Lingoda Review: My Honest Experience Learning Spanish

Do you intend to participate in the Lingoda Language Sprint for Spanish? This is a complete and honest review written by someone who has done it.

What Is Lingoda And The Language Sprint?

Before December 2018, I had never heard of Lingoda, a German language company. The company, based in Berlin, has become well-known for its massive language promotion, which offers up to a 100% refund on 90 one-hour classes in your target language.

This promotion was dubbed the “Lingoda Language Marathon” for many years. However, the name has been changed to the “Lingoda Language Sprint,” even though the promotion offer remains essentially the same.

This is not to be confused with the new “Lingoda Language Marathon,” which is always available and slightly more flexible, but students can only receive up to 25% of their tuition. This reviews the seasonally available Lingoda Sprint (formally known as the Lingoda Marathon). The one with the 100% refund guarantee.

Overview

In this article, I’ll discuss my experience learning Spanish with Lingoda. I’ll discuss their interface, their teachers, the material used, tips for completing the Sprint, what they could do better, and whether it was worthwhile.

If you’re unfamiliar with Lingoda, they’re an online language learning company that matches you with native speakers in 1-on-1 and small group classes. Lingoda provides instruction in English, Spanish, German, and French. And they have them in various levels, from absolute beginner to advanced.

Lingoda is well-known for its incredible promotion known as the Lingoda Language Sprint. This promotion provides 90 days of one-hour classes in your target language with a native certified teacher, and if you complete the entire Sprint — every single day for 90 days, or their half Sprint, which is half that — they will refund you 100 percent of the tuition. That is an audacious claim. As a result, I put them to the test.

My Participation

I participated in the Lingoda Sprint in Spanish. Spanish and Go is all about teaching Spanish and the culture, language, and traditions associated with various Spanish-speaking locations, so I’m always looking to improve. I’ve always thought that achieving near-native fluency in Spanish would be incredible. And I’m getting there. I’m sure I have some work to do. But I knew going into the Sprint that I was a C1 Spanish speaker. And after speaking with the Lingoda teachers, I knew I was in the right place when I started making the Sprint.

If you’re unsure what C1 means, it’s based on the “CEFR,” or Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. So, this is the higher end of language learning, the more advanced material. A1 would be a beginner, while C2 would be advanced. It goes as follows: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. So, I eventually wanted to get to C2, but I completed the Sprint primarily in C1. I received my diploma. The C1 and C2 levels are no longer available for advancement.

Lingoda’s Interface

In this review, I assume you’ve never used Lingoda before. So, let’s begin with their user interface.

The Lingoda interface makes it very simple to book classes, see your syllabus, what classes you have coming up, which ones you’ve completed, who you’ll be having classes with, and when. It’s very basic and straightforward. The three main tabs are my classes, book classes, and courses.

Your upcoming class is displayed prominently in your “my classes” tab. Below, you can see your upcoming classes following your next one and your previous classes. So it’s very easy to see if you have a class scheduled for every day, which you’ll need to do to finish the Sprint.

There’s also a “book classes” tab to schedule your next classes. It’s also very convenient because you can specify a time frame for when you’re available to take a class, and it will only show classes available during that time frame. It also allows you to show only the next classes in your syllabus by showing the next one, the next five, or the next ten classes. So, it focuses on ensuring that you are progressing through your syllabus in roughly the correct order. The curriculum varies depending on the level. There are eleven chapters, in my case, for the C1 level. So I could go through the syllabus and see where I was at any point during the Sprint.

Then there’s the “my courses” tab, which displays the classes you’ve completed, those you’ve scheduled but haven’t yet completed, and whether or not you have a pending class report from the teacher. Another cool feature of this section is that you not only get to see your entire syllabus, but you also get to see how far along you are toward earning your CEFR certificate, which to me, gamifies the whole experience and I got excited just seeing the percentage progress every day getting closer and closer to that CEFR certificate.

The Teachers

Let us now discuss the teachers. One of the things I enjoyed most about the Sprint was the opportunity to speak with teachers from all over the country. I had Spanish teachers from eight different countries:

Spain
Mexico
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Chile
Venezuela
Argentina
Uruguay

This was one of the most interesting aspects of the Sprint for me because I enjoy hearing different accents from different speakers all over the world. Speaking Spanish greatly improves your ability to understand a wide range of people.

