Glossika Review: How to Use Glossika for Language Learning

Welcome to my series of articles in which I show you exactly how I’m learning foreign languages every day. This article is a Glossika review. We'll dive into how to use Glossika effectively for your language practice.

In these articles, I talk about how I’m using my Core Study Time – a 30-45 minute period at the start of every day that I set aside for intensive study.

Before you read this, you should go back and check out the previous posts in the series:

Speaking of core study time, I've discovered that reading short stories daily in my target language is the best way to learn fast while having fun.

My courses teach you through StoryLearning®, a fun and effective method that gets you fluent thanks to stories, not rules. Find out more and claim your free 7-day trial of the course of your choice.

Studying With Glossika

The aim of this routine is to use the Glossika Language Training product to build familiarity with your target language.

Glossika is an innovative language training product that is becoming increasingly popular among language learners. Your Glossika login will give you access to over 60 Glossika languages. So it's very likely you'll find the language you're targeting.

What is Glossika?

Well, it's basically a long list of sentences!

But what makes it special is the way these sentences are chosen.

You see, every language has certain grammar patterns that crop up over and over again.

Once you learn these common grammar patterns, you have a good grounding in the language.

Then, as a language learner, there are certain phrases you can expect to hear over and over again. (Think: “How long have you been learning Japanese?”)

Once you recognise these common phrases – and know how to reply – you can cope easily with many familiar situations you'll find yourself in.

In a nutshell, Glossika gives you all this foundational stuff on a plate… which is awesome!

When you learn with the StoryLearning® method, you get the same kind of immersion in these common phrases, but through stories, not sentences so it's a bit more fun.

But now, how does Glossika work and is Glossika worth it?

How Much Does Glossika Cost?

Unlimited access to all the languages in the Glossika library will cost you $24.99 a month with an annual subscription or $30.99 a month if you take out a monthly subscription.

If you're a student you can get a Glossika student discount.

All Glossika price plans include:

Personalized content so you can improve quicker
Real recordings of native speakers
Unlimited practices
Memory tracking stats and reviews to see what you've retained
Weekly progress reports
Multiple modes – you can have intensive practice or the listen-only mode

You can also download the Glossika app so you can study on the go.

How to Use Glossika in 4 Steps

Step 1: Train Your Ear

Glossika sentences come in groups of 50.

This can be overwhelming at first, but I like to see this as an opportunity.

You see, when you're faced with a bunch of new language, it's a great opportunity to test your ear and see how much you can understand. (Even if you don't understand very much.)

Why?

Simply, this forces you to push yourself and understand as much as possible without any help.

This is good training for when you encounter real people.

So, the first thing I do is simply listen to my chosen set of 50 sentences over and over again, on repeat.

I'll only stop once I feel I've understood as much as I can, and there's nothing more to be gained from repeat listening.

Time spent on this: 1-2 days (dead time).

Step 2: Study The Sentences

Once I've tested my ear as much as possible, it's time to knuckle down and study what I've been listening to.

Now, rather than simply listen to the sentences, I'll listen and read at the same time.

This helps your ear make sense of the sounds, by giving it some written words to “anchor” on to.

At this stage, I'll also look at the translations, so I know what everything means.

This takes concentration, so I'll do this in my core study time – not when I'm walking around.

Time spent on this: 20-30 minutes

Step 3: Learn The New Vocabulary

From the 50 new sentences, there will be some words or phrases you don't understand.

This is a good thing, as it's an opportunity to learn some new stuff!

What I like to do is to identify the stuff I don't know, and write it down in my notebook.

This would typically be around 10-12 new words or phrases, but it will vary depending on the content.

(Sometimes, there may be some language I don't think is very useful, in which case I might just ignore it altogether. It's all part of taking ownership of what you're learning.)

I like having an organised collection of the stuff I want to learn. It makes it easier to pick up my book and focus on learning it later.

Time spent on this: 1-2 days

Step 4: Start Speaking!

Everything that's happened up to this point, I see as the groundwork – the preparation for what comes next. 🙂

It's also probably the step that most people skip.

What is it?

Well, up until now, I've been listening and learning.

But I want to be able to use this new language when I'm speaking, too.

One of the cornerstones to my approach to language learning, is that you can't simply “assume” you'll remember the important words when you need them.

You have to actively train yourself to recall vocabulary and say it “on demand”.

This is the hard part, but also the part that will bring you the most results.

Luckily, Glossika has your back here!

In the audio that comes with the course, there is one track that gives you this:

English sentence
[PAUSE]
Sentence in target language x1
[PAUSE]
Sentence in target language x2

So, over the next few days, as I'm out and about, I'll use this track to train myself to say the sentences in the target language.

This is not easy, and takes a lot of time and patience.

But once you can say all 50 sentences aloud, with confidence, and “on demand”…

You're on fire!!! 🙂

Time spent on this: 2-3 days

Is Glossika Worth It?

After following this routine for a couple of months, I saw big progress in my Cantonese.

It's certainly not a “lazy” language learning method, and you really have to apply yourself and concentrate on what you're doing.

But if you give it a try… and really try, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

You can check out some other Glossika reviews here. To try Glossika Language Training for yourself click here.

Olly Richards

Creator of the StoryLearning® Method

Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.

Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.

When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.

Studying With Glossika

How Much Does Glossika Cost?