The six best apps for learning English on your own

What's the best way to learn a new language? Ask anyone who speaks multiple languages ​​and you'll likely get a wide range of answers. Individual lessons, textbooks, language exchange programs are all tools designed to help you achieve a certain level of language proficiency. Language learning apps are another tool that is becoming increasingly popular. However, each application has its own focus and teaching method. Writes about this Money.

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Why use language learning apps

Learning another language is not an easy task. Unlike children, who learn simply by listening to others speak, adults must go through a long and arduous process of trial and error that involves both learning and practicing grammar, vocabulary, and speech. It takes a lot of time, especially if you study full-time.

While the classroom environment has traditionally been popular with language learners, interest in formal foreign language learning is declining. The Modern Language Association found that between the fall of 2013 and the fall of 2016, enrollment in courses dropped by 9,2% at US colleges and universities. Meanwhile, apps are becoming more popular with students around the world due to their affordability.

Apps have traditionally been used as a complement to traditional language learning methods. These programs have recently become more and more advanced, so that they can completely replace beginner and intermediate courses. You may not be able to reach fluency with them, but they will serve as a starting point for learning.

Ultimately, the goal of a language learning app is to minimize the impact of the learning process on both your schedule and your wallet. It is much more accessible than other alternatives such as training courses or trips abroad and can be accessed from anywhere, depending on the platform.

Important information about language learning apps

There is no single language learning app that is perfect for everyone. One type of application may focus on one area, such as speaking, while another focuses more on reading comprehension and writing.

Start by considering your motivations for learning a new language. Do you want to master the basic skills or do you need something more comprehensive? How much you need to learn will be very different depending on whether you want to learn the language because you are going on vacation, transferring to work, or hoping to establish business channels with a foreigner.

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Then think about how you will do it. Some people have busy schedules and need to split their study time into small segments throughout the day. Others may set aside several hours each day to focus entirely on one aspect of the language. Certain types of apps will work best for different students.

You can start learning a language as soon as you determine your learning needs. Keep in mind that the number of language learning programs on the market has grown significantly, especially since the well-known brands Rosetta Stone and Duolingo popularized this learning method.

Some of the best language learning apps are:

• Pimsleur - best for studying on the go
• Rosetta Stone is the best app for completing the entire course
• Babbel - better for grammar
• Duolingo is the best free app for studying courses
• LinguaLift - the best for cultural immersion
• iTalki - the best for tutoring

Pimsleur

Pimsleur Premium is good for the average person. Unlike other programs on this list, Pimsleur's courses have been designed with a conversational methodology in mind. Lessons are audio focused and usually no longer than half an hour; users are encouraged to study on the road, on the subway, or during work breaks. Courses can be launched through the application on the phone or on its website. In addition to its core audio lessons, Pimsleur also includes flashcard exercises, reading lessons, and other additional material that is available online. Pimsleur offers courses in over 40 different languages ​​for a minimum of $19,95/month.

Rosetta Stone

First released in 1993 as a CD-ROM program, Rosetta remains one of the best language learning programs out there. Today, the company's online subscription offers courses in over 30 languages, including endangered ones.

Listening, reading, writing, speaking - Rosetta tries to combine all the basic elements of language learning into one coherent program. Another reason why Rosetta excels at creating an immersive approach to language is its speech recognition technology, which has been praised for its accuracy and high degree of customization. Learning to speak like native speakers is important for students to feel like they have made real progress in their studies. The technology works on all devices on which Rosetta is available: computers, tablets and smartphones.

Rosetta Stone offers to start learning within 3 months in one language from $35,97 ($11,99/month). Users can also pay for a 12 or 24 month subscription, or opt out altogether and pay for a lifetime subscription. These three plans include access to all languages ​​on Rosetta.

Babbel

Grammar may not be the most exciting part of language learning, but it is an essential component for anyone looking to do more than just speak at a basic level. This is especially important if you plan to use the language for professional purposes or want to understand more complex sentence structures.

Babbel's grammar exercises are a combination of explanatory and interactive content. Exercises detail how certain parts of the language work. Grammar lessons ask you to do all sorts of things, such as conjugating verbs, identifying word types, and forming sentences in a special way. In addition, grammar tooltips appear during regular classes, which is a good way to discreetly integrate what users have learned into other parts of the course.

Prices start at $6,95 per month when billed for a full year. The shortest subscription duration, 3 months, is $8,95 per month.

Duolingo

Duolingo is one of the most downloaded apps in the Apple and Google stores with over 300 million users. The app is heavily gamified, with experience points, leaderboards, and other features designed to attract users. The idea is for users to keep up the good work and come back every day to keep their language skills up to par.

Duolingo does what no other software does: it provides a free platform where users can enjoy the benefits of language learning forever. However, since it is free, it is dependent on advertising. If you don't like the idea of ​​ads, you can opt for Duolingo Plus, an ad-free subscription plan. Its cost starts at $12,99 per month.

Duolingo courses are structured as "trees" where users must complete a certain number of levels in each section before moving forward. Some language tracks are fully implemented with courses reaching advanced vocabulary and grammar content towards the end, while others remain at an introductory level. While this may not be true for each of Duolingo's 26 variants, they are all created and controlled by different people.

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Duolingo is unique in that it offers courses for languages ​​rarely found elsewhere, such as Hawaiian, Welsh, and Navajo. It also supports courses in artificial languages ​​- Esperanto, Klingon and Upper Larian.

LinguaLift

Although it only offers three courses—Russian, Hebrew, and Japanese—LinguaLift is far superior to all other programs in learning these languages. The platform is heavily based on text and image content and provides users with exercise sheets. In some ways, it functions as a digital augmented textbook instead of a traditional online course.

What LinguaLift excels at is the level of cultural immersion it offers students. Each lesson contains detailed explanations of why certain expressions or the context of certain traditions and customs are used. You can learn about cherry trees in Japan or winter in Russia with words related to these topics.

LinguaLift has monthly and annual subscription plans: the former is $29 per month and the latter is $204 per year.

iTalki

There are a number of apps and programs that eschew the standard language course curriculum in exchange for other learning methods. One of these methods is tutoring - individual lessons, thanks to which iTalki takes precedence. iTalki began as a language exchange community where users could practice their skills with learning partners who were native speakers of the target language. The platform now serves as a teacher marketplace where users can connect with teachers.

Teachers at iTalki set their own rates and prices for classes in almost any language imaginable.

iTalki works with a built-in wallet into which users have the ability to add credits. This can then be spent on individual lessons and tutoring sessions, which average $10, although there are also $5 and $20 depending on the language combination and the popularity of the tutor.

How to find the best language learning app

Finding the right language learning app is difficult for two reasons. First, as it becomes more popular, more language apps are flooding the Apple and Google online stores. Second, even if you find the type of software you're looking for, its teaching methodology may not match your learning needs.

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