The possibilities of our smartphones go far beyond communications and entertainment. The mobile phone can also be an excellent tool for learning and improving. In this post we focus on discovering which are the best language learning apps.
Knowing other languages serves to broaden our professional and intellectual horizon. And, although it is true that today there are magnificent tools for online translation, there is nothing that can be equal to the possibility of mastering a language fluently, without the need for intermediaries or translation software, whose level of reliability is never total.
It is not just about learning or improving our level of English. Through these applications we have the possibility of discovering and learning many more languages, either for its usefulness in the world of work and business or simply for the pleasure of learning a new language, a very gratifying experience that also serves to keep our neurons fit.
Here is our selection of the best applications to learn languages:
Duolingo
Without a doubt, the most popular app in the world when it comes to learning languages. the virtues of Duolingo They are numerous, as is the list of languages that we can learn: German, Catalan, Spanish, Esperanto, Guarani, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Swedish. In addition, if we choose English as the base language, we can also access the learning of other languages such as Korean, Chinese or Japanese.
Duolingo's proposal is to learn through a interactive method which is almost like a game. There are 25 levels. Each of them contains a different number of lessons, and each lesson with a different number of tests or questions. To advance it is necessary to accumulate experience points.
An important element in the Duolingo methodology is consistency. The app lets us choose How much time a day are we going to dedicate to learning the chosen language?, although then it is up to us to be diligent and persevering.
Among its and advantages It should be noted that it is very simple, entertaining and very useful to improve specific aspects such as pronunciation; on the other hand, language teaching professionals believe that it is an excellent support tool, although by itself it would not be enough to achieve the goal of mastering a new language.
Finally, it should be mentioned that it is a free application, although it is full of advertising.
Babbel
Within the Spanish-speaking world, Babbel is one of the most popular applications for learning languages, especially for learning English.
To start using the app we first have to complete our student profile, where we have to include our age and our previous level of the chosen language. Once this is done (and the payment plan is completed, since it is not a free app), we can start learning.
Babbel's learning system is called "spaced repetition". Each course offers a certain number of lessons and, at each new level (there are seven), the degree of difficulty increases. In the advanced levels we find more reading and listening comprehension activities. And in all of them, our acquired knowledge and skills are evaluated before moving forward.
Babbel users know that it is a very practical app that helps us achieve clear objectives in our task of learning a language. Unfortunately, it is a paid application.
Memrise
Like Duolingo, Memrise is an app focused on learning vocabulary and its pronunciation. It takes great care of its visual aspect and offers a clean and very attractive interface. In addition, it is an application that will take up little space in our phone's memory.
To start using it after its installation on our device, it is necessary to register by configuring our native language and the language we want to learn. For a few weeks we can use the free version, after which we will have to access the pro version to continue using it.
Important: Memrise cannot be defined as a language course in the strict sense of the term, but as a means to expand vocabulary and improve pronunciation. That does not mean that this is a low-quality or useless app, on the contrary, it just means that its approach is somewhat different from that of the other options that we present in this list.
For all this, for having quality material and an agile learning system, Memrise is a good tool to learn and improve.
Learn English Grammar
The truth is that English is still the number one goal for all those who want to learn a new language (except for English speakers, of course). That is why there are many very good tools dedicated exclusively to teaching us Shakespeare's language. One of the best rated is Learn English Grammar.
As its name indicates, this app is based on improving knowledge of English grammar. To achieve that goal, the app combines classic exercises with interactive games, all with the British Council seal of approval, the public cultural institute of the United Kingdom.
Rosetta Stone
A language learning app called "Rosetta Stone" should already earn all our respect. The truth is Rosetta Stone it is a practical tool in many aspects, a pioneering application, although its free version is quite imitated.
Undoubtedly, the best is its sophisticated state-of-the-art voice recognition software and many available features. For each language we want to learn, there are three levels and lots of grammar, vocabulary and conversation exercises. The best thing is that his teaching method is designed so that everyone can learn at their own pace.
Hello talk
This is one of the best language learning apps that puts a special emphasis on conversation. Hello talk It is, therefore, an eminently practical app that allows us to make great progress in a very short time.
By registering in this app, we will find many native speakers the language we want to learn. In this way, we will be able to talk with them through a chat (whatsapp style) or through voice and text messages. One of the best ways to learn and acquire fluency.
To highlight the “text to speech” option, with which we will learn how to correctly pronounce the messages we receive. But the best thing is undoubtedly the possibility of becoming teachers, thus helping other users in their efforts to learn our language.
Lingua Lift
The great plus of quality that it offers Lingua Lift Compared to other online language learning platforms, it is the active presence and direct support of real teachers. These tutors They are at our disposal to answer questions, resolve doubts, suggest new resources and even propose tests and correct them. A luxury.
For the method to be fully effective, it is necessary for the user to make an exhaustive record of their personal data, knowledge and skills. With all this information, Lingua Lift professionals draw a Roadmap for our learning and are in charge of keeping track of our progress.
