Olly Richards’ SPANISH UNCOVERED - An Honest Review

I have also done this course and I also haven't done the worksheet hah because it seemed too traditional and I wanted something new. But in general, I think this course is truly good and is an amazing entry-level course for any language learning. For Spanish though, now I'm learning on a platform made by dreaming Spanish and I think it's a really good next step to go to the intermediate level or even higher 👍

Another great video! I actually just referred someone who asked for a review to this, because I doubt I could do better!

ouuh nice! thanks for this! Nice summary of all the things I wanted to know. :) I'm considering buying one for the Black Friday sale so this is very helpful.

uhhh, this is a bit random but I apologise for not being able to leave you a like with this account because for some reason my like, dislike, share etc buttons have disappeared when I use this account and I haven't been able to find a fix. it's very freaky, cos it's not an issue on my other non-language-learning related account.
gave you a like with that one tho :P

Love your content already btw, so much effort you've put into these videos already O_O

Man, I hope you blow up soon! You’re great at speaking at the camera. Marvelous video! Saludos desde México.

Im thinking of getting the Chinese version of the course…Thanks for the video my guy

Interesting video. Thank you. Given that motivation - sustained over time - is so important to language learning, I think your comment on the story content used is important. If the story line is something you would never otherwise read/listen to (the subject matter, the language style, etc) then that is going to be a disincentive even if you are committed to learning the new language.

Nice video!

instant subscribe. Your presence is great. Your review was really insightful and helpful, and you gave a clear sense of what your experience was with the course. Also love your very pragmatic advice: “don’t like it? don’t do it!”

Looking forward to much more from you, and best of luck with your channel!

Thanks for the review.

In last few months I have notice large part of "language learning" community "shitting" on Olly. While I haven't used any of his Uncovered stuff their books did help me tremendously with Russian and with Italian.

This might be a cheaper introduction to "their" way. Around 3-5 euros for Kindle version. Stories are not the best (but not that bad) but it might be an option for people not being able to spend more money right now.

I’ve done German Uncovered, which is structured exactly the same way. The story even seems essentially the same too lol. As far as your first criticism reading on day one without knowing pronunciation: in the German course at least, the instructions are to listen to the mp3 first multiple times without the text, and then read while listening. Idk if that’s different depending on the language though.

Nice review. Did you only check the beginner course? I'm interested in how this course helps word retention. How big of a vocabulary does it teach, do the stories use the basic words introduced earlier often enough to reinforce them so you don't need something like a flashcard system to review them sufficiently? For the high price I would hope it is an all-encompassing method that does not need to be supplemented with anything.

Days of French n Swedish bought me here. You do have a great channel! Lucky me! Just subscribed 👍

I just wonder how much story content there is for that price tag if much of the rest of the content doesn't excite someone.

Thanks for the review. I have been thinking of buying the German Uncovered course and will now take advantage of the Black Friday sale.

Lamont sent me 😎

Interesting review. I can here from Lamont’s channel by the way, just so you know he’s giving you a shout out!

So I’m about half way through the Turkish Uncovered course. I’d agree with you about the story not being the most riveting, but I accept that any story at this level is going to be so basic language wise… how exciting can it be? I’ve imported the text and audio in to LingQ so I can listen as I do other jobs, and it makes it easier for me to review the story in greater depth using LingQ. This probably makes it a little more boring, listening so many times, but I accept this is a necessary part of language acquisition when we first start.

Subvocalising: in the Turkish course it recommends listening first, and then reading the transcript while you listen. I did this when I learned Swedish too, always read and listened together. I wanted to make sure the ‘voice’ I was hearing in my head was correct, so I found always listening prevented me from ever learning words ‘wrong’. I intend to do the same with Turkish.
Again, in the Turkish course the tutor (who isn’t Olly) started speaking Turkish every now and then at around chapter five.

I also don’t do the worksheets. I love that the grammar lessons give an insight in to the grammar, but then I’m happy to try and notice things myself once I’ve been given the initial hints.

