There are many apps and programs that help people learn Japanese. One of those I looked at a long time ago was Memrise. I've decided to update my Japanese Memrise review because it's been a few years since I've used it and I wanted to see what's changed.
There are some pretty big changes, like the layout, colors, and overall feel. I checked out some of his classes to see if the material or teaching method had changed and was a bit surprised by what I found.
contents hide
1) The science behind his method
2) What is SRS? Spaced repeat system
3) What I like about Memrise
4) What I don't like about them
5) Who should use Memrise? And you?
6) Have you used it before?
The science behind his method.
While I'm not aware of all the methods or techniques Memrise uses to help users learn a new language, some of them really caught my eye during the course.
The first thing that struck me was that during a class you are presented with the same information in different ways.
For example, you can learn five new words in a single lesson, but they will all be combined and presented to you in a systematic way.
First you are given the word and its meaning. For example, in some of the previous lessons, they teach that 久しぶり (hisashiburi) is a casual way of saying "Long time no see" to someone, as in the screenshot below:
You'll then learn a few other new words before testing yourself on 久しぶり to see if you remember what that particular word means. They can do this by showing you the word and asking you to choose the correct English translation.
Or they can have you listen to the word and then you have to choose which option is spelled correctly.
There are actually a few different ways to interact, read, and listen with new words.
Of course, these tests are combined with learning other new words and then compared to those other new words, forcing you to remember information you learned not long ago.
This way you will learn many new words, an introduction followed by several different reviews before moving on to the new words.
The Memrise program knows which wordsYou knowand how well you remember how many times you gave the right (or wrong) answers.
This comes into play with its primary learning method: SRS.
What is SRS? Spaced repeat system
I'm not going to get too deep into the science of what a distributed repetition system is as it can get a bit boring and I'm sure many of you are already familiar with it.
The basic explanation is that it's a system that's able to track how well you remember certain words and phrases and then organize themReview Sessionsso that the things you know very well are repeated less and the things you have trouble with are discussed more often.
It's actually a great tool as it allows you to spend your time efficiently by focusing on the things that require your attention the most.
I've used it a lot with the Anki Flashcard program, but it's something that almost every language learning company uses, so it's quickly becoming the norm.
What I like most about SRS is that it does all the "back-end work" for you, so you can spend all your time learning.
What I like about Memrise
In fact, there are a lot of really cool things about the Memrise Japanese courses that I'd like to talk about right now.
One of the best things about them is that you can get started for free. There is a premium version with many more features which I will detail in the next section, but for now remember that you can try them without spending anything.
I really appreciate that native Japanese speakers do all the language work for words and sentences because it allows you to learn how words are supposed to sound when they are in isolation and when they are part of a natural sentence.
Something unique about Memrise is that they have many short videos by native speakers that help animate the lessons and also allow you to watch mouth movements that can help you imitate them to improve your own accent.
When I reviewed the courses, there were seven main courses you can follow and they were created by the Memrise team.
You can also look at courses created by other users if you want to cover a specific vocabulary, e.g. B. common words in popular anime, or if you use Genki's books and want a good way to brush up on what you've learned.
However, the quality of teaching is usually higher in the courses taught by Memrise itself.
It was also great that many of the words and phrases were written entirely in Japanese, allowing you to learn new kanji while improving your reading skills.
But I wasn't totally in love with her as there were some things I didn't like.
What I don't like about them
First, let me say that I fully understand and appreciate that Memrise is a language learning platform.the businessand as such, they must (and should) make money by providing value to their users.
That being said, I found the frequency of their “upgrade to premium” ads to be too high.
Again, these are just my personal preferences, but I was asked when I first signed up, after each class, and even when browsing the app.
That being said, let me move on to some of the learning things I didn't like.
The first thing that struck me was that this app was designed to be really mobile-friendly and spent a little time (around 10-20 minutes) every day learning a few new Japanese words.
That's fine for the casual learner, but in my experience, you really need to spend more time (around 1-3 hours) each day reading, listening, and then speaking Japanese if you want to become proficient.
I wish there was a shortcut, but it really takes a lot of time and effort, and the way Memrise teaches the language feels a lot more like an app game and less like you're fully immersed in the language would dive in.
In fact, I think this "gamification" of learning Japanese is intentional on their part, so I'm not saying it's bad. I really didn't like myself.
I don't like being questioned either. I just don't like it and would rather focus on the intended meaning behind a Japanese sentence than be asked to correctly identify it.
I think it took me 10 minutes to complete about two lessons in the course, covering a dozen different words.
When I read a Japanese book, website or audio book, I usually find hundreds of words at the same time.
But what I have to keep in mind is that my current level of Japanese allows me to do that, and not long ago I couldn't.
