I’ve been using LingQ daily since 2018, and overall, I find it to be an invaluable tool for language learning, especially for extensive reading and listening. However, there are a few areas where I believe it could be improved.
While it may seem like a list of complaints, using Language Reactor as a comparison, my goal is to highlight opportunities for enhancement rather than criticize. LingQ is already a great resource, but there are certain aspects that could make the experience even better.
For example, the reader feels outdated and sluggish. It could benefit from a major overhaul, with the addition of modern, user-friendly features. While it’s nice that the reader offers different layout options, there’s one major issue: when using the full-page reader mode, it’s difficult to start playing audio from a specific sentence. In comparison, another tool I use—Language Reactor—offers a more seamless experience, particularly when it comes to word tracking for Netflix and YouTube content.
Language Reactor’s layout, shown below, is clean and straightforward, offering a refreshing experience. Although its main focus isn’t reading, the addition of a reader feature is a recent improvement, and I appreciate the ability to play audio from any given sentence.
In Lingq you can click on a sentence to play audio from if your in Synchronized Text Mode - but you cannot create any Lingqs in this mode.
The other way is to use Sentence Mode in Lingq - but you’ll be clicking next all day lol
LR Multiple layouts are also available
Comparing showing translations in Lingq vs LR.
I often fight this in Lingq, translations cut off or just not lining up well.
LR Hidden translations
The screenshots I’ve used from LR are just their podcast player, but as you can see its feature rich and clean.
In contrast, LingQ’s side dictionary can be cumbersome and slow, often getting in the way during use. The side dictionary in Language Reactor is much more streamlined; it only appears when you click on a word, otherwise a small popup dictionary will appear on hover, which is so darn good!
Like Lingq, the side bar is hidden until a word is clicked- AI explanations and definitions are nearly instantaneous
It’s important to note that Language Reactor is not a replacement for LingQ—it has a much more limited import ability and focuses primarily on Netflix and YouTube subtitle content. However, it serves as a modern example of how LingQ could evolve with some of these user-friendly features.
Heck Language Reactor is ran by a small team, maybe Lingq should just offer to buy it - I jest, but one can dream lol
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