Editor’s Note: This AfrikaansPod101 review is current as of December 13, 2024. This review contains affiliate links, however we only recommend products that we genuinely use and think are effective.
Afrikaans is one of the most interesting and fun languages to learn, and it’s actually quite easy to pick up. The language is one of the youngest in the world, originating from Dutch settlers in South Africa, and has since evolved into its own unique language, influenced by Malay, Portuguese, Indonesian and local indigenous languages.
Unlike most Germanic languages, Afrikaans has only one grammatical gender and no verb conjugations. The spelling is also generally very intuitive for English speakers to grasp.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many resources out there to learn Afrikaans, which is why we were thrilled to discover that Innovative Language now offers AfrikaansPod101 as one of their official language programs. We’ve put the program through its paces and tested everything out to give you an overall idea of whether it’s worth it or not as an effective method to learn Afrikaans.
AfrikaansPod101 Review Overview
AfrikaansPod101 is a product of Innovative Language—a company that now offers over 40 languages since first starting in 2005. Some of their programs are better than others, but they all follow the same basic methodology: hundreds of short and easily digestible lessons that are centered around either a podcast or video taught by native language tutors.
The way the program is structured can be a little confusing at first but gets easier once you’re used to it, and is in actual fact very user-friendly. It’s based upon the whole idea of lesson pathways, which you are encouraged to customize once you’ve browsed the library of lessons and customized your syllabus based upon your specific needs and interests. This makes it an excellent program for those who get bored easily or who prefer a more independent and proactive approach to language learning. There are five learning levels to choose from—Absolute Beginner, Beginner, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, and Advanced—roughly aligning to the CEFR levels (with level 4 being equivalent to B2).
Once you’ve chosen a lesson pathway, you can begin working through each lesson in sequence, with your progress recorded on the main dashboard. Every lesson first has a video or podcast, often with an authentic dialogue (depending upon the lesson type). The transcript is then provided for you to break down the dialogue line-by-line and listen again several times. You’ll also get the chance to record your own voice and compare it to a native speaker, which helps improve pronunciation.
You’ll also have access to a list of vocabulary from each lesson (with examples and sound clips), and finally a grammar section, lesson notes, and full transcript. Everything in the program is fully downloadable for you to use offline—perfect for squeezing in extra language practice when on the go.
The program is available as a monthly subscription with three membership options: Basic, Premium, and PremiumPLUS. Each membership tier comes with greater benefits and added features. The PremiumPLUS option comes with a fully personalized learning program, regular assessments, and 1-on-1 instruction with a professional language tutor (more on membership options and pricing later).
Pros of AfrikaansPod101
Let’s take a closer look at some things we liked about AfrikaansPod101:
Pro #1: So. Much. Content.
You have plenty of choices when it comes to selecting your lessons. You can filter the entire library by level, lesson type, and either audio or video. If you don’t like a specific lesson, you can easily choose another—there are many different options to select.
Pro #2: New and Relevant Lesson Topics
New lessons are being added to the platform all the time and they cover some really interesting topics that are not only highly engaging, but also useful to daily life. You’ll learn such things as survival travel phrases, conversational topics, and daily activities. The lessons are delivered by a variety of native speakers that are generally very enthusiastic and engaging.
Pro #3: Lots of Cultural Insights
They say language is the key to understanding a culture and unravelling a unique perspective. After all, why go through all the effort of learning a language without discovering something more about the people who actually speak it? We love that AfrikaansPod101 goes above and beyond to weave interesting cultural insights into all the lessons. In fact, almost every lesson has a section in the notes that’s dedicated to explaining different aspects of Afrikaan culture and traditions.
Pro #4: Flexibility in Learning
As mentioned earlier, AfrikaansPod101 is worlds apart from the traditional linear language syllabus. You can focus on exactly what you need, such as phrases for travel, listening exercises, miniature books to improve your reading skills, or learning about a specific tradition—you name it!
It also suits a range of different learning styles. If you learn best through flashcards or lists then you’ll be glad to know that they have a whole section full of 100s of topical vocabulary lists as well as the ability to build your own flashcard decks (just like the more popular Anki or Quizlet).
Cons of AfrikaansPod101
Our review wouldn’t be complete or unbiased without at least including some of the things that weren’t so great.
Con #1: Better for Beginners & Intermediate Learners
Although there is a ton of content, there isn’t as much variety in the higher levels and there are less options to choose from. For this reason, AfrikaansPod101 is best suited for beginners and those who are looking to just grasp the basics.
Con #2: Quality Can Vary
Some pathways are better than others and the recommended official pathway is not always the best. We recommend you browse around first and try a few of the pathways out before committing to a specific one. Though we say the quality can vary, the worst videos are still professionally made, contain a bunch of useful language, and are much better than your average YouTube video.
Con #3: Lack of Feedback
Unless you opt for the PremiumPLUS option, you won’t receive a huge amount of feedback to be able to track your progress. When you are in full control of what you learn, it’s important to get constant feedback to avoid developing gaps in your knowledge. For this reason, we recommend either using their PremiumPLUS option (with the 1-on-1 tutor), or finding your own tutor through websites such as italki.
Features of AfrikaansPod101
Record Yourself
We love this feature as it really helps to nail your pronunciation. Adjacent to each vocabulary word, phrase, or line within the transcript, you’ll see a microphone icon. You can click on this icon, record yourself speaking Afrikaan, and then play it back while comparing it alongside the native speaker. You can also choose to listen to the native speaker at either full or half speed to really pick up the nuances of the pronunciation.
