![Black Friday (2024) Huge Language Learning Deals [+ Gift Ideas]](/_astro/language-learning-gifts.B3xs8tp4_2fclYG.webp)
- Good amount of vocabulary and grammar
- Perfect for beginner and intermediate students
- Lack of ability to monitor progress
- Lack of dialogue/conversation practice
- A bit of a Michel Thomas rip-off
Language Transfer's a collection of quality, free language courses that would appeal to beginners and intermediate students but needs more development and feels like a Michel Thomas clone.
Language Transfer was established in 2011 by one person whose main focus is to produce courses to help language learners progress.
Given that the platform is free, I wasn’t expecting much when I came across it, but it has good quality content.
This review will give you more details.
Language Transfer features
The Language Transfer program features nine different languages.
Some of the languages it includes are French, Spanish, Italian, Swahili and Greek. Each course has various audio tracks, which is how the courses are taught.
Although most of the courses don’t feature additional content, the Arabic course features vocabulary cards.
Listening and thinking
Language Transfer aims to help you think and understand languages via audio recordings that logically discuss the finer points of your chosen language.
In the second Spanish audio track, for example, you’ll learn what the similarities are between English and Spanish.
This is made simpler as there is a student following the lesson and learning with you who contributes to the lesson.
Grow your understanding step-by-step
Tying in different elements of language and building your knowledge is the main focus of Language Transfer.
It works by teaching you one language rule, or element, and then gradually pairing these with other elements.
In the Spanish session, for instance, you’re taught about word stresses and intonation.
You are given the example of a Spanish cognate word normal and then introduced to the verb es.
As you listen, you are taught how to construct very basic sentences using these two phrases.
Well-paced lessons for beginners
The reason I would say Language Transfer is not aimed at advanced students is that they are taught slowly.
You are taught concepts little by little and have time to digest each element — I’d say they are more aimed at beginners or intermediate students.
Therefore, advanced students might find the pace of these lessons a little slow.
But this doesn’t mean you won’t learn something new.
How Language Transfer could improve
I think one thing is missing from Language Transfer — a way to assess yourself.
This would help you gauge whether you’re grasping all of the points discussed on the audio tracks.
However, if you’re looking for an introductory set of lessons that are good for beginners and lower intermediate level students, Language Transfer is a great choice.
You won’t have to pay, but you’ll still get good quality lessons and learn new ideas.
Have you used Language Transfer before?
Share your thoughts below.
🎓 Cite article
Grab the link to this article
1 COMMENT
NO ADVERTISING. Links will be automatically flagged for moderation.
Eduardo Vela
Having tried Duo Lingo, Rocket, Paul Noble, Berlitz (original), Pimleur, et al. , I can’t say enough about this amazing free course. The idea of learn by speaking is complimented by its learn by learning/thinking method. The spanish course - perhaps the origianal offering - is complete in comparison to some of the other, introductory courses.
It is completely free, no up selling or extras promoted or needed. It is as close to having a one-on-one instructor as you can get. No memorization, minimal grammer, only necessary tenses, no notes and requiring only about 20 minutes per day. You speak from the very first day, and most important you learn how to learn - how spanish is constructed in comparison to what you already know in english.
If this all sounds obtuse - it isn’t . Most of us have failed or give up with other courses we have attempted - which sounded good but didn’t really work. Language Transfer does. It was a labor of love by a gentleman who simply loves language and donated this course to the rest of us.
Here’s my suggestion: before your spend hundreds of dollars on a highly marketed course - download Language Transfer Spanish and its apps - complete the 90 lessons in 90 days. If you found yourself unable to devote the 20 minutes/day or did not succeed at this course, you simply aren’t ready or committed enough. If Language Transfer doesn’t succeed for you, I suspect nothing will - and you will find that out for free...