And finally, I also don’t speak. I won’t speak until I’m ready. I hate not understanding what someone is saying to me, and for me it’s very demotivating. I don’t have a problem with being embarrassed to not speak very well, that’s normal, but if I can’t understand the other person’s reply I find that soul destroying! So I’ll speak when I feel I have a decent understanding level. I’m guessing that’ll be around a B1 level, well after I’ve moved on from this course.

And with that I’ll subscribe and head off to watch some of your other videos!

I guess like a lot of your new subscribers, I was sent over here by Lamont at Days of French n Swedish, and I subscribed on his recommendation. This is the first video of yours that I've watched, but it won't be the last! I'm in the input-first school, and I probably wouldn't do all the worksheets, either.

Great content and presentation! I'm sure I will benefit from your insights.

Followed the link from Days of French and Swedish (and Spanish, I guess) here. Very well done review. I took the leap before seeing this review (after having been subscribed to Olly's channel for a couple years) and finally purchased all of the French courses. I'm excited to get started on that soon.

I subbed for the wink at the start

Hi Matt. Just wondering what accent the audio is in (hoping you say Mexican)?

Before I bought Spanish uncovered, I tried Spanish with Paul, Synergy Spanish and Spanish Pro UK and Unlimited Spanish, and even Speakly. So I tried Spanish uncovered because of Black Friday Sale. I find it very useful and a different take. This is one course I have recommended friends. So for those of you who are considering, this is a really good choice.

Can you make a video on Xiomanyc Street smart Spanish course

Ahhh, the kettle. I'm a dirty bean water drinker myself, but that's okay!

Jokes aside, thanks for making this, Matt! This is excellent and I'm glad to see someone who's willing to take the time to do this (especially since Spanish is my TL). Glad to be more informed before I drop some cash on this! Subscribed. Looking forward to more of your excellent and up-and-coming content!

Lamont was right, great content! :)

Lamont sent me. There were threats involved, and he's holding my cats hostage until I prove to him that I've subscribed. I hope to see them again someday very soon. And yes, this would make a good story.

I watched your video because Lamont recommended it.
Thanks for the review.

In the video you mentioned learning Chinese with “from zero to hero”. I've never heard of it, so I looked for it. And now I'm so glad you mentioned that because IT'S AMAZING!!
A few years ago I got my HSK4 certificate. Since then I've had a hard time finding good HSK5 content. But now - thanks to you - I've found it. I bought it yesterday and am very satisfied.
I just wanted to say: Thanks for the mention in the video.

Hey there, if you know anyone that took his course in Russian, please share with us their honest opinion as a video in the future.

I'm not surprised that it got a positive review, I've read 4 of Olly's book, and my Spanish went up like crazy

The only reason why I will never buy this course is because it’s extremely expensive.. like ridiculously expensive. Just for the beginner course it’s almost 300 dollars, That’s a lot of money to trust in a course where you can’t get a free trial or even a sample of what it will be like and if you’ll even like it.

So, my opinion on your first criticism, and I may have this wrong, but, if you’re getting audio on each chapter, why would you not listen to it whilst reading to hear the pronunciation right off the bat? That would combat any internal subvocalising because you’re hearing it along with reading it.

I agree with you about adding Spanish (or whatever language you are studying) to the tuition/instructions as you go along. It would definitely add to it and enhance the lessons.

I have wanted to try one of his courses, but wasn’t sure if they would be any good. Thanks for the review. I will try one out.

How can I contact you Matt?

Awesome thorough review thanks! I have been really interested in his method for awhile but haven't had time to start a course. I really think it's a good idea and i think he has made some great progress in this technique from what you said and should continue developing and improving it.

I very much agree with your criticism about reading first. Not sure how much the accompanied audio would help. I often have an issue with technology's ability to sync audio with my reading, especial with a frequent need to adjusting the audio speed and going back over certain words and phrases at random intervals.