Almost all of the teachers I had were excellent. We would be having a conversation or going through a lesson, and they’d be taking notes on what I was saying as I said it, and then we’d go over it to correct my mistakes. That’s something I don’t understand when I’m out and about, conversing with Spanish speakers on the street. Because, for the most part, you will need someone to correct you in this manner. By doing that, they’re doing a fantastic job.

All of the teachers have extensive experience and knowledge. They are all well-versed in grammar. If you have a question, they will promptly respond. The only time they didn’t know something was when something in the lesson material was from Spain, which is usually the case, and we’ll get to that later, and they didn’t know what that phrase meant. I wouldn’t expect them to know every phrase from every country, or even from Spain, if they’re from Ecuador or Mexico, for example.

You also have the option to rate your teacher at the end of each class. And, on the whole, everyone was excellent. Out of dozens of classes, there was only one instance where I thought the teacher could have done better. Let’s say this teacher was a little too impatient for my taste. I provided feedback, and I was assigned to that teacher again. The feedback system is anonymous. Although, the teacher was noticeably better in the next class. So either the feedback system works, or I got lucky.

The Class Materials

Let us now discuss the class material. Every class has an accompanying PDF, and you mostly go through it with your teacher and the rest of the group, sharing different sections to speak out loud and ask questions. It’s worth repeating that I took the Sprint at the C1 level because I heard Lingoda is updating many of its learning materials. However, they have yet to redo the C1 and C2 levels in Spanish. I’ve also heard that most people are making the Sprint at the lower levels, which have been revamped. I haven’t had a chance to review any of the A or B-level class materials.

Since the original publication of this review, Lingoda has updated its Spanish class materials.

Now I’ll share my experience with the course material. I thought it was quite good. It appeared to be mostly based on conversation and writing about various topics. Lessons cover classic literature, film, and everyday activities you might encounter in a Spanish-speaking country, such as going to the bank and opening a bank account. The stages of life were another class that stood out to me. There was even an economics class. This was especially challenging because I had never discussed the economy in Spanish with anyone, so I learned much from that class. Another class that was quite fun was about different diets. Throughout the Sprint, you end up covering a tonne of different vocabulary in a variety of subjects.

Tips For Completing The Marathon (Sprint)

This is where things start to get interesting. If you want to try the Lingoda Sprint, I’ll give you some success tips and discuss some things I believe could be improved. Then we’ll move on to my reflections.

Tip 1: Test The Internet Connection And Have A Backup

My partner and I live in Puerto Rico, where the power goes out occasionally. So, what do you do now? I’ve had two Lingoda classes where the power went out shortly before the class began, and I had to devise a backup plan. This is how I did it. I had backup internet access via my cell phone. As a result, I used my cell phone as a hotspot and could access the Zoom platform. Lingoda hosts their classes using this conferencing software. That way, you can see and talk to everyone.

You do not have to turn on your camera during class; sometimes, turning it off can help if your internet connection is slow.

Fortunately, I had a strong enough LTE connection to keep me going. We have T-Mobile plans that include unlimited LTE data, which gave me extra peace of mind. And I could only rely on this in emergencies because my phone and computer were always charged. So make sure you have a backup, including a spare power bank.

Tip 2: Book The Classes At Least A Week In Advance

According to what I’ve heard, you’ll need to book your classes as far in advance as possible, especially at the lower levels. For me, the most effective approach was sticking to an hour or two every day I knew I had set aside for my classes. This became a habit because I knew I had a class every day at 8 or 9 p.m. As a result, I would only look for classes during those times and book them ahead of time.

I once needed to book farther ahead of time and had no classes available. I became terrified. So I contacted Lingoda customer service. Unfortunately, I have yet to receive a prompt response from them, and I was unsure whether I would be able to attend my class.

This is all my fault because I should have given it more than a week, which is why I’m telling you. But I didn’t get a response from Lingoda right away. They hadn’t posted any new classes yet, but luckily, some more appeared on the schedule the day before I was supposed to have one. Then I got a call from Lingoda.

Everything worked out in the end. My classes were able to be scheduled, but it was a close call. To their credit, Lingoda responded and apologized. They advised me to give myself at least a week’s notice, and they assured me that they are improving their customer service during the Sprints to respond to students more quickly. And I spoke with Lingoda’s head of operations, who confirmed that they are working on it.

Lingoda’s head of operations also told me that if no classes are available at any point, you can skip levels. Therefore, in my case, I could have gone to C2 or B2 to look for classes, and that would have probably solved my problem. I had no idea at the time.

