The development of modern technologies makes it much easier for us to complete tasks and decreases the overall time to achieve them. At the same time, learning new languages remains a challenging task. It takes time to be systematic and use the right tools.
In this article, we overview some language learning applications to help you choose the one that best suits your needs. Before we do so, let’s talk about what language learning is and what to pay attention to when selecting an application.
Acquiring a New Language
Adult learners acquire language differently compared to children. For one, most adult learners reside outside the country and in a family setting where the target language is a primary communication option. Secondly, as a result, there are fewer opportunities to consume and practice a language actively. Finally, often learning a new language is more of a hobby than an acute necessity, so it is easy to lose motivation and hard to figure out the best learning strategy. That is why immersing oneself in studying and staying productive entirely is challenging.
However, it is not impossible. It is important to remember that proficiency in each language consists of four core skills: reading, speaking, writing, and listening comprehension. Each section will require a certain amount of vocabulary and grammar knowledge. Each of these six aspects of the language should get enough of your focused attention. It is up to you if each of your learning sessions will include all of them or if you want to work on one of those at a time. Yet, regularity is the key. And this is where language learning applications come in handy.
There are many specialized applications, and getting lost in all the available options is easy. Below you will find an overview of the apps, including which aspects of the language it helps to develop and what makes each particular app stand out from the rest.
SOLVVE’s pick of the language learning applications
It is a modern language learning application that is especially good for beginners. Duolingo has predetermined courses for various languages framed as fun exercises to develop your vocabulary using flashcards, listening, and pronunciation checkups through mockups done by native speakers.
Moreover, it has brief grammar introductions to support your learning of sentence structure and word declinations, making it one of the few applications that cover all six aspects of the learning process to a different degree.
You can set your learning goals and match them with how much effort you are ready to put in to receive a perfectly balanced custom program. Bonus points to this application for teaching you in your native language. What we love about it is the best option for beginners since it covers all aspects of language learning in their mother tongue.
It might be your number one choice regarding vocabulary acquisition at any level. Built around a spaced repetition method, Memrise is a booster for remembering the meanings of the words and their spelling. Some exercises include writing down words or phrases while the platform can detect misspellings.
You will find multiple courses for each language based on published books or created by other users. In such a way, you can choose one or multiple tracks to match and support your learning program. Invite friends to keep your motivation up and see how you compare on a leaderboard. What we love about it: you can pick up new vocabulary fast, even specialized ones, e.g., specific professions.
Focused on college-level English, this application combines the best aspects of an eBook and audiobook. Simple in its design and navigation, WholeReader is a must-have for intermediate and advanced learners aiming to dash forward in their language skills. This particularity makes this one particular because of its narrow focus on reading skills and vocabulary acquisition.
With WholeReader, you get access to a collection of acknowledged classics of world literature and can study the language while simultaneously reading and listening to the recording. You can also easily navigate the text with a unique bar to get precisely to a sentence or even a word you need, and the audio will adjust accordingly. A progress bar will let you know how much you have already mastered and how much is left to give you a clear perspective of your achievements. What we love about it: boosting your reading and listening comprehension to a high level with sophisticated vocabulary.
The first port of call for those who focus on writing. Unlike most applications, Lang-8 comes to the rescue with middle-to-long texts. Duolingo might prompt you to write and recognize short sentences, and then the system will assess the correctness of your answers. However, dealing with longer forms requires human input.
Also, let us not forget that written and spoken languages differ. Even if you are a proficient speaker, writing might still be challenging.
Lang-8 allows you to connect with native speakers or proficient target language users who can check your texts, fix them and provide feedback. If you are really into examining minor differences in word meanings or specifics of grammar, you can also turn to Lang-8’s younger sibling, HiNative, to ask language-related questions.What we love about it: focusing on writing skills in a native language environment.
That one application that will keep your speaking to an extraordinary level. Hello, Talk looks similar to a messaging application making it easy and comfortable to start using. At the same time, it is packed with language-learning tools, such as translations, transliterations, corrections, and pronunciation audios, to name a few.
You can start by chatting with a native speaker to move at a paced tempo that fits your level of knowledge and confidence in your skills. For those who feel comfortable enough to talk in a foraging language, Hello Talk offers video calls and voice recordings to communicate with your language exchange partner the way you would in real life, meeting them face-to-face. No pun intended. We love to focus on speaking skills with real people in real time.
As you can see, there is no one-fits-all solution for language learning applications, which is a good thing in the end. What you need as beginners will change once you’re at the intermediate or advanced level. Some skills will level up faster than others. An even distribution of exercises among all aspects of the language might change in favor of skill-focused language learning to bridge the gaps or keep you entertained and engaged for longer. If you have ideas about how to help language learners with your product, be sure to contact us.