My biggest surprise from his course promotions was his advice not to lookup words in the dictionary while reading your story. It's something i do constantly while consuming media and reading in Spanish. The tools to help accomplish this feat are getting better and better and i keep waiting and hoping for the next. Though i do agree with him that the time and distraction takes you away from the natural learning through context, his supplimental and what seems to be required study material may be doing the same. To me, the process of learning foreign language vocabulary by pivoting off of a very similar idea/words in your native tongue, with a dictionary/translation in the middle of your involvement, may still be the most effective strategy. In any case, with or without a dictionary/translation while reading and consuming media i think a lot more can be done to develop content with gradual difficulty increments and I'm glad he is making strides.

I like the conclusion, that for me is the issue with German. I am now supposedly B1, but I’m not, I can’t follow spoken German, I haven’t ingrained the language habits, or acquired them in Krashen speak, so I can only stumble along. I can’t yet use comprehensible input. However, this course is very expensive, for some that is a lot of money.

I have the 5 language bundle I bought during one of the big sales, and I'm 50% done, but on the fence. I agree, the stories get on my nerves lol.
Sometimes feels gimicky and too instructional and 'learning' based instead of input, but I like the little video breaks sprinkled in re: nuance, verbal phrase and grammar structure. It feels more like a book for the lazy, someone holding our hand and guiding us through. Great for us beginners. He did put a lot of quality work into them, but I wouln't pay full price.

I’m enjoying being one of the early subscribers because unlike most channels that have awkward and poor quality videos, you’ve definitely got your video editing and quality dialed in. Can’t wait to see it develop over time.

If I understood this video correctly then ...
then part of the lesson is to read along in Spanish with the teacher.
Hmm .. as if the average person could do that? Not likely. For the average person, this would be like expecting a student to read along with the Chinese while the teacher narrates the same content.

Not sure I got it... so the stories have no audio in the course?

I have a question, and i hope you see it: Would you recommend Olly for Chinese course or was that a different courses you mentioned?

Thanks for doing such an in-depth description. It's a great help for people who are thinking about buying the course, but who are hesitating because of the price. It's not expensive, if you like learning in this method.

300 Dollars 🤣😂🤣 Wtf!

No way!

It's brilliant!

I got the storylearning for latin but I just can't wrap my head around what people consider on that course to be fun. I love strories, but reading a story and then watching 15 minutes video telling me what words are similar to english ones just seems to me boring. It is advertised the way that you don't recognize you are actually learning... I don't know, this concept of videos makes me feel exactly like boring school class. Also, giving me words similar to english is not so effective as I'm not native english speaker, sure, I know it is english to latin but I guess I expected something more... internationally friendly. And for the grammar part, also, another 15 minutes video making me sleep away, I need an action, I need to do something myself, not sit and hope I get to remember something of the said stuff. If I grab any text with translation, dictionary and grammar book, I can do that all on my own without needing to pay such a big amount of money.
But really, what you find there to be fun, guys? Maybe I'm just not seeing it yet.

Hi, so I’m kinda late to the party, but what apps would you recommend for learning French?? Are Olly’ courses the most reliable?? What’s your opinion on other language-learning apps??

Looks like I also missed Black Friday to have purchased the discounted deals. I always thought Olly was a pure scam when I heard those absurd prices. Sounds like a shady car salesman.

If you can give me some advice and more insight that’ll be great.

Greetings from Miami, Florida 🌴

Very useful review, thanks. Your format was great. I’ve subscribed!

I was wondering about the russian language course. Russian has a very different script and pronunciation is extremely important! I cannot imagine it being very good for learning this language….Anybody has any experience with this russian course? I learned English by being immersed in it 24/7, French the traditional way with schoolbooks, which was the least enjoyable and German I learned by reading a lot because I need to master a lot of vocabulary before I will speak. How does the russian course fit in please? Thank you!

Hi Olly best teacher! What does he speak like you? You are unique for to me. I do love Spanish Language but I don't have free time to learn ot
I would like. Any way, congrat from Brazil. Thanks a lot for this video.🤝

This seems very different from being able to understand spoken Mexican Spanish in conversations. Speaking is very different in any language.

MP3 what is that and what equipment to play it?