So who do I think Memrise is for?
Who should use Memrise? And you?
I think Memrise is a good place to start if you are new to learning Japanese or are still at the beginner level.
It can be great to understand how the language works, pick up some common words and phrases, and start reading hiragana, katakana, and some kanji.
Beyond that level, however, I think it's much better used as an adjunct to learning Japanese than as a main dish.
You can communicate with him for 10-20 minutes every day when you are away from home and have some free time.
But if you're able to stick with Japanese for a good while, I think there are better ways.
Honestly, I think you have to decide for yourself whether it's worth using this tool or not.
My personal opinion is that it's a good start, but once you're at that intermediate level, it's much better to start consuming native Japanese contentSupported reading systems like this one.
Have you used them before?
If you've never tried Memrise before, you can do so by trying them out on the App Store or Google Play, depending on what type of phone you have.
They also have a website you can use to study on your computer (memrise.com), but I think his courses are really meant to be accessed through your smartphone.
Anyway, now you have a good idea of what it is and how it works. You know my opinion on this too, but don't take me too seriously. Your own experience with it will be a much better indicator of whether or not it's right for you.
If you have any questions, please let us know by leaving them in the comment section below.
If you've already used Memrise (for any language), I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas on it. Tell me what you like about it and if you would like to see anything changed.
More resources for learning Japanese:
#1 Recommendation for beginners
#2 Watch me learn Japanese
#3 Get my eBook (Secrets to Learn Japanese) for free.
Take care!
FAQs
What are the disadvantages of Memrise? ›
- Quality of user-created content varies a lot. Memrise offers courses curated by the staff. ...
- The exercises can get repetitive. ...
- Memrise is only vocabulary focused. ...
- It is not user-friendly. ...
- Not meant for Advanced level learners.
We believe Memrise is the best program to learn Japanese because you're able to learn the vocabulary that you find useful, learn fast, keep motivated through having fun, and surround yourself with Japanese native speakers – which all gives you the confidence to communicate!
Can you become fluent with Memrise? ›Memrise won't make you fluent in a foreign language, but it's an excellent study aid. This web and mobile app goes a long way toward helping you memorize characters, vocabulary, and phrases. It's not just for learning languages, either.
How reliable is Memrise? ›Memrise is an extremely useful tool for learning and memorizing vocabulary. The Memrise learning framework utilizes a spaced repetition system, which is a classic and proven teaching method used by a handful of other language courses as well.
Why is duolingo better than Memrise? ›With Memrise, there's really not much beyond their standard lessons and the user-generated courses. Duolingo, on the other hand, offers several different resources, including podcasts, translation dictionaries, and short stories to improve your reading and listening skills.
What is better than Memrise? ›Duolingo is better if you want to figure out how to make a sentence, and Memrise is perfect to help you build up your vocabulary or learn any kind of irregularities. Everything depends on what kind of gaps you need to fill. In case you are a complete beginner, then both apps go hand in hand.
How many years does it take to learn Japanese fluently? ›Learning Japanese isn't easy and it will take time. It's probably fair to say that you can expect a commitment of at least three years in order to achieve something resembling fluency. The average learner gets to the advanced level in three or four years.
Can you become fluent in Japanese in 3 months? ›How Long Does it Take to Learn Japanese on Average? With consistent studying and speaking, for about 30 minutes to an hour a day, you could speak at a conversational level in Japanese in about 3 months. It's all about using the right method, and I'll say it again: speak from day one!
What level can Memrise get you to? ›Courses 1 to 3 roughly equate to A1 level (beginners). Courses 4 and 5 equate to A2 level (intermediate). Courses 6 and 7 are at the B1 level (upper-intermediate/advanced).
How long does it take to finish Memrise? ›In the beginning, you might spend 5 minutes or less per day reviewing, but once you've learned more items, you might need 15-30 minutes per day to keep up with the reviews. If you only want to spend 15 minutes per day, plan on it taking you 6 months or more to complete our hypothetical course.
Is Babbel better than Memrise? ›
Which language app/course is better, Memrise or Babbel? After testing the apps/lessons from both companies, our team thinks Babbel is the more effective language learning program. We like Memrise's program and give it high marks, but Babbel is slightly more well-rounded.
Is Rosetta Stone better than Memrise? ›Essentially, with Rosetta, you just listen to your computer or phone say words and phrases. By contrast, with Memrise, you actually get to see native speakers speaking your target language. This has the effect of making the Memrise program feel a lot more intimate and personal.
What happened Memrise app? ›As part of our continued changes and improvements to the Memrise website and mobile experiences, in November 2021 we announced we'd be fully removing access to mems by mid-June 2022.
