What can you use the application for?
Busuu.com is an online community for learning languages in a social networking setting. Users can learn English, Spanish, German or French using the site, which uses social networking to enhance the learning experience. Courses are organized into units that contain more than 100 different topics, such as Welcome, In the Restaurant, Job Interview, etc. Each topic has a section for vocabulary, dialogue (reading exercises), writing exercises, busuu talk (allows users to video chat with native speakers of the language they are studying), and review. One of the main attractions of the site is the busuu talk feature, which provides an experience similar to visiting a foreign country to learn the language.
All of the course material is audiovisual. For example, the vocabulary section shows a picture while pronouncing the word or phrase that goes along with the picture. Users have a profile on the site, and can add friends and message them as well as chat with them in either user’s native language. Users can choose to study more than one language, up to and including all four of the available languages. Each course topic is also available in readable PDF format. New languages are in the planning stages for the site.
What is the history and popularity of the application?
Madrid-based Busuu.com was founded in January 2008 by Adrian Hilti and Bernhard Niesner. It was an entirely free service at first, but has since added a premium membership level. The site has undergone steady growth since launch, and currently serves thousands of monthly visitors. The site has an Alexa page rank near the 60,000 mark.
What are the differences to other applications?
Competition to Busuu.com comes from sites such as LiveMocha and Babbel. LiveMocha offers English, Spanish, French, Japanese and Italian languages in a social networking environment. The LiveMocha site is advertising supported. The Babbel site offers English, French, German, Italian and Spanish in an interactive setting without the social networking aspect. Basic language instruction is available for free from the Babbel site, but advanced interactive courses are paid.
How does the application look and feel to use?
The Busuu.com site has a clean and uncluttered look and feel. The site is somewhat slow to respond (to the US) – page loads can take 10 seconds or more. Navigation is intuitive, and the interface for the courses is very user-friendly. There is a convenient top menu bar for navigation, which includes headings for Home, Friends, Inbox, busuutalk, and Search. Even though overall site response is slow, audio and video clips load and play without gaps. Advertising is displayed on the site to members with a free membership.
How does the registration process work?
Registration for a basic account on the Busuu site is free and is required to use the site. The registration process asks for username, email address, password, language(s) the user speaks, language(s) the user would like to learn, gender, country and DOB. Validation of the email address is required. Users can optionally add their city, interests, and a photo to their profile. The basic membership level provides picture-based exercises, writing exercises, reading comprehension exercises, the video chat application and interactive exams.
What does it cost to use the application?
A premium membership to the Busuu site is available for 12.99 euros per month, 9.99 euros per month for 3 months, or 7.99 euros per month for six month. The premium membership adds audio for more than 3,000 key phrases, listening comprehension exercises, printable PDF files for each unit, access to more than 35 grammar units, audio podcasts for more than 150 units, and video units. In addition the premium membership removes advertising. The site accepts PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and American Express as payment for premium memberships.
Who would you recommend the application to?
The Busuu.com site is recommended to anyone who has a desire to learn English, French, German or Spanish. The social networking aspect of the site adds a great deal to the learning experience, making it possible to achieve a more personal environment for learning a foreign language. Basic language skills can be learned using a free membership, and more advanced skills are possible with a premium membership.