Vocab Tools
You’ll have full access to flash cards and vocabulary lists. There’s also a dictionary that features a sample sentence and voice clip for every term that you search. Additionally, there’s a “most common words” list to help you learn the most frequently spoken Afrikaans words, ensuring you’re not wasting time learning outdated or rarely used language.
Word Bank
At any time while you are going through the lessons, you can add a specific word to your word bank for later practice. Your personal word bank ensures that you never lose a word! You can categorize them, assign labels, listen to the pronunciation, and even see which lessons feature these words (if you want to do some extra learning on the same topic).
Word of the Day Emails
This is a complimentary service that you can sign up for, if you wish. They’ll email you a new word every day with some interesting background info and context that’ll help you remember it. These emails are a great way to help you increase and strengthen your vocabulary.
Lesson Notes and Transcripts
Everything is summarized nicely in the lesson notes, which comes in handy in case you’ve missed something. You can download these as well as the transcript and the lesson MP3 to really cement what you’ve learned.
Quizzes and Assignments
The official curated pathways contain regular quizzes and assignments to ensure you’re on track, while testing you on what you’ve just learned. PremiumPLUS members have the added option of assignments that are based purely on the needs, in line with their personal learning plan. These assignments (whether recorded for speaking, written, or a series of answers) are then marked and graded by your language tutor, with detailed feedback and a plan to improve.
Who Should Buy AfrikaansPod101?
Those who will get the most benefit out of AfrikaansPod101 are those who:
- Are serious about learning Afrikaans and can dedicate time each week for studying
- Are interested in learning about South African traditions, food, society and culture
- Prefer a listening approach to learning, who like the immersive experience of authentic dialogues and podcasts
- Are looking to gain a proficient use of the Afrikaan language for work, business or travel
Who Should NOT Buy AfrikaansPod101?
You might not be best suited for AfrikaansPod101 if you:
- Prefer an all-encompassing pre-set syllabus that you can follow from start to finish
- Prefer the structure of a traditional classroom environment
- Are already fluent in Afrikaans or have an Intermediate level and above
AfrikaansPod101 vs. Competition
Online resources for learning Afrikaans are few and far between. Since it’s one of the newest languages in the world, with a comparatively small number of native speakers, it’s understandable as to why it so often gets overshadowed by the more popular languages like Spanish and Chinese. That being said, here are a few additional resources for learning Afrikaans we’ve discovered:
AfrikaansPod101 vs Teach Yourself Afrikaans
Teach Yourself Afrikaans Complete Course by Lydia McDermott is a comprehensive textbook created by experts. It claims to take learners from complete beginners to fluent speakers in a relatively short time. The course has been generally well-received and includes audio CDs for listening practice.
Though it does have some cultural information, we found that AfrikaansPod101 was miles ahead in terms of real-use language and culture. One of the disadvantages of following a textbook is that the content quickly becomes outdated whereas the lessons on AfrikaansPod101 are continually being updated and expanded. The authenticity of the listening material in the Teach Yourself course is also questionable. It would be beneficial, however, to use the textbook alongside AfrikaansPod101 to fill any gaps that you might develop and to supplement the listening practice.
Teach Yourself Afrikaans Complete Course by Lydia McDermott is available on Amazon for around $50+.
AfrikaansPod101 vs LitNet
LitNet is a free resource offering a wealth of reading material, articles, interviews, film reviews, and educational resources. It’s particularly useful for gaining additional exposure to authentic content. However, it’s important to note that LitNet is not specifically a language-learning site, so if you’re not yet at a level where you can comfortably navigate the content, you might not find it as useful.
AfrikaansPod101 Cost
AfrikaansPod101 is available at three monthly subscription levels, with each one unlocking access to more and more features.
Basic Subscription – $4/month $2.80/month using this link
- Complete Access to Audio Archive
- Downloadable Lesson Notes
- Access to the Android, iPhone, and iPad App
Premium Subscription – $10/month $7/month using this link
- Full Transcriptions & Translations
- Afrikaans Core Words and Phrases
- Access to ALL Vocabulary Lists & Flashcards
- Voice Recorder, Pronunciation & Accent Review
- Review Quizzes & Progress Tracker
PremiumSubscription – $23/month $16/month using this link
- Grammar Accuracy Checker
- Pronunciation Perfector
- 1-on-1 Personal Instruction
- Personalized Self-Study Curriculum
All monthly subscriptions come with a very generous 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
Still unsure? When you sign up to your free account, you’ll receive a 7-day trial to Premium. You’ll also be offered a full month of Premium for only $1! This is an absolute bargain and a great idea for those who are still on the fence about committing to a full subscription without first having lots of time to try everything out.
AfrikaansPod101 Review: Conclusion
Overall, if you are serious about learning Afrikaans, I highly recommend AfrikaansPod101. You won’t find anything else like it! The sheer volume of content and engaging videos are second to none. And all the bonus features and interactive tools make practicing the language a breeze.
If you feel that AfrikaansPod101 is right for you, please make sure you sign up using our link below – it not only helps support our website, but also gives you 30% off at checkout:
Josiah is a digital nomad with a passion for language learning and adventure travel. He’s taught English as a foreign language for many years and is currently learning Georgian, French and Chinese.