Memrise VS Intelligence Squared

• Variety of Languages
  Memrise offers a broad spectrum of languages, including less commonly taught languages, catering to diverse linguistic interests.
• Cultural Context
  The platform provides cultural insights through videos and audio made by native speakers, giving users a more immersive learning experience.
• Gamified Learning
  Learning becomes engaging and fun through the use of gamification elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards.
• User-generated Content
  Users can create and share their own courses, providing a vast variety of additional learning material.
• Mobile App
  Memrise's mobile app is highly functional and allows for on-the-go learning, making it convenient for users with busy schedules.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited Advanced Content
  The platform may lack advanced or in-depth content for learners who are beyond the intermediate level.
• Subscription Cost
  Full access to Memrise's features requires a subscription, which can be a drawback for users looking for free resources.
• Repetitive Exercises
  Some users might find the exercises and quizzes repetitive over time, which could potentially reduce engagement.
• Pronunciation Accuracy
  While useful, the pronunciation features may not always be accurate or comprehensive enough for all language nuances.
• Focus on Vocabulary
  Memrise has a strong emphasis on vocabulary and may not cover other aspects of language learning, such as grammar, in as much detail.

• High-quality debates
  Intelligence Squared US hosts Oxford-style debates featuring leading experts, authors, and public intellectuals on important and timely topics, providing audiences with well-structured, substantive discussions that go beyond typical media discourse.
• Balanced presentation of viewpoints
  The format requires two teams to argue for and against a motion, ensuring that audiences hear strong arguments from both sides of an issue rather than a one-sided perspective, promoting critical thinking and intellectual humility.
• Audience engagement and voting
  The live audience votes before and after each debate, and the winner is determined by which side moves the most votes. This interactive element engages viewers and provides a fascinating real-time measure of persuasion effectiveness.
• Free and accessible content
  Intelligence Squared makes its debates widely available through its website, podcasts, YouTube, and public radio, ensuring that high-quality intellectual discourse is accessible to a broad audience at no cost.
• Promotes civil discourse
  In an era of increasing polarization and hostile political rhetoric, Intelligence Squared models respectful, evidence-based argumentation and demonstrates that people with opposing views can engage each other constructively and courteously.

Possible disadvantages

• Binary framing of complex issues
  The for-or-against motion format can oversimplify nuanced topics by forcing them into a binary framework, potentially leaving out important middle-ground positions or alternative perspectives that don't fit neatly into either side.
• Limited diversity of debaters
  The debates tend to feature a recurring pool of prominent intellectuals, authors, and policy experts who often come from elite academic or media backgrounds, which can limit the range of lived experiences and perspectives represented on stage.
• Debate as performance over truth-seeking
  The competitive format incentivizes rhetorical skill and persuasion tactics over genuine truth-seeking. A more charismatic or skilled debater may win the audience over even with weaker arguments, potentially misleading viewers.
• Voting mechanism is imperfect
  The audience voting system, while engaging, can be skewed by the composition of the live audience, which may not be representative of the general public. Additionally, measuring who 'moved the most votes' doesn't necessarily reflect who made the best argument.
• Infrequent coverage of certain topics
  While the debates cover a wide range of issues, certain important but less headline-grabbing topics may be underrepresented in favor of more provocative or trending subjects that are more likely to attract large audiences and media attention.

MEMRISE REVIEW - Does Memrise Suck?

More videos

FAPA Intelligence Squared US Review

More videos

• Best Memrise Alternatives (February 2025) – UPDATED
  lingoly.io · Jan 2025

  If you love Memrise’s teaching method but wish to try another app, don’t worry because we shortlisted a bunch of platforms that are similar to Memrise.

• 15 Language Learning Apps Compared - Personally Tested
  www.krioda.com · Jan 2025

  Memrise aims to facilitate multisensory learning by combining writing exercises with audio samples. This approach is common among other reputable apps. However, Memrise focuses on pronunciation right from the start.

• Apps Similar To Duolingo: Best Language Learning Alternatives
  duolingoguides.com · Jan 2025

  Memrise ($9-$60/year) mixes games with learning to improve vocabulary and grammar. It offers many languages, including Spanish and Chinese. Memrise uses videos and games to make learning stick.

View more

We have no reviews of Intelligence Squared yet. Be the first one to post

• I want to surprise my Ukrainian wife and learn Ukrainian

  Memrise.com offers Ukrainian learning right now. Source: over 3 years ago

• What is the best method to learn Japanese?

  If you want a guided course try Memrise or Duolingo. Source: over 3 years ago

• I'm probably saying goodbye to Duolingo with a one-hundred-day streak.

  It is slow and designed to be easy. In its defense it is a casual app designed to be used casually. On the other hand, I took the German and Dutch courses in 2019-2020 and got enough basis in them to be able to now listen/watch content... Source: over 3 years ago

View more

Tracking Intelligence Squared since May 2026.