Tip 3: Sync The Classes To The Cloud

Check that all of your classes are synced to the cloud. That way, you can always see when you have a class on your calendar, whether on your phone or on your computer. I always ensured that everything was in sync to see when I had a class, regardless of where I was. Set up reminders on your phone to send notifications 10 or 15 minutes before your class so you can prepare. Remember to check your internet connection and ensure you are ready. Here’s a website where you can test your internet speed.

Tip 4: Use The Filter Function

The filter function is a useful tool, but it needs to ensure you will find an upcoming class that follows your syllabus.

Make sure you’re using the filter function under the book classes tab to ensure you’re going in the order of the syllabus. I discovered this function far too late in the Sprint, and while it worked out, it’s probably better if you stick to the syllabus and move from one chapter to the next rather than bouncing around all over the place.

Tip 5: Get Zoom For Mobile And Desktop

Download the Zoom app for your phone to connect to your class wherever you are. I needed to have my class right before our dogs went in for surgery. I had to use the app, and it saved my life.

Tip 6: Carry Headphones With You

Make it a habit always to have headphones suitable for a Zoom call with you. When I didn’t have headphones and had a class while away from home, the situation was less than ideal. It was extremely difficult to read the materials and listen to my teacher in such a noisy environment.

What I Did Not Like

After all of that, what could be better?

Missing Batch Class Sync Function

However, when you book a class, Lingoda sends you an email with a file that you can download to automatically add your class to your calendar, which can be either Google Calendar or Apple Calendar. It would be extremely useful if you could book several classes and download all the files. It would save me a little time because I usually book classes two weeks in advance, and it is tedious to go through and add single classes one by one in that manner.

Lesson Material Focuses On Spanish From Spain

It would be fantastic if Lingoda added a Latin American Spanish course. That way, the emphasis would be more on Latin America and less on Spain, but almost all of the class material is based on Spanish from Spain, which is fine for me. But there are a lot of phrases in the materials that I will never use.

Nonetheless, knowing these things is beneficial. Especially if you travel frequently, another thing that could be improved is the lack of real testing. You can get the CEFR certificate because you put in the time and attended all classes, but there is no grading. You basically have to show up to your classes, and you’ll get better, but there’s no way to tell how well you’re doing.

No Actual Testing

Most feedback comes from your teacher at the end of each class, where they give you suggestions on how to improve. Also, at the end of the Sprint, make sure you cancel any upcoming classes or subscriptions with Lingoda if you do not intend to continue. I’ve heard some people complain about not being aware of this. And if you’re finished with their courses, all you have to do is cancel.

It’s Almost Impossible To Follow The Syllabus

While I like the idea of the class filter function, it is only useful if you can find classes that match your syllabus. Even when I tried to book classes nearly two weeks in advance, it was nearly impossible to find any classes that were in the next six or ten subjects on my syllabus. With luck, I’d find an occasional class that fit, but nine times out of ten, I’d be stuck taking whatever classes were available. This may not be a big deal at my level, but I don’t know about the lower levels. I see how this is more difficult for an A1 student.

Lingoda Is Sometimes Difficult To Contact

My trust in a company rises in direct proportion to its customer service response time. While I only contacted Lingoda once during the Sprint, waiting for a response felt like an eternity as I worried about not being able to book another class in time. While Lingoda did its part to assure me they were working on it, I wonder if they did.

Larger Classes Are Less Enjoyable And Rewarding

While Lingoda’s virtual classes are typically much smaller than in-person group classes, having more than two or three other students in a class at the same time can be annoying. Lingoda advertises that their group classes have an average of three students per class, but classes can have up to five students. I was mostly the only student at the C1 level in my experience, but most teachers told me that the lower A and B levels were much busier. I discovered that every new student in a class meant less time to practice speaking and interacting with the teacher.

You’re Automatically Enrolled Into A Subscription Plan

I understand. Lingoda can only offer such a ridiculous promotion because they hope to convert you into a paying customer. Lingoda has a solution: you will be automatically enrolled in a subscription plan after the promotion ends. This is stated in their rules, so you can not really call it shady, but it’s not well-publicized on their website.

You can avoid the auto-enrollment by notifying Lingoda that you want to cancel your subscription before the promotion ends.

Is The Lingoda Marathon (Sprint) Worth It?

So, here are some of my thoughts on Sprint.

Did It Help Me?

