Free Language Learning Apps

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Senaida Flinspach

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Jan 11, 2024, 3:32:35 AM1/11/24

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Language learning apps can help beginners and intermediate students to build a foundation. If you just want to learn enough to order a coffee, they can get you there. Fluency requires immersion and comprehension, whether through talking with native speakers, learning in a classroom, or reading books and watching movies.

Speaking to real live people in the language you want to learn is the most effective way to improve for many people. Finding a class near you or the time to attend can be tricky, so Lingoda offers hourlong online Zoom classes with experienced language teachers. You can take classes in small groups of up to five people or pay extra for one-to-one learning. You must buy classes in blocks and you get downloadable materials to study to prepare for classes and practice what you learned afterward. You can take a test to find your level, sign up with different teachers, and find classes at times to suit you. Since there are classes in different time zones, they are available 24/7. The strength of Lingoda is the chance to speak with real people and get personalized feedback.

free language learning apps

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DuoCards (Free): This is yet another flashcard app that employs spaced recognition. It is worth a look because it allows you to create your own flashcards to decide which words you want to learn. Best used alongside other courses or apps, this app will help you build your vocabulary. The basic version is free, but with ads and limits on how many flash cards you can create.

Pimsleur ($15 per month): Dr. Paul Pimsleur developed a language learning method focused on listening to audio and repeating phrases out loud. The nice thing about this approach is that you can practice while you work out, commute, or do the housework. The short lessons are easy to jump into, but it is formal and can feel slow as it deliberately limits the vocabulary.

Fluent ($7 per month): This Chrome extension throws some language learning into your daily web browsing by highlighting English words on any website and giving you the Spanish, French, or Italian translation. You also get pronunciations and definitions, and there are quizzes to complete. Seeing words in context can help them stick, and this is a solid complementary way to build vocabulary alongside other learning activities.

Language Reactor (Free): This clever Chrome extension works with YouTube and Netflix to give you subtitles for whatever you are watching in two languages, so you can see your native language and the language you are trying to learn. You can also highlight words to see the translation, review all the subtitles, and get other examples of their usage.

Learn French TV5MONDE (Free): Anyone trying to learn French should check out the free app from the French-speaking TV channel TV5MONDE. You can take a quick test to find your level and improve your French through exercises using TV shows with genuine accents. You will get a feel for how people really talk in context, and you can focus on your interests by choosing relevant shows. There are Android and iOS apps, too.

Lirica ($9 per month): Can you learn a language through music? Lirica is a fun app that uses popular songs and videos to teach you Spanish, English, or German. It breaks down song lyrics to teach you vocabulary and grammar with handy explanations of colloquial language. It's a bit gimmicky and is best used to complement other learning approaches, but it is enjoyable.

If you don't have the time to learn a language, and you don't want to rely solely on Google Translate, try the Pocketalk Plus Voice Translator. We reviewed it in 2021. It's an internet-connected device you carry around, not unlike a smartphone, but you and another person can speak into it and it'll spit out reliable and accurate translations. The interface can be a little clunky, but it supports a whopping 82 languages in audio and text (there's a camera you can use to take pictures of text and get them translated). It's spendy, but if you're country-hopping frequently, it's a worthy addition to your bag. Just know that the SIM you get works only for two years, and it'll cost another $50 to reconnect it (or you can stick to Wi-Fi or tether from your phone).

You also get to see the new words you're learning used in common conversations, listen to them (if you choose to have audio on), repeat the phrases and learn more about verb groups. The 15-minute language lessons are easy to work into your day -- whether it's on your commute, before bed or on your lunch break. The My Activity module lets you track all your progress.

Babbel currently offers 14 languages and is free to sign up for, and the first lesson of every course is free. A monthly subscription costs $15. You can also choose to renew every three months ($38), every six months ($67), annually ($89) or make a one-time payment of $349 for lifetime access. The other subscription option is Babbel Live, which is a more traditional language learning experience with virtual classes led by an instructor with other students. You can sign up for unlimited classes with this paid subscription for one month ($90), three months ($209), six months ($359) and annually ($599).

I tried my hand at Greek on the Drops app. The app's fun, colorful layout definitely made the language (which has its own alphabet) less intimidating. The app shows users each word in the Greek alphabet and the English alphabet, and says the word and shows an image of it. Drops is owned by the popular game-learning platform Kahoot and is constantly adding new languages. The company recently added its 15th language, Catalan.

Similar to Drops, Mondly is a fun, colorful app that has multiple features you can take advantage of even if you don't subscribe to premium. I tried beginner Hungarian on this app, and I liked how it offered to show you different conjugations if you tapped on verbs. The app packs images, translations and auditory aids to help your specific learning style. The instructor also speaks the words and phrases in a rather melodic way. That made it easier for me to recall them (even after trying different languages on different apps).

Mondly currently has lessons available for 41 different languages. It also has VR and AR products that let you integrate its language lessons, chatbots and games into virtual and augmented reality tools, like the Meta Quest 3 or other VR headsets.

Mondly is free to use, but you can subscribe to the Premium tier to unlock all content. You can subscribe for access to lessons in one language for $10 a month or $48 annually. You can also get lifetime access to all 41 languages for $90.

One of my favorite parts of Memrise is the app's use of short videos to show how real locals express different phrases in conversation. I tried the French course, and the first lesson alone let me listen to the tone of voice and casual pronunciation, as well as showing me the phrase's literal translation and explained its gendered usage. The app also helps you spot patterns in the language to make it easier to improve your skills. If you're brushing up on a language you're familiar with, you have the option to skip phrases you already know.

Memrise currently has lessons available in 23 languages. A few lessons are available for free daily, or you can upgrade to a Pro membership for $15 per month, $90 per year or $200 for lifetime access. The Pro membership removes ads, gives you access to all languages and lets you incorporate the 30,000 native speaker videos it has into your lessons.