So many of us who love to travel have been aching to get back out there and see the world. So, what do you do when you really want to go on an adventure but can’t? You start planning now so that when you can go abroad, you’ll be ready. And one of the best things you can do as part of your planning is learn a few phrases in another language. We’ve found the top language apps for both Apple and Android and are sharing the features that makes each one unique.
Why learn a new language?
Learning a new language helps you show respect to the locals in another country. By showing that you are making effort to understand their culture by learning their language, you are much more likely to receive a positive reaction from the people living in the country you are visiting.
When you speak the native tongue of another country as a visitor, it helps build an instant connection with the people there. You’ll find that people are more likely to want to help you when you can show that you know some key phrases.
Learning a country’s language can help add a layer of security and safety to your trip. In an emergency, you want to quickly and easily be able to explain your circumstances to get the help you need. You’ll want to be able to read key signs and know what phrase to use to ask for help.
And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that learning a new language makes travel so much easier. Sure, you could easily use your hands and facial expression to get around. But when you can add meaning with the right words, it makes things so much better. And while people study English worldwide, there are countries where it might be slightly harder to find a local who speaks English.
The top apps to use to learn a new language
There are so many language apps you can browse through from your phone’s app store. It’s a convenient way to learn a language because most of our always have our phones nearby. Most lessons are bite-sized so you won’t feel overwhelmed. Here are a few to consider.
FluentU: This app helps you learn a new language using real-world videos. Each video comes with a convenient vocabulary list. You’ll also find audio dialogues and lessons and the audio has captions so you can read as you listen. The app offers flashcards, quizzes and spaced repetition to help you retain everything.
DuoLingo: Ask about learning a language through an app and you’ll undoubtedly hear about DuoLingo. It’s an incredibly popular app for a reason: it uses gamification to help you learn. You earn points for correct answers, race against the clock, and advance in levels as you grow as a language learners. They offer short lessons and they have proven data that shows why and how their approach works so well.
Memrise: This app promises that it is the “fastest way to learn a language” and makes it simple to “fit learning into your busy day.” You’ll be able to watch and learn real conversational language from native speakers. Your learning experience will be tailored so that it won’t feel too difficult or too easy. What sets this one apart is that they include fun memory techniques which helps you learn and retain the new language quickly.
Pimsleur: Pimsleur has established a well-known brand that promises to help you learn languages in a very strategic and authentic way. You’ll find a built-in player for audio and reading lessons, flashcards, quizzes, and more. The lessons are only 30 minutes long which is intentionally done so that you will better retain the new words and phrases.
Mondly: This one has earned a rating of 4.7 out of 5. You can learn a new language for free but it also offers options to upgrade for more features. If offers the option to learn 33 languages and structures them so that it feels intuitive and fun to learn. It allows you to practice conversations which make it easy to understand how to pronounce words correctly.
Babbel: What makes this app especially different is that it teaches you a new language by making it feel more like a fun game. You’ll also have access to an entire community so you won’t ever feel alone and you can get pro tips from others who speak the language or are more advanced. It’s repeatedly ranked as a top app to download for learning a new language and offers 14 languages to learn.
As you can see, learning a new language can be especially fun and very convenient. Try one or a few of the apps we’ve listed and find your best fit. Soon enough, you’ll be speaking a new language confidently and all with just a few swipes on your phone.
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