Learn Hindi

Notes

Hindi is approximately the sixth largest language in the world, and although an exact figure is difficult to ascertain, there are approximately 190 million native speakers, with the majority living in India. Hindi is also spoken in Nepal, and in significant communities in South Africa.

In recent years, Indian culture has spread rapidly, infecting the world with its charm, mystery, delicious cuisine and fascinating history. The explosion of Bollywood in the western world, and the increasing popularity of India as an intriguing travel destination, has meant that a growing number of people are choosing to learn Hindi as a second language.

India is also flexing its muscles economically, and although its rich-poor gap is still a huge global concern, the number of Indian millionaires living in India is expected to rise by 53% to 242,000 by 2018. This surge in wealth is largely down to a growing manufacturing industry and an exponential rise in export trade, and even though the majority of Indian people have a basic command of English, Hindi is becoming a more important language among the global community.

Whether you want to learn Hindi for travel through India and Nepal, for purpose of business or personal relationships, the ideal way to begin is with a Hindi language software course. Hindi is challenging, particularly for westerners unfamiliar with languages derived from Brahmic text, and as such you'll need an engaging, fun, interactive program to maintain your interest and improve your rate of progress.

Comparison Table Analysis

As you will see from my comparison table above, I have compared the top six Hindi language-learning courses side by side. If you want to dig down further into my research, you can click on the "Read Review" button placed at the bottom of each column. Alternatively, you can click on the "Go" buttons to investigate the website of any of the six given vendors.

Rocket Hindi tops my table because of its outstanding value. Not only does the course come with over 1000 audio clips, but also 31 language and culture lessons, and the awesome MegaHindi platform, which provides Romanized versions of colloquial Hindi. Rocket Hindi is also best value on price, and provides solid post-purchase support via a virtual tutor and learners' forum.

Just a few yards behind is Pimsleur Hindi, which is essentially geared around those looking to travel in India, rather than those seeking a command of conversational Hindi. The course teaches you simple phrasing on subject matters such as asking for and giving basic directions, exchanging money, handling basic travel and dealing with social demands. Pimsleur Hindi covers 16 hours of speaking and reading, and is available in either physical CD format or as a downloadable package.

Transparent Hindi comes in a humble third, and is an ideal choice for those who haven't a budget to pay for a software course in one go. Transparent offer a $16.66 per month deal, which seems fair, but be aware that at this rate you will end up racking up a much bigger cost than laying out $99 for Rocket Hindi in one go. Moreover, Transparent lacks the interactive prowess of Rocket, and doesn't feature the fun quizzes and word games that Rocket is well renowned for.

I wish you all the best with your Hindi study, and encourage you to dig down and read over my reviews. This will ensure you choose the course best suited to your requirements and budget.