When I searched online to see what people say about Glossika, I found the feedback to be overwhelmingly positive. That said, here’s my disclaimer: I’ve only used the Indonesian course, so I can’t speak for how well it works for other languages. Personally, I like the method — repeated exposure to full sentences with audio and spaced repetition, where sentences reappear at intervals to reinforce memory. However, the big downside is the high number of unnatural sentences in the Indonesian course, mostly caused by direct translations from English.
My Thoughts on Glossika Indonesian
What I Like:
- Great method in theory. The spaced repetition system and focus on full sentences are excellent tools for internalizing structure and pronunciation.
- Audio-rich and immersive. You hear and repeat the language a lot, which is good for listening and speaking.
- No need to memorize grammar rules. Grammar is learned by exposure, not explanation.
What I Don’t Like:
- Many unnatural or awkward sentences. While grammatically correct, they often sound strange, too formal, or even inappropriate in casual speech.
- Literal translations from English. You can tell that many sentences were translated directly, without considering how Indonesians actually speak.
- Lack of pragmatic awareness. The tone or choice of words can feel off.
A Few Unnatural Sentences I Found
These are real sentences from the Glossika app don’t match how we speak in everyday Indonesian, based on my analysis.
- Saya hilang akal
I’m losing my mind
Sounds literary. More natural: Pikiran saya sedang kacau. - Kamu merayuku
You flatter me
It’s generally used in a romantic or seductive context, not the neutral or friendly sense of “flatter.”. Better options: Jadi malu (literally: become embarrassed) or Kamu bikin aku GR (literally: you make me overconfident). - Kenapa dia sedang tertawa?
Why is she laughing?
“Sedang” is unnecessary here. We’d just say: Kenapa dia tertawa? - Ternyata, kucingnya mati dalam kebakaran
Apparently her cat died in a fire
Too formal. More natural: Ternyata kucingnya mati pas kebakaran. - Dua orang terluka serius di kecelakaan
Two people got seriously injured in the accident
Wrong preposition. We say: …dalam kecelakaan, not di kecelakaan. - Orang tua kami sediakan untuk kami makanan, pakaian, pendidikan, kesehatan dan kasih
Our parents provide us food, clothes, education, health, and love
Unnatural verb form. Better: Orang tua kami menyediakan kami makanan… dan kasih sayang. - Saya lapar, tapi tidak ada apapun untuk makan
I’m hungry, but there isn’t anything to eat
A more natural version: Saya lapar, tapi tidak ada yang bisa dimakan.
Final Thoughts on Glossika Indonesian
Glossika has a lot of potential, especially for pronunciation and listening practice. The method makes sense. But as a native speaker and teacher, I noticed too many examples that don’t reflect how Indonesians speak in real life.
That’s why I can’t strongly recommend it as your main tool for learning Indonesian. It’s great as a supplement, but if you want to sound natural and speak confidently, you’ll need to combine it with native input — like videos, conversations, or working with a teacher.
Have you tried Glossika for Indonesian? Let me know what you think!
