Essential Apps To Help You Study Foreign Language
With communities becoming more international and it isn’t unusual to hear foreign languages spoken. Whether it’s for vacation, class, work, or fun, to know another language is a skill that will serve you well. Yes, learning a new language can be difficult but here are 5 apps to help you. These apps offer lessons from beginner to expert level, or if you are just wanting to keep your foreign language skills at its best, you can get started today.
1. Babbel
While you will have to pay to unlock all the language content, the free version of Babbel comes with over 40 lessons which allow you to learn a fair number of phrases in the language you are attempting to study. With features such as speech recognition exercises and step by step vocabulary and conversational aid, Babbel will have you conversing like a pro in no time.
In addition to the beginner packages, Babbel also offers advanced grammar and vocabulary lessons, so there is always something new to learn. More advanced students can continue to challenge themselves. Babble often offers discounts for its priced classes, so don’t feel pressured to pay for it in full but simply wait for the next sale.
2. Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the most popular foreign language apps that has been downloaded, and for good reason. It is completely free. This app has over 81 courses created by native speakers, it’s no wonder it has over 100 million users. Duolingo is a free to use language application that can be found on many language students’ phones.
Duolingo offers many popular language courses which include French, Spanish, Japanese, and of course the unforgettable High Valyrian and Klingon. So, don’t hesitate to download this app and get started, just be sure to keep moving through the lessons or else the Duolingo Bird might come for you.
3. Memrise
Memrise is one of the best apps for vocabulary practice. With no shortage of languages to review and fun packs such a “Japanese naughty words”, Memrise helps its students learn by using a game format than a traditional review. With this method, people associate words with more unusual or peculiar photos and images as a sort of visual mnemonic device. A tad strange, but it works.
Memrise is free to use and a community-based app, so you always have other people to learn along with you. If you don’t think you can create your own image, then there are plenty to choose from the millions of people who have posted review materials themselves.
4. Quizlet
Like the community-based app Memrise, Quizlet works similarly as it receives language study guides created and posted by anyone willing to share. Quizlet has flashcards and tests that allow you to review in two ways, traditional and in-game. Learning is always fun with games such as a timed drag, match activity and an asteroid game where you must type the correct answer in order to shoot the incoming space rocks.
A basic Quizlet account is free, but students have the option to upgrade to Quizlet Plus which unlocks options such as offline and ad-free study.
5. Busuu
Busuu is a relatively smaller language app than Babbel and Duolingo, offering only 12 languages to study. To unlock most content requires you to pay, but Busuu is still a fantastic app for anyone who wants to become proficient in a native language. The lessons are organized by theme to make associations and learning easier.
The distinctive feature with the Bussu app is that users interact with native speakers who correct, and review lessons submitted by the user. To immerse yourself in the language, chat in real-time with a native speaker when you use Bussu on your desktop.
