As things stand, there’s no Serbian on Babbel. This Slavic language has been overlooked. That might change in the future, but at the moment, the only place you can get a high-quality Serbian course is with the Ling app. Today, we’re mainly focusing on giving you alternatives for learning the language and why it’s beneficial for you to learn Serbian. We’ll also discuss why Babbel has foregone Serbian and what are some other alternatives along with the Ling app. Let’s get to it.
Alternatives To Learning Serbian
To immediately help you with your problem, let me give you what you’re looking for. Here are the best alternatives to learning Serbian if you can’t find your target language on Babbel:
The Ling App
Try the Ling app! The Ling app makes learning Serbian fun and easy. Here’s what the app offers:
- Fun Lessons: The Ling app has lessons on many topics for 60+ languages. You can learn words, ask questions, and talk about different things in Serbian.
- Games and Challenges: The app has mini-games and challenges to help you learn. You can match pictures with words, put sentences in the right order, and even practice writing on your phone screen.
- For Everyone: Whether you’re a complete beginner or already know some Serbian, the Ling app has something for you. It covers everything from basic words to more advanced topics.
- Learn How to Speak: The app lets you practice speaking and checks your pronunciation. This way, you can learn how to talk like a native Serbian speaker.
- Fun While Learning: The app makes sure you have fun while learning. There are puzzles, quizzes, and games that make learning feel like playing.
The Ling app is like having a Serbian teacher always with you. It’s designed to make learning Serbian simple, enjoyable, and effective.
Simply Learn Languages
Simply Learn Languages is a product brought to you by Simya Solutions, the parent company of Ling. Simply Learn is an easy-to-use phrasebook designed to help you out of common situations such as checking into a hotel, ordering food, or going shopping. It won’t teach you the native language of Serbian in-depth, but it will help.
YouTube
YouTube is a great resource for practicing your listening and grammar skills. Many learners have solely taught themselves through YouTube channels. The best channel to learn Serbian is ‘Hani learning languages.’ The channel only has about 3,570 subscribers, giving it a very communal feel. She has basic videos in Serbian, mainly focusing on the beginner level.
Preply
Hire a private Serbian tutor to take Serbian lessons. Preply is the best place to do this. Although apps have built-in functions, nothing compares to having a real-life conversation with native Serbian speakers. Thinking on your feet in a conversational language setting challenges you and builds those neural pathways that facilitate growth.
Why Is There No Serbian On Babbel?
So, why is there no Serbian on Babbel? Essentially, it boils down to a question of finances and demographics. Creating a new language course is expensive. Although some apps like Duolingo do a certain amount of crowdsourcing, most have to employ language-learning experts.
To justify creating a new language course, an app needs a guarantee that it will see a return on its money. This usually means a language that already has a solid core of speakers, like English and Spanish. There are examples of more minor languages that have soared in popularity. With the recent explosion of K-pop and K-drama, Korean is in demand.
To put it simply, there are not a lot of people who are keen on learning Serbian. This is also why Babbel does not have it on their roster.
What Are The Reasons To Learn Serbian?
The following reasons will be linked more directly with why you should visit Serbia. It goes without saying that speaking the Serbian language while exploring Serbia is the ideal scenario. If you can speak some words in the mother language of someone else, it goes a long way to winning your plaudits.
- Serbian History is closely linked with the Ottoman Empire, the empire that destroyed the last of the East Romans and ended several centuries of Christian rule in the East. Serbia began to fall under Ottoman rule in the late 14th century and ruled it for several centuries, but Serbia regained its independence in the 19th century. Later, Yugoslavia was formed in 1918. Whatever period you want to consider, Serbia has a riveting history.
- Serbian nightlife is next level. All the pieces are in place for a raucous time wherever you go, including a massive student population and amazing beer culture. It is also popular among tourists, with many choosing Serbia for their celebrations.
- Serbian monasteries and spas. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum are the monasteries and spas. The UNESCO-listed Studenica Monastery is the most widely regarded. The sanctuary is almost 1,000 years old and was founded by Stevan Nemanja, a former King. The monastery houses two famous monuments built of white marble, the church of the Virgin and the King’s church. Serbia also has many natural springs, first popularized by the Romans and then refined by the Ottomans with their famous Turkish bath. The best area is called Vrnjačka Banja, where there are numerous high-end hotels centered around spa living.
- Serbian food is excellent, particularly for meat lovers. Serbian cuisine reflects the East/West divide we mentioned earlier. Some national dishes include sarma(ground beef and rice in a cabbage leaf), gibanica(an egg and cheese pie), and ćevapi (grilled meat). Of course, the national drink is rakija, a fruit brandy. While rakija is popular in Serbia, ‘raki’ in Turkey is an anise-flavored drink. It’s a cultural appreciation in Serbia to enjoy and finish the food served, reflecting the nation’s hospitality and rich culinary tradition. Everything is eaten whether you’re full or not!
- Serbian Festivals are common. This ties in heavily with the abundant Serbian nightlife. Some famous ones include the Exit Festival, the Belgrade Beer Festival, and the Nišville Jazz Festival. There is a little something for everyone.
- Serbian Natural Beauty. As you’d imagine, from a country that boasts legendary hot springs, there is a great amount of scenic beauty. The Fruška Gora National Park has been described as Serbia’s jewel. It is home to much of what we’ve already discussed, such as monasteries. There’s an interesting historical dimension to the park, namely that it was home to the Serbian resistance movement during WW2. Another thing not to be missed is Đavola Varoš, where famous rock formations exist.
No Serbian On Babbel? Learn It With Ling!
As you can see, you don’t have to worry if there’s no Serbian on Babbel. You can always use the Ling app because it’s the best app for lesser-spoken languages. It does everything Babbel and Duolingo do, but we like to think, with a little more charm.
For those unfamiliar with language apps, it is a platform that allows users to learn a new language through various engaging methodologies interactively. The Ling app has listening, reading, vocabulary, and grammar practice. It also has speaking practice with our patented AI chatbot. And finally, the Ling app also has grammar lessons to untangle the complex grammar of Serbian.
At the moment, we have an active Serbian blog. Take advantage of the free resources that are in short supply. Also, do not forget our language tips blog, where we do reviews of language learning apps and give you advice on best practices.
Download the Ling app now on the Play Store and the App Store and experience the best way to learn Serbian.
Updated by: Jefbeck
