice for students who want to learn a language. These include:

• MosaLearning® method based on scientific principles
• MosaLingua chat AI
• Flexible learning
• Hands-Free section
• Ability to connect to their team of native speaking teachers for advice and support

• Multiple curated resources

  MosaLearning® method

The MosaLearning® method is based on 5 sound cognitive science and psychology concepts and is a motivating optimized system for learning.

It’s clearly visible and consistent through the levels and strengthens your memory as you navigate throughout their platform.

MosaLingua Chat AI

MosaLingua’s eTuor, Aida, gives you 24/7 access to a personal language ‘tutor’. Aida continuously adjusts to your level and learns about your interests. You can use it for vocabulary and grammar practice, to simulate a conversation or even to prepare for a job interview. It will ask you questions you are likely to encounter and analyse your response.

And of course, all feedback is in real-time.

Flexible learning

There is a web and app version so MosaLingua is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. So students can learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. Ability to connect to Native Speakers

Hands-Free section

The Hands-Free section enables you to listen to words being spoken by a native speaker.

This is how it worked for me:

• You will see a word in English followed by the audio in English

• You will then have 1-2 seconds to think about the Spanish translation

• Once this time has passed, you will hear the word in Spanish followed by its written translation

This exercise is ongoing and you only need to press play once to enjoy 50 random flashcards available on your level.

Ability to connect to their team of native speaking teachers

You can connect to the team of teachers on MosaLingua who are very active on the blog and social networks. And you can chat with a teacher that can help you and support your entire learning.

MosaLingua also has a strong emphasis on native audio. This means that every word or phrase is correctly introduced to you via audio BEFORE you see it written out.

Multiple curated resources

MosaLingua provides free access to a lot of curated materials to help immerse you in your target language.

These include books, stories, eBooks and audio books which are free to download.There are also lists of videos you can watch to improve your listening skills which come with transcripts.

Every video, including the music videos, comes with a full transcript underneath. The transcript automatically scrolls while the video plays, which helps you follow along more accurately.

These curated resources add a lot of  value to a MosaLingua premium subscription.

MosaLingua key facts:

• Our score: 8.88/10
• Number of users: 12 million
• Avg lesson length: Varies
• Number of lessons: N/A
• Downloadable lessons: Yes
• Starting proficiency test: Yes
• Provides certificate: Yes
• Adaptive to user: Yes
• Number of languages taught: 9
• Pricing: From $4.99 per month
• Desktop: Yes
• Mobile: Yes
• IOS: Yes
• Android: Yes

• Our score: 8.87 /10
• Trustpilot 4.8 /5 based on 92 reviews
• Apple App Store 4.7 /5 based on 450 ratings

• Google Play Store 4.6 / 5 based on various reviews across different languages

  “Excellent application using spaced repetition. I have tried several similar apps and this is among my favorite!” (Trustpilot review)

“I love MosaLingua! I like the control I have over what I learn, and the fact that I learn full sentences that I'll actually use - you don't have to understand how grammar works right away, and you can still communicate. It has really helped me on my trips to Spain. The timed review system really works, I never feel like I'm wasting time practicing flashcards I already know.” (Trustpilot review)

“The Hands-Free mode is AWESOME .. I can start my drive by turning on MosaLingua and it will randomly drill me on the words and phrases I’m learning. I’ll hear the word/phrase in English, and then have a second to say it in Spanish before I hear a native speaker say the sentence or word correctly.”

Overall, users seem to be very happy with the MosaLingua experience. They appreciate the MosaLearning® method and the other features, such as Hands-Free that MosaLingua has to offer.

In a word: yes.

MosaLingua is best suited for independent learners that like to learn at their own pace.

The platform and its content are continuously updated and the MosaLarning® system is backed by scientific research and the platform focuses on all the elements you need to master a language.

The Hands-Free element and the massive library of content make it worth the investment for me. And, of course, the introduction of MosaChat AI gives you 24/7 access to real-time feedback from a personal ‘tutor’ that constantly adjusts to your level and learns about your needs and interests.

And as mentioned, since there is a 15 day free trial of MosaLingua, as well as a refund policy, you have little to lose by trying it out.

As long as the language(s) you want to learn are offered by MosaLingua, why not give it a go and see how far you can get? Just remember to stick with it, be disciplined, and keep in mind why you want to learn a language in the first place!