The English language is one of the most common languages spoken globally and yet that does not stop people from learning a new one. After all, being a multi-lingual in this world is obviously a core skill to have. Learning a new language is a whole new adventure that has a lot of benefits.
Despite being an adventure, the entire process can still feel daunting. With so many grammatical and syntactical rules and words to remember, not everyone can master this skill.
But this does not have to deter us from learning it all together. There is always a way to do what seems impossible and you might find answers in this blog.
If there is one thing that is irreplaceable in its value, that would be learning. It helps you excel in your professional circle. And, at the same time, learning a language stimulates brain activity, improves attention span, and fosters creativity
This blog is for aspiring beginners, looking to learn a new language but feeling clueless about where to begin. We will go through top applications for language learning and then visit some tips to elevate the learning experience.
Language Categories
Do you know some languages are more difficult to learn than others? Despite language difficulty being highly subjective, each language has specific levels of difficulty associated with it. The US Foreign Service Institute has divided languages into four categories based on their difficulties, for people whose first language is English.
- Category I: These languages are easiest to learn for native English speakers as they are more similar in their rules and grammar. Take French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Swedish for example. These require 24 to 30 weeks of learning to achieve professional proficiency.
- Category II: These include German, Indonesian, Swahili, Malay, and Haitian Creole and require roughly 36 weeks for professional proficiency.
- Category III: These include Bengali, Icelandic, Finnish, Greek, Tamil, Thai, Polish, etc., and require 44 weeks to learn completely.
- Category IV: Considered super hard to learn, these include Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, etc., and need 88 weeks to learn.
Top Apps to Help You Learn a Language
What if I told you that you do not need to buy a whole course of books for learning a language?
This is the era of digitalization and language learning has been digitalized too! There are multiple apps available that aid in language learning. Each of these options caters to a different kind of learning experience. Some people learn better through visual aid or instructor-led videos while others learn best by audio lessons or game-like exercises.
Before we begin, a prerequisite for learning a language digitally is a stable internet connection that will not interfere with your learning experience.
My language learning was turbulent in the beginning as the lessons would take forever to load and I would miss out on the information provided in the live lessons. That was until I switched to Xfinity and the experience became so much better. You can call Xfinity phone number to get more information about its internet plans and pick the one that suits your online usage the best.
Now that we have the basics sorted, let us get to the list.
Babbel
Babbel employs a more traditional approach to language learning, with the curriculum divