Busuu Review: Its History, Founder, and Pros & Cons

Busuu is a standout language-learning app that impresses with its versatility and user-friendliness. With a diverse language selection, interactive lessons, grammar units, speaking exercises, and personalized study plans, it caters to learners of all levels. The vibrant community of native speakers enhances the learning experience, providing real-world practice. Busuu’s flexibility, accessible via web or mobile, makes it a valuable tool for busy individuals. Moreover, the option to earn certification adds a compelling edge. For a quick and effective way to master new languages, Busuu is an excellent choice. In this full blog, we will help you to know about Busuu by giving Busuu reviews, Its history, and Pros & cons.

What is Busuu?

Busuu is a fantastic tool for learning new languages quickly and easily. It was started in 2008 and has become a top place for people who love languages. Busuu’s main aim is to make learning a language easy, engaging, and effective.

When you join Busuu, you can choose from many languages, like Spanish, French, German, and more. What’s special about Busuu is how it completely teaches you. It offers interactive lessons, teaches you grammar and vocabulary, gives you speaking and writing exercises, and even makes a study plan just for you based on your skills and goals.

One of the best things about Busuu is its friendly community of language learners. You have the opportunity to engage in conversations with native speakers and fellow learners, facilitating authentic dialogues and providing insights into various cultures. Moreover, they can offer constructive feedback to aid in your enhancement.

You can use Busuu on the web or with a mobile app, no matter if you’re a beginner or advanced. It’s designed to fit your schedule. And when you finish a course, you even get a certificate to show your language skills.

In short, Busuu is a fun and easy way to learn languages. It uses new ideas along with the traditional ways of teaching, making it great for everyone.

History of Busuu Application

Bernhard Nieshner and Adrian Hilti launched Busuu, a well-known language-learning software, in 2008. They first connected while pursuing their MBAs at the IE Business School in Spain. Both of them had a strong enthusiasm for studying languages, but they were dissatisfied with the conventional approaches to language acquisition because they thought they were outdated, expensive, and time-consuming.

The issues led to the creation of Busuu. With a focus on useful skills like speaking and listening, it provides a more participatory and interesting way to learn a language. Additionally, the app includes a community of native speakers who can offer feedback on your development.

Busuu has expanded quickly since its debut. Over 100 million people have signed up for its courses, which are available in over 14 languages. Chegg, a provider of educational technologies, purchased it in 2021 for 436 million $. One of the most widely used language learning applications available is called Busuu. If you want to learn a new language fast and easily, you should think about it.

The following are some significant points in Busuu’s history:

• 2008: Busuu is founded by Bernhard Niesner and Adrian Hilti.
• 2009: The first Busuu mobile app is launched.
• 2010: Busuu launches a virtual reality app for learning Spanish.
• 2011: Busuu partners with McGraw-Hill to offer official language tests.
• 2012: Busuu launches a business version for corporate clients.
• 2013: Busuu is awarded the “EdTech Breakthrough Award” for Language Learning App of the Year.
• 2014: Busuu launches a chatbot for Facebook Messenger.
• 2015: Busuu launches a course in Arabic.
• 2016: Busuu is a launch partner for Google Home Assistant.
• 2017: Busuu launches a course in Hindi.
• 2018: Busuu launches a course in Korean.
• 2019: Busuu launches a course in Japanese.
• 2020: Busuu is named one of the top transformational growth ed-tech companies in GSV Ventures’ Global EdTech 50.
• 2021: Busuu is acquired by education technology company Chegg for 436 million $.

Future Plans for Busuu

Busuu is dedicated to giving its consumers the very best language-learning experience.

The app intends to concentrate on:

• Adding new languages to its educational offerings.
• Creating new features that enhance the learning process, such as tailored learning paths and feedback powered by AI (Artificial Intelligence).
• Improving the app’s global user accessibility.
• The popular language-learning software Busuu is revolutionizing how people learn languages. Busuu is well-positioned to expand and prosper in the years to come because of its creative approach and dedication to quality.

Who are the Founders of Busuu?

Bernhard Niesner and Adrian Hilti established Busuu in 2008. They met at IE Business School in Spain while doing MBAs. They were both interested in languages, but they were dissatisfied with traditional language learning methods, which they saw as antiquated, expensive, and time-consuming.

Busuu was built to address these issues. It provides a more participatory and interesting approach to language learning, with an emphasis on practical skills such as speaking and listening. In addition, the app has a community of native speakers who can provide feedback on your progress.

Busuu’s two founders are:

• Bernhard Niesner: Bernhard is a software developer and entrepreneur from Germany. He is Busuu’s co-founder and CEO. He is enthusiastic about applying technology to real-world challenges.
• Adrian Hilti: Adrian is a business consultant and entrepreneur from Switzerland. He is Busuu’s co-founder and COO. He is deeply committed to making education more accessible to everybody.

Busuu has developed fast since its inception. It now has over 100 million registered users and provides courses in 14 different languages. Chegg, an education technology business, paid $436 million for it in 2021.

Busuu is one of the market’s most popular language-learning apps. It is an excellent option for anyone learning a new language quickly and conveniently.

Here are some of the things that Busuu’s founders have done to ensure the app’s success:

• They found a genuine issue that individuals were dealing with: the difficulties of learning a new language.
• They created an original and practical solution: an interactive, engaging, and cheap language-learning software.
• They assembled a strong team of talented and devoted individuals.
• They were unwavering in their pursuit of their goal.

Busuu’s founders inspire everyone looking to establish their own business. They demonstrate that great things are achievable if you are passionate about your concept and prepared to work hard.

How does the Busuu App work?

Busuu is a language study software that includes lessons in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Turkish, Polish, and Dutch. You can use it on the web, as well as on iOS and Android devices.”

Busuu’s courses are designed to be engaging and participatory, and they employ several learning strategies, including:

• Interactive Exercises: These exercises help you practice your grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
• Video classes: These lessons are given by native speakers and include real-life language examples.
• Peer-to-peer review: You can send your exercises to other learners and native speakers for feedback.
• Learning Community: Busuu boasts a large and dynamic community of learners where you can seek assistance, ask questions, and engage with fellow language enthusiasts.

Busuu has both a free and a paid version. The free version offers a restricted selection of courses and features.

The premium edition grants access to all content and features, including:

• Personalized study plan: This plan is tailored to your specific learning objectives and requirements.
• Grammar classes: These lessons will teach you the fundamental grammar of the language.
• Feedback from native speakers: You can submit your exercises for feedback from native speakers.
• Review sessions powered by AI: These sessions assist you in reviewing your vocabulary and grammar.
• Ability to download lessons for offline use: You can download lessons for offline usage if you wish to learn a language while traveling.
• McGraw Hill’s official language tests: These assessments can assist you in evaluating your progress and tracking your learning.

How does Busuu function?

Here are the steps for using the Busuu application:

Step 1:

Install the app from the Google Play Store or Apple Store and this is the interface of the Busuu application.

Step 2:

Create a free account: On the Busuu website or app, you can create a free account.

Step 3:

Choose the language that you want to study: Busuu provides training in over 14 different languages.

Step 4:

Start learning: Busuu’s classes are intended to be interactive and entertaining. You will learn through interactive tasks, video tutorials, and peer-to-peer evaluation.

Step 5:

Set objectives and keep track of your progress: Busuu allows you to establish learning goals and track your progress. This will aid in keeping your motivation up and staying on the right path.

Step 6:

Connect with other students: Busuu has a huge active learning community. You can communicate with other students to ask questions, get assistance, and practice speaking.

Who is the Target Audience of the Busuu Application?

Busuu is a symbol of accessibility and innovation in the field of language learning. Busuu caters to a varied audience of language lovers with its interactive platform, tailored learning experiences, and various features. In this blog article, we’ll delve into the complexities of Busuu’s target audience, examining who stands to benefit the most from this incredible language learning program.

Busuu is a wonderful alternative for language novices who are eager to begin their language-learning journey. The platform provides comprehensive starter classes that teach users the fundamentals and help them create a solid foundation.

• Intermediate Learners: Busuu offers intermediate-level classes for those who already have some language abilities but want to improve them. These classes challenge students and prepare them to go on to more complicated language structures.
• Advanced Learners Seeking Refinement: Busuu can benefit even advanced learners. The app provides advanced lessons that assist in enhancing language skills, focusing on intricate grammar rules, and expanding vocabulary, making it appropriate for individuals pursuing fluency.
• Travelers: Travelers who desire to speak fluently in a foreign language can benefit from Busuu’s practical language skills. Busuu’s emphasis on real-life discussions and practical terminology is great for tourists navigating strange terrain.
• Language Abilities: Language abilities are becoming increasingly important in the professional world. Busuu’s specialist courses are designed for business professionals who want to improve their communication skills or broaden their market reach.
• Academic Pursuers: Busuu’s planned curriculum and exam preparation materials can help students and academics flourish in language courses or prepare for language proficiency exams.
• Cultural Enthusiasts: Learning a language is frequently linked to an interest in a specific culture. Busuu’s emphasis on real-world context and cultural insights may appeal to anyone interested in learning about the world through language.
• Lifetime Learners: Busuu caters to people who have a lifetime desire to learn. Busuu’s adaptability fits learners of all ages, whether they are learning a new language out of curiosity or to stay cognitively sharp.
• Busy Professionals: Busuu understands the time limits that modern living imposes. Its smartphone app allows busy professionals to study a language while commuting, taking breaks, or relaxing.
• Language Teachers and Tutors: They can use Busuu to enhance their teaching resources or provide tailored learning experiences to their pupils.

The intended audience for Busuu is as diverse as the world’s languages. Its adaptability, flexibility, and extensive content appeal to students of all backgrounds and skill levels. Busuu’s user-friendly platform may help you achieve your language learning goals, whether you’re a beginner eager to start your linguistic adventure or a seasoned traveler looking to engage with other cultures. Finally, Busuu’s target audience is anyone who wants to open the doors of communication and explore the world through language.

What are the Courses Available on the Busuu Application?

Language classes from Busuu range a wide selection of popular languages and skill levels.

The Busuu application offers the following courses, listed in alphabetical order:

• Beginner Courses: Created for people who are starting from scratch, these courses introduce fundamental terms, vocabulary, and linguistic abilities.
• Intermediate Courses: Intermediate courses build on earlier learning while introducing more advanced grammar and conversation.
• Advanced Courses: Aiming for fluency, these courses present learners with difficult grammar, challenging vocabulary, and in-depth discussions.
• Travel and Everyday Language: Useful courses for tourists or anyone who wants to learn keywords and get by in daily life abroad.
• Courses in Business Languages: These classes, which are designed for professionals, concentrate on business jargon, negotiation techniques, and efficient communication in a corporate setting.
• Exam prep classes: Designed to assist students in getting ready for language competence tests like the DELE, TOEFL, DELF, and others.
• Grammar and Vocabulary Booster: Programs that improve students’ grammar and vocabulary knowledge are the cornerstones of language acquisition.
• Culture and Insights: These classes deepen cultural understanding by providing insights into the customs, history, and culture of the language being studied.

Busuu provides personalized study schedules based on student goals, skill levels, and preferred learning speeds. Busuu offers specialty courses in several languages that address particular interests or requirements in addition to the aforementioned categories.

Because Busuu offers courses in so many different languages, including but not limited to English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic, keep in mind that the availability of particular courses may vary depending on the language you’re learning.

Busuu’s extensive course selection can help you meet your language competence goals, whether you’re a novice, an expert learner, a traveler, a business professional, or someone with specific language learning objectives.

Which Language can you Learn with Busuu?

Here are the languages that are taught by the Busuu application as of March 8, 2023:

• General languages:
  1. Arabic
  2. Chinese (Simplified)
  3. Chinese (Traditional)
  4. Dutch
  5. English
  6. French
  7. German
  8. Italian
  9. Japanese
  10. Korean
  11. Portuguese
  12. Polish
  13. Russian
  14. Spanish
  15. Swedish
  16. Turkish
  17. Vietnamese
• Specialized languages:
  1. Business English
  2. Medical Spanish
  3. Travel French
  4. Travel Spanish
• Other:
  1. English for IT professionals
  2. English for tourism
  3. English for social media
  4. English for the workplace
  5. French for business
  6. German for business
  7. Italian for business
  8. Spanish for business

Types of Activities Busuu Offers?

A range of exercises are available on the online language learning platform Busuu to aid students in honing their language skills. These exercises cover a wide range of subjects, from grammar and vocabulary to pronunciation and conversation, and they are made to be interactive.

The following are a few of the several activities that Busuu provides:

• Interactive Lessons: These lessons are made to introduce learners to new grammatical and vocabulary ideas. Multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank exercises, matching exercises, and other tasks are frequently included.
• Practice Activities: Through these exercises, students can put what they have learned in the lessons into practice. They frequently consist of exercises like writing exercises, translation exercises, and gap-fill tasks.
• Speaking Activities: Through these exercises, students can improve their speaking and pronouncing abilities. They frequently involve exercises like recording oneself speaking and getting input from native speakers.
• Listening Activities: Through these exercises, students can improve their listening comprehension abilities. Typical tasks involve listening to audio recordings and responding to questions about what was heard.
• Reading Activities: Through these exercises, students can hone their comprehension abilities. Typical examples include reading articles and responding to questions regarding what was read.
• Writing Activities: Through these exercises, students can hone their writing abilities. They frequently involve writing exercises like short stories or essays.
• Games: Busuu provides a range of games that can be used by language learners to practice their grammar in a fun and interesting way.
• Live Classes: Busuu also provides in-person instruction from native speakers. You can improve your speaking and pronunciation abilities by doing this.

Various activities are available on Busuu, which can keep you inspired and on track. These difficulties might be faced individually or collectively.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Busuu

Advantages:

• Interactive and engaging activities: Busuu creates interactive and captivating lessons, offering a range of activities that aid learners in mastering the language.
• Personalized feedback: Learners can get personalized feedback on their pronunciation and writing from native speakers.
• Community: Busuu has a large and active community of learners, where learners can connect and practice their language skills.
• Affordable: Busuu provides both a free version with limited functions and a premium version with additional features.
• Certifications: Busuu offers certifications for learners who have achieved a certain level of proficiency in a language.

Disadvantages:

• Limited languages: Busuu only offers courses in a limited number of languages.
• Requires internet access: Busuu can only be accessed with an internet connection.
• Not suitable for advanced learners: Busuu is not as suitable for advanced learners as it is for beginner and intermediate learners.
• May not be as effective as in-person learning: Some people may find that in-person learning is more effective than online learning.

Overall, Busuu is a great resource for learners of all levels who want to improve their language skills. It is affordable, has a variety of features, and offers a community of learners to connect with. However, it is important to note that Busuu is not suitable for everyone and may not be as effective as in-person learning for some people.

How much does Busuu Premium Cost?

Busuu is an online language learning platform that offers courses in over twelve different languages. The application comes in two versions: a free one with restricted features and a premium one with additional features.

The free version of Busuu allows you to:

• Learn the basics of a language
• Access a limited number of lessons
• Practice your pronunciation and writing with other learners

The premium version of Busuu adds the following features:

• Access to all lessons
• Personalized feedback from native speakers
• Live classes with native speakers
• The option to save lessons for use without an internet connection.
• Certificates of completion

The price of Busuu’s premium version changes based on the duration of the subscription. Here are the current prices:

• Monthly subscription: $12.99
• 3-month subscription: $29.99
• 6-month subscription: $47.99
• Yearly subscription: $69.99

Busuu provides a free trial for the premium version, allowing you to test it before deciding on a subscription.

Here are some of the benefits of subscribing to Busuu Premium:

• You get access to all of the lessons, including the ones that are not available in the free version.
• You get personalized feedback from native speakers, which can help you improve your pronunciation and writing skills.
• You can take live classes with native speakers, a great way to practice your speaking skills.
• You can download lessons for offline use, so you can study even when you don’t have an internet connection.
• You can earn certificates of completion, which can be a great way to track your progress and show your language skills to potential employers or schools.

If you are serious about learning a new language, I recommend subscribing to Busuu Premium. It is a great way to get the most out of the app and improve your language skills quickly and effectively.

Here are some additional tips for saving money on Busuu:

• Subscribe to the yearly plan. This is the most cost-effective option.
• Take advantage of the free trial. This way, you can try out the premium features before you commit to a subscription.
• Use a promo code. Busuu often offers promo codes for discounts on subscriptions.

I trust this blog post has provided you with valuable insights. Should you have any additional queries, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

My Personal Busuu Review

I have been using Busuu for one year now, and I have been very impressed with the app. I have learned a lot of English, and I am confident that I would not have been able to learn as much without Busuu.

Here are some of the things that I like about Busuu:

• The lessons are interactive and engaging. I never get bored when I am using Busuu. The lessons are always challenging, but they are also fun and rewarding.
• The app is very user-friendly. It is easy to find the lessons that I am looking for, and the interface is very intuitive.
• The community is very supportive. I have been able to connect with other learners from all over the world, and we have helped each other to learn the language.
• The app is affordable. The free edition of Busuu offers extensive content, and the premium version is affordably priced.

Here are some of the things that I would like to see improved in Busuu:

• The app could be more personalized. I would like to be able to choose the lessons that I want to learn, and I would like to be able to get more feedback from native speakers.
• The app could be more challenging. I would like to see more advanced lessons for more experienced learners.
• The app could be more integrated with other learning tools. I would like to be able to use Busuu together with other language-learning tools, such as Duolingo and Babbel.

Overall, I am very happy with Busuu. It is a great app for learning a new language, and I would highly recommend it to anyone serious about learning a foreign language.

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