Let us start with the most important question: Did it help me? Yes. That is the simple answer. I didn’t realize I was progressing at first, but that’s the case with small changes over time with anything. I believe that, as with any skill you’re trying to develop, you don’t notice much change daily, but over time you look back and think, “wow, yeah, I’ve come a long way.” And May (the other half of Spanish and Go) can attest to this. She claims I am more fluent in Spanish. And if she says it, I will not argue about it.

Was It Worth It?

This is dependent on your language learning objectives. But it was well worth it for me. I aim to become as fluent in Spanish as possible, and Sprint has helped me improve. Is it something I’d do again? Yes. With one exception. I’m exhausted. It takes a lot of effort. You must be completely committed to showing up every day, and 90 days is a long time. Things happen, and it can be not easy to get to class sometimes.

But if you’re determined, pick a good time to be consistent, and show up to your class every day when you don’t usually have anything else going on, you can easily beat the Lingoda Sprint.

More On Class Sizes

I liked how small the class sizes were. The Sprint classes are all in small groups. According to Lingoda’s website, their classes have an average of three students per class. In my experience, most group classes had three or fewer students. However, most of my classes consisted of just me and the teacher. When I discussed this with some of my teachers, they stated that fewer students are taking higher-level Spanish courses.

This applies to other languages as well. Most Sprint participants are beginners or intermediates, so there will likely be more people in your classes with lower levels, but there is no guarantee.

I only had one class that was completely full. And it was one of those odd classes where there wasn’t much availability, and I ended up taking a class at 1:00 a.m. The class was full of Russians because it was morning in Russia and one o’clock in Puerto Rico. This is the exception rather than the rule, but it becomes too much when the classes are full. You must patiently wait your turn to read any activities or ask questions.

Who Is The Lingoda Marathon For?

I recommend this to anyone who needs extra motivation to keep learning a new language. This is for you if you are good at setting goals and need a financial incentive to stick to them.

However, if you need to improve at following strict rules or if failing the Sprint would put you in a difficult financial situation, then the Lingoda Sprint is not for you.

Sign up for the Sprint here if you want to take your language learning to the next level. If you stick with it, your Spanish will significantly improve (or whichever language you choose).

The Lingoda Sprint is only available at certain times of the year.

What Is The Difference Between The Marathon And The Sprint?

This review was difficult to write due to Lingoda’s bizarre decision to confuse everyone by renaming their most popular promotion. Again, to avoid confusion, the focus of this article was on the Lingoda Sprint, formally known as the Lingoda Marathon. To assist as many people as possible, we’ll go over the differences between the two promotions here:

The Lingoda Language Sprint

The “100% refund” promotion has a new name.
If you complete 90 consecutive classes, you will receive a full refund.
Complete 45 classes over three months and receive a 50% refund.
Three months of intensive language study
15 or 30 group classes per month (Sprint or Super Sprint)
“There are only so many places” -Lingoda
Registration deadline: varies – new Sprint promotions begin throughout the year.

The Lingoda Language Marathon

The old name of the “100% refund” promotion.
Get €50 cashback for completing 45 classes credits within three months
Get €200 cashback for completing 90 classes credits within six months
Get €400 cashback for completing 180 classes credits within 12 months
No open/close dates. Join anytime
Simpler terms and conditions.
Check the website for more details because even I’m a little confused about this option. I’ve never tried this particular product from Lingoda.

Is Lingoda A Scam?

The lingoda has strict rules for strint promotion. Breaking any of them will eliminate you from recieving a refund. However, reading them takes only a few minutes, and understanding them is essential to your success.

Several people have expressed their concerns about Lingoda via various comments on review sites and our YouTube video reviewing the Sprint. These concerns and complaints are typically related to instances in which Lingoda did not refund the customer. However, many of the complaints clearly misunderstand Lingoda’s Terms and Conditions for the promotion.

For example, one Twitter user claims that they did not receive a refund because Lingoda canceled a class (which occasionally happens). They assumed that this meant automatic disqualification. Lingoda’s canceled class will always satisfy you. Keep in mind that you cannot purchase additional credits during the promotion. Wait until the promotion ends, and the credit from the canceled class will be returned to you.

Final Words

It’s difficult to determine who makes these claims and even more difficult to verify whether they have tried the Sprint Promotion. Still, it all boils down to reading and understanding the rules before signing up for the Lingoda Sprint or any promotion.

Do I believe Lingoda is a sham? No. Because I followed the rules exactly as stated and completed the Lingoda Sprint successfully. You, too, can do it. Sign up here if you’re up for the challenge.