The Most Practical Language-Learning Apps 2021
- Written by NewsServices.com
The advent of the internet has brought so many changes that we did not imagine possible. Formal education is not the only way to learn nowadays, in fact, some fields of study like computer programming, cooking, public relations and language learning are proving more effective if mastered online.
Formal education aside, you can also learn about tons of other subjects, including how to play slot machines online, blackjack, poker or even regular video games. Whatever you are interested in learning, there’s definitely an online resource that will assist you with the ins and outs of the subject.
Moreover, Covid-19 has completely transformed learning, and since the lockdown, people found themselves with more time on their hands, and they had to look for constructive ways to keep busy. The number of people learning new languages or those trying to brush off on languages they’d stopped learning at some point has tremendously increased, and the need for efficient non-time-consuming apps suddenly went up.
Regardless of your mastery level, there are some ground rules that, if followed to the letter, will ensure your success in learning any language. Giving yourself simple tasks like listening repeatedly to content in your desired language at least daily will tremendously improve your ability to identify words and phrases that you repeatedly hear. Other features of language learning, which include using flashcards, can also be accessed via the best language learning apps. Here are some of the best language learning apps you can use to sharpen your mastery of any language.
HelloTalk
If you have heard of language exchange apps, HelloTalk is at the top of the list. It’s like the Tinder of language apps. All you need to do is sign up, set your native/target language combination and start pairing up with users with matching needs. The user interface is set so that you can navigate smoothly almost like in a chat app with free calls, instant messages and voice messages. The app has a dedicated language exchange mode so that your PC and your partner’s computer synchronize to what language combo to switch to. You also get to correct your exchange partner’s messages in real-time.
LingQ
LingQ presents you with a unique opportunity to find courses on topics that captivate you. You could choose salutations, Ted talks, book titles or one-year immersion programs in a country of your choice. The app keeps the progress of your learned words by classifying them into four areas namely ‘new,’ ‘can’t remember,’ ‘not sure’ and ‘learned’ as you add them to LingQ when you encounter new vocabulary. Flashcards, cloze tests, dictation and multiple-choice tools will keep you on your toes and put you on a successful path to fluency.
Memrise
On the surface, Memrise looks like any other flashcard learning app. But as much as we value flashcards for their space repetition techniques, we know that there has to be more to add practicality to the process. Now, this app includes questions and quizzes to keep you fresh. The paid version has more perks like offline access to the content, chatbots to help in conversing and the native speaker recordings just tramp some of the other established language apps.
Busuu
Busuu is perfect if you have 10 minutes of free time at a time to learn a language. With 12 languages to choose from, this app works with your schedule where you can create a study plan that fits your lifestyle. You can also set reminders to get alerts at specific times without being too pushy. The speech recognition tool comes in handy for learners who are shy with their spoken language skills. Another thing that gives Busuu a high rating is that while learning, you can help other learners with your native language skills and vice versa.
Skritter
If you are learning logographic-based languages such as Japanese or Chinese, you may have gone through the confusion that comes as a result of having to learn hundreds of basic characters before you can read or write the languages. In that case, Skritter is the perfect app for you.
Language Learning Apps Are Just the Beginning!
With the multitude of apps coming up every other month, it can be quite difficult to decide what works for you. However, if you pick any of the above apps, you’ll be off to a great start. Additionally, with the many resources on the internet, including podcasts, YouTube polyglots and Netflix films with subtitles in combination with practical apps, you are well on your way to being a master of many tongues.