Is Memrise better than quizlet? ›If your main purpose is to learn languages, Memrise has more features to help you in your language learning journey. If your purpose is to review or learn other topics, Quizlet is the one to go.
Should I use Memrise or Duolingo? ›Memrise is very good with the same things Duolingo struggles with. Likewise, Duolingo can help fill in the gaps where Memrise is a bit weaker. Memrise is much better for learning and remembering individual words or phrases. Duolingo is much better for learning how to construct sentences.
Can you become completely fluent with Duolingo? ›We see this question a lot and the answer is: yes. Duolingo is a free language-learning platform, and every language and lesson is totally free!
Who has the highest points on Memrise? ›- Márcio_Th_VSF : 566,381,939.
- romzez 547,007,277. |3.addiep53|542,303,686| |4.Jemiołuszka|535,873,581| |5.mist84|486,228,413| |6.ameshbane|380,846,050| |7.Sharon|336,725,109| |8.Sagitario_El_Arquero|333,420,803| |9.vsuzie|326,131,636| |10.sven.loves.china|324,448,397|
- Duolingo.
- Busuu.
- Babbel.
- Mondly.
- Memrise.
- LingoDeer.
- Rosetta Stone.
- HelloTalk.
A premium membership to Memrise Pro includes additional features such as the “Audio Review” and “Difficult Words” review function. The membership also includes access to learning statistics, grammar bots, chatbots and what the programs describes as a “full range of official Memrise courses.”
Is Busuu better than Memrise? ›Busuu teaches languages in a more well-rounded manner, covering different language skills such as grammar, listening, speaking, writing, etc. Memrise is more of a supplementary resource that's better suited for learning and reviewing vocabulary rather than learning all aspects of a language.
How many months does it take to be fluent in Japanese? ›
Depending on how many hours per day you can study Japanese, attaining a basic level of fluency can take between six months and one year. Once you've reached a basic level of Japanese fluency, you should be able to: Ask for and understand directions.
How hard is it to become fluent in Japanese? ›The Japanese language is considered one of the most difficult to learn by many English speakers. With three separate writing systems, an opposite sentence structure to English, and a complicated hierarchy of politeness, it's decidedly complex.
How many words do you need to know to be fluent in Japanese? ›For starters, Japanese has three writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Kanji includes over 50,000 different characters, however, you only need to know about 2,000 of them to be considered fluent. You also only need to know about 5,000 Japanese vocabulary words to be considered fluent as well.
How many hours should I study Japanese a day? ›In general, it is recommended that learners spend 2 hours per day studying Japanese. This rate of study will enable a learner to achieve general professional proficiency in Japanese in a time frame of 6.2 years. Increasing or decreasing study hours will shorten or extend the time frame respectively.
Is it easier to learn Korean or Japanese? ›Unlike other East-Asian languages, Korean isn't a tonal language. This means, that the meaning of the word doesn't change, regardless of what your accent is like. This makes learning Korean much easier than Japanese.
What is harder Chinese or Japanese? ›Japanese is slightly easier to learn. But, Chinese is much more widely spoken. Both languages have their pros and cons.
Does it take 2 years to learn Japanese? ›The average length of time to learn advanced Japanese is 2-3 years. At the intermediate level, you can understand most of what your teacher says, and you can follow along with TV programs. When it comes to using the language with other Japanese speakers, however, you still have some limitations.
What is the hardest language to learn? ›Across multiple sources, Mandarin Chinese is the number one language listed as the most challenging to learn. The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center puts Mandarin in Category IV, which is the list of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers.
How long does it take to get to N2 Japanese? ›N2 with kanji knowledge took between 1,150-1,800 hours, while those with no prior kanji knowledge took between 1,600-2,800 hours. N1 with kanji knowledge took between 1,700-2,600 hours, while those with no prior kanji knowledge took between 3,000-4,800 hours.
How to use Memrise effectively? ›- Start With Your Settings. ...
- Change Your “I Speak” language. ...
- Pick a Mixture of Memrise-Created Courses and Community Courses. ...
- Check Course Creator's Other Courses. ...
- Pick a Script Course. ...
- Pick a Grammar Course. ...
- Make Your Own Courses! ...
- Download Courses for Offline Use.
Can you learn two languages at once on Memrise? ›
On Memrise, you can access and learn as many languages as you want at the same time! To switch between the courses you are currently learning, simply tap the menu icon on the left (on Android), or the course title (on iOS).
Is Memrise upgrade worth it? ›Memrise Pro / Premium
The Premium version, Memrise Pro, stands out from other language learning tools and resources I have tried. This is because the paid subscription provides you with access to ALL language courses, not just one.
