Hello English Review: A Promising Concept Hindered by Technical Issues

Most platforms that teach English do so entirely in English. Hello English, however, attempts to bridge this gap by offering instruction from 22 different native languages, thereby increasing its accessibility.

Hello English includes some fast-paced games and lessons, along with video content. Regrettably, it is also plagued by technical glitches and many of its features are non-functional. Both the website and the application often become inaccessible without any prior notice.

The core idea of the program is appealing, but significant improvements are necessary before it can be recommended.

What Is Hello English?

Hello English, developed by CultureAlley, is a complimentary language-learning application. It combines elements of a tutor, an online course, and a video game into a single app. The website promotes it as “India’s leading English learning platform.”

Through Hello English, you can learn English with guidance provided in your native language—there are 22 supported languages, including Spanish, Hindi, Tamil, and Portuguese. It's important to note that many of the available languages are from East Asia, reflecting the company's regional base.

The program offers close to 500 free lessons, in addition to videos and games. Hello English can be accessed via the Google Play store, the iTunes store, and its website. It is free to download and includes advertisements, with optional in-app purchases.

The Hello English Website: Pros and Cons

Con: Many of the features simply don’t work

I would typically begin with the advantages, but my initial experience with the website was not positive. The site appears unfinished and numerous features are malfunctioning. This might be related to a temporary website outage in July 2024, and perhaps these problems will be addressed later.

Each time I access the website, it loads very slowly. After the page eventually loads, there are three tabs and some extra sections... in theory. In practice,

The “Live” tab is intended to show upcoming online classes with an instructor. However, it appears entirely empty for me. There are more features and choices in the sidebar. From these, only “My Report Card” loads, allowing you to personalize your avatar and email settings. It likely also contains lesson information, but mine is currently empty. Almost all the other options are non-functional. Selecting them produces no result.

Con: Inconsistent website translation

Hello English provides instruction from numerous other languages, many of which are East Asian. Since I speak Spanish, I selected the option that teaches English from Spanish. While the lessons and games are in Spanish, all the page information, including lesson titles and the broken sidebar, remains in English.

Occasionally, other languages appear, rendering some content unreadable. The “Messages” section, for example, was particularly jumbled, making it ineffective for me.

Pro: Well-organized lessons

The primary learning content on Hello English is categorized into Homework, Basic English, and Live. As noted before, the “Live” section was empty on the website. But I was able to access and use the other two sections without issue.

The main lessons are located in the “Basic English” area. Most classes include the core lesson material and a few related games or activities.

Lessons are typically multiple choice and follow a logical sequence, beginning with simple greetings and common practical phrases (such as “where are you from?”). Subsequently, the lessons cover grammar and vocabulary of progressive complexity.

You have the flexibility to complete any lesson at any time, offering considerable freedom in how you use the program.

Pro: Coins encourage daily learning (when they work)

Each time you finish a lesson or game in the “Basic English” section, you receive coins. I appreciate the concept of coins, even though their purpose is unclear to me. The “Homework” tab assigns extra tasks, such as playing educational games or reading lessons. Completing your homework within a set time frame rewards you with additional coins.

The coins did not appear immediately after I completed some games and lessons, but my total was updated when I returned the following day. It would be beneficial if the coins had a practical use, even for minor things like buying customization items. Perhaps Hello English has future plans for this feature.

Pro: Timed games encourage quick thinking

In addition to lessons, Hello English provides a range of games. The games are straightforward, often based on multiple-choice questions but presented in a more vibrant and interactive format. For example, in the “tea” game, you must select the correct word, like “biscuit,” from a cup of tea.

Nearly all these games are timed—and the time limits are quite strict. As a fluent English speaker, I occasionally found it challenging to type and select the correct answers in time. I appreciate that it includes many questions on commonly troublesome areas, such as proper article usage.

The Hello English App: Pros and Cons

Pro: Better designed and more features than the website

I was pleased to find that the app version functions more reliably than the website. All the “Basic English” features are available here, plus additional features, many of which are operational. The messages section seems to work in the app, displaying both the word of the day and the daily tip correctly. This section also includes an option to pose a question to a teacher.

