Clozemaster
Languages and libraries
language learning
SHOW HN2017
How HN took it
7 positive, 14 neutral or asking, 1 mixed, 15 critical, out of 37 comments about the project. Thread score -0.16.
Execution: 2 for, 11 againstIdea: 5 for, 1 againstDesign: 0 for, 2 againstPricing: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Efficient, entertaining way to study in context
From 1 comment
I finished the Duolingo French tree. I now use Clozemaster for French ( and a number of other languages ) and find that it is a very efficient and entertaining way of studying…
seesomesense on HN
Simple interface and good premise
From 2 comments
Just want to say I like the app. The concept of understanding a word inside whole sentences make much more sense then only to learn single words.
0xcb0 on HNHi Mike, Love this app, love the simplicity of the user interface. Do you know of a way to quickly save words to a file? (I ask because I'm brushing up on my chinese and have…
hpyhpyjoyjoy87 on HN
Complements Duolingo well
From 2 comments
Language learning also isn't about finding the one app to rule them all. It's about using various different approaches in parallel that, together, expose you to the breadth. This…
always_good on HNI finished the Duolingo French tree. I now use Clozemaster for French ( and a number of other languages ) and find that it is a very efficient and entertaining way of studying…
seesomesense on HN
Objections
Japanese audio and hiragana readings are inconsistent
From 3 comments
I noticed something weird when doing Japanese. When you answer a question, it says the correct sentence out loud in one voice, but sometimes the voice says something different…
tiglionabbit on HNHuh, after playing it a bit more, I've noticed that sometimes the hiragana it shows for the kanji in the sentence does not match the way either voice pronounces it.
tiglionabbit on HNThis is exactly the problem! :) For example for 「何」 you'll likely seen the kana written as 「なに」 instead of 「なん」 for 「何ですか」
Nadya on HN
Answer matching too strict for multiple correct answers
From 1 comment
I really like the format and premise. It doesn't seem, however, to be sufficiently flexible in the various ways to fill in the blank (at least in Russian). For example, when…
pcmonk on HN
Paywall appears too early
From 1 comment
Substitute a word requires certain language knowledge. This should be tested somehow, so that the application knows the user level. For example, having no prior Spanish knowledge…
kvakvs on HN
Requests
Add romanization display for hanzi languages
From 1 comment
Mike, this is super cool. Two requests: 1) Cantonese doesn't have a flag. Maybe just use the Hong Kong one, at the risk of upsetting the rest of Guangdong? 2) For hanzi-based…
skosch on HN
Add a don't know button in multiple choice
From 1 comment
The multiple choice mode is missing a button for "i don't know". I figured out you can hit enter to get the same, but i don't think everyone would. E: Gave it a bit more of a…
Mithaldu on HN
Lifetime payment option for Pro
From 1 comment
Hi Mike, loving the app so far. Any thoughts on a one-time lifetime payment for pro?
atomk on HN
Questions
How are bad sentences in the source data handled
From 1 comment
Awesome work! I've built similar projects like this but nothing at this scale, or this polished. I have a bunch of questions: How do you deal with bad sentences/mistakes in the…
laurieg on HN
How is frequency grouping done for inflected languages
From 1 comment
This is great. How did you do the frequency groupings for more complex languages like German or Icelandic? Did you use a word stemmer or did you find lists that include noun…
halfdan on HN
Alternatives named
Duolingo
From 2 comments
I am a regular Duolingo learner but I have yet to see how this is better in a significant way (I am not trying to be a dick but just giving honest opinion - sorry :( ). Or maybe…
tasubotadas on HNThis is much better than duo lingo. Amazing job!
zubairq on HN
Lyricstraining
From 1 comment
In a similar vein: www.lyricstraining.com Watch YouTube videos in whatever language you're learning and fill in missing words. No connection to it...Just discovered it a few…
durkie on HN
Bliubliu
From 1 comment
People into this style of learning may also want to look at bliubliu. Very similar.
michaelcampbell on HN
Anki
From 1 comment
Good job! Having used Anki and the mass exposure technique to learn a bit of Spanish, I can see this becoming a useful tool in any language learner's arsenal.
carlmungz on HN