Memrise uses spaced repetition to accelerate language acquisition. Spaced repetition is an evidence-based learning technique that incorporates increasing intervals of time between subsequent review of previously learned material to exploit the psychological spacing effect.
How does Memrise make money? ›We estimate that Memrise made $24.5 million revenue in 2021, mostly from its premium subscription service.
Has anyone become fluent using Babbel? ›You will most likely not become fluent with Babbel. It's a solid language app and can give you a strong foundation in your target language, but to achieve fluency, you'll need to use other resources. While it won't help you become fluent, Babbel can help you improve your language skills.
Has anyone actually learned a language from Babbel? ›73% Of People Can Speak A Language After 5 Hours With This App. Learning to have a conversation in a new language is quick and easy with Babbel's bite-sized lessons, designed by experts. Most people can speak within 5 hours!
Is there anything better than Duolingo? ›We have compiled a list of solutions that reviewers voted as the best overall alternatives and competitors to Duolingo, including Rosetta Stone, Lingvist, Busuu, and Mango Languages.
Do people become fluent with Rosetta Stone? ›While Rosetta Stone will help you build a solid foundation, it won't make you fluent. When you feel like you've maxed out on learning with Rosetta Stone, you might need to push yourself into situations where you're actively using the language instead of reacting to an app.
Is duolingo better than Rosetta? ›Yes. After thoroughly testing out and reviewing each language learning app, we found Rosetta Stone to be a superior program to Duolingo. While we like Duolingo's gamification of learning, Rosetta Stone is simply more comprehensive and effective.
Is Duolingo a good place to learn Japanese? ›Duolingo is an excellent free resource for learning languages, especially if you consider yourself a beginner who is looking to immerse yourself quickly in Japanese.
Has Memrise changed? ›
You'll still be able to view your courses on https://app.memrise.com/ and keep learning them as usual, but in a nicer, more intuitive experience, which we've been improving since early 2020 with some of your feedback. We'll keep making small changes to it in the following months.
Is Memrise not free anymore? ›If you decide to advance your learning, we have a range of subscription options to best meet your needs. Also the description in their app page on Play Store makes this point clear: You will need a Memrise subscription in order to access all courses and features.
What happened to Memrise courses? ›They made plans to put them on a separate site called “Decks”. They did that, but then they pretty much entirely neglected the Decks site. Then they decided it wasn't working (obviously not, since they totally neglected it) and got rid of Decks and left all the user-created courses on the main memrise site.
Can you skip levels in Memrise? ›To do so, simply visit the main page of the course you are learning, select a level and click ⚙️Ignore on the right. Then, tick the item(s) you would like to ignore and click 'Save' at the bottom. To skip the entire level, select 'All' at the top and click 'Save' at the bottom.
Should I use Memrise or duolingo? ›Memrise is very good with the same things Duolingo struggles with. Likewise, Duolingo can help fill in the gaps where Memrise is a bit weaker. Memrise is much better for learning and remembering individual words or phrases. Duolingo is much better for learning how to construct sentences.
Which is better Memrise or Babbel? ›Which language app/course is better, Memrise or Babbel? After testing the apps/lessons from both companies, our team thinks Babbel is the more effective language learning program. We like Memrise's program and give it high marks, but Babbel is slightly more well-rounded.
Can you cancel Memrise at any time? ›You may cancel your subscription at any time by locating your settings page on your Profile, selecting the 'Account' tab and selecting "Cancel Plan”.
Is Busuu or Memrise better? ›Busuu teaches languages in a more well-rounded manner, covering different language skills such as grammar, listening, speaking, writing, etc. Memrise is more of a supplementary resource that's better suited for learning and reviewing vocabulary rather than learning all aspects of a language.
How long does it take to learn a language on Memrise? ›That means with our courses: You can learn a language in a year, 1 month, 15 days, 1 week, 40 hours or just 15 mins a day – to get to a decent speaking level.
What level does Memrise get you to? ›Courses 1 to 3 roughly equate to A1 level (beginners). Courses 4 and 5 equate to A2 level (intermediate). Courses 6 and 7 are at the B1 level (upper-intermediate/advanced).
What is the best way to use Memrise? ›
- Start With Your Settings. ...
- Change Your “I Speak” language. ...
- Pick a Mixture of Memrise-Created Courses and Community Courses. ...
- Check Course Creator's Other Courses. ...
- Pick a Script Course. ...
- Pick a Grammar Course. ...
- Make Your Own Courses! ...
- Download Courses for Offline Use.
If your main purpose is to learn languages, Memrise has more features to help you in your language learning journey. If your purpose is to review or learn other topics, Quizlet is the one to go.