Beyond these points, the app also enables you to watch video lessons, practice speaking, engage with other learners, and access several other features. Another feature exclusive to the app is the Hello English Score, a paid test that evaluates your English communication skills on a scale from 0 to 100.

Pro: Video courses available for purchase

You can buy access to video courses on the Hello English app, an option I did not encounter on the website. Courses consist of individual lessons, with each full course ranging from three to nine hours and costing approximately $11 to $13. You can subscribe for access to multiple video courses or purchase them individually.

The videos have a quality and style reminiscent of YouTube lessons. They are assembled into thorough courses covering topics from cultural insights to enhancing your listening skills.

Pro: Can watch recordings of live classes for free

Unlike the website, the live classes are visible to me on the app. Subscribed learners can participate in daily live sessions hosted by various teachers. However, you can also watch recordings of past live classes for free, without a subscription. This is a helpful feature if you are uncertain about dedicating time or money to a scheduled class. It also allows you to preview what a virtual class would be like before signing up.

The recordings demonstrate that the classes are beneficial and the instructors are supportive and focused. It should be noted that most teachers have a distinct East Asian accent, so if you are seeking a native English speaker with an American, British, Australian, or other specific accent, you will not find them here.

Pro: Has some simple scripted speaking practice

The app includes a section for speaking practice, a component often missing in language learning. The “conversations” section allows you to speak into your phone to enhance your English speaking abilities. This feature is somewhat restricted, as all dialogues are highly scripted. The presented conversations can feel rigid and somewhat unnatural. Nevertheless, it provides a good opportunity to practice speaking aloud without the pressure of interacting with another person.

Con: Has intrusive and lengthy ads

If you use the app without a subscription, it is supported by ads. Advertisements typically appear between lesson recordings and when switching sections.

While some ads are short, others are full-length videos. I found these to be disruptive, especially when I was simply exploring the program's features. However, it is reasonable for the program to require revenue. Consider this a caution if you prefer to avoid ad-supported programs, particularly those that also offer subscriptions.

Con: Some features are still broken or buggy

Although the app performs better than the website, many features remain faulty or incomplete. Here are a few examples I found after a brief period of testing the app:

• The “teachers” tab prompts me to update the app, even though I just downloaded it and it is current (I verified this).
• The “tutors” tab is blank for me, showing “no tutor available.”
• The “practice” tab includes news articles, but they are not functional.
• Challenges can only be done with an in-app friend, and the auto-match feature failed to work.
• There are articles for reading practice, but I only discovered six short options.

Alternatives to Hello English

For Recorded Video Lessons: English Addict with Mr Duncan

Mr. Duncan has been sharing English learning videos on YouTube since 2006. All his content is completely free!

The YouTube channel offers a great combination of short and long lessons, professional learning advice, and genuine vlog material. Mr. Duncan is a skilled yet approachable teacher, making each video feel like a personal session with a seasoned instructor.

For Real-world English: Lingflix

For Speaking Practice: ELSA English

ELSA, an acronym for English Language Speech Assistant, is an AI-driven English learning program. ELSA enables learners to engage in realistic dialogues with a chatbot, offering relaxed speaking practice.

The program's AI adapts to your current level, creating a personalized curriculum. The speech recognition technology was developed using voices of English speakers globally, making it exceptionally capable of understanding non-native speakers.

For Learning from Another Language: 50languages

This free resource allows you to pair any two languages from a selection of 50. This means you can study English from Italian, Swedish, Punjabi, Thai, Afrikaans, or any other language offered by the program.

50languages resembles a phrasebook more than a conventional learning program, as it focuses on common expressions. It is an excellent tool if you wish to learn English from a different language and start with practical, everyday vocabulary and phrases.

Final Thoughts

Hello English shows potential, but a significant portion of the program is fundamentally flawed. The video lessons and conversation practice are helpful resources for learners, and I believe the English lessons on both the website and app hold considerable value. However, in its present condition, I do not believe a subscription is a worthwhile investment.

Is Hello English the right program for you? After reading this review, you should have a clear understanding of what to expect from this popular Indian learning platform.