Busuu Review: Does It Really Boost English Skills?
Thinking about using Busuu to get better at English? Wondering if it’s a quick way to speak English fluently?
Hi there, I’m Emma, an English teacher from Washington DC, and this is my Busuu Review. With a myriad of language learning apps available, it’s crucial to know which one suits your needs. Today, we dive into Busuu to see if it truly delivers on its promise of improving English proficiency. Join me as I explore the Busuu app, and let’s find out together how well it works for learning English.
Busuu Overview
Busuu stands out as a versatile and engaging language-learning app, offering lessons in multiple languages, including English. It’s accessible on both web and mobile platforms, ensuring flexibility for learners on the move. Designed to cover key language aspects like vocabulary, reading, grammar, speaking, and writing, Busuu provides a well-rounded learning experience. A unique feature of Busuu is its interactive element where learners can get their exercises corrected by native speakers, adding an invaluable real-world dimension to the language learning process.
How Busuu Works
The app is structured around a series of levels, each comprising multiple chapters with a focus on different language skills. For instance, as an upper intermediate learner, I’m navigating through 16 chapters, each offering five practice sets that cover a diverse range of skills including vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
Each chapter culminates in a quiz, a key feature that assesses your understanding and unlocks the next set of lessons. This structure ensures a gradual, yet comprehensive learning process. Busuu’s lessons are engaging and interactive, incorporating a variety of exercises like fill-in-the-blanks, word ordering, and multiple-choice questions, supported by high-quality, bite-sized videos. These practices are not just about rote memorization but involve active engagement with the language, making the learning experience both fun and impactful.
Busuu Courses Content
Let’s check out something cool in Busuu. If you click on the icon at the top left, you’ll find a bunch of different English courses.
Complete English Course: This comprehensive course is designed for learners at all levels. It covers everything from basic English pronunciation and grammar to advanced expressions. Ideal for those looking to gain fluency across a broad spectrum of language skills.
English for Business: Tailored for professionals, this course enhances business English skills. It includes learning phrases and etiquette for an English-speaking workplace, covering essentials for interviews, writing emails, and business vocabulary.
English for Travel: Perfect for travelers, this course prepares you for adventures in English-speaking countries. It focuses on basic phrases and vocabulary needed for holidays, such as asking for directions, making reservations, and other travel-related interactions.
The Economist: Developed in collaboration with The Economist newspaper, this course focuses on enhancing reading skills. Learners engage with articles from The Economist, providing an opportunity to immerse in advanced English reading. The course includes comprehension questions to deepen understanding of real-world content and improve reading proficiency.
London Central: This engaging 10-part series is perfect for beginners. Follow Leo’s adventures in London as he navigates learning English, work, and love. It’s a fun mix of real-world English, key vocabulary, and essential phrases for A1 and A2 learners.
Busuu’s Plans and Prices
- Monthly Plan: Priced at approximately $13.90.
- 6-Month Plan: Available for $50.
- Yearly Plan: Offered at around $83.
Busuu’s Main Limitations and Weaknesses
When it comes to spoken English, pronunciation, and accent reduction, Busuu doesn’t quite hit the mark. The speech recognition technology used is pretty basic, and the feedback from the learner community, while helpful, might not always be precise. For in-depth speaking and pronunciation analysis, nothing beats personalized feedback from a trained accent coach.
Author Recommendation on Busuu
So, back to our starting question:
“Is the Busuu app worth it? Can it really take your English fluency to the next level?”
Well, it’s a bit of yes and no. Let’s break it down, starting with Busuu’s strengths. It’s packed with a wide range of exercises suitable for all levels, making it a solid choice for comprehensive English practice. The user-friendly interface, gamification elements, and vibrant community engagement keep learning fun and motivational. And it’s particularly strong in areas like listening, grammar, vocabulary, and reading.
But, there are gaps. When it comes to spoken English, pronunciation, and accent reduction, Busuu doesn’t quite hit the mark. The speech recognition technology used is pretty basic, and the feedback from the learner community, while helpful, might not always be precise. For in-depth speaking and pronunciation analysis, nothing beats personalized feedback from a trained accent coach.
Here’s my advice: pair Busuu with another tool that specializes in speaking and pronunciation. I recommend ChatterFox for this. ChatterFox focuses on pronunciation, accent reduction, and fluent speaking. It offers video lessons, advanced speech recognition, AI-powered feedback, and most crucially, certified accent coaches for personalized guidance.
Currently, ChatterFox is offering an attractive deal with a 33% discount, plus a 7-day trial, making it an opportune time to explore their services. This promotion is a great chance for those curious about ChatterFox to try it out.
So, if your goal is to enhance listening, grammar, and vocabulary, Busuu is a great choice. But for elevating your spoken English and pronunciation skills, ChatterFox is the way to go. And for those who need comprehensive fluency quickly, combining ChatterFox with Busuu could be a powerful and effective strategy.
Combine Busuu with ChatterFox, and you have all you need for complete English fluency — no other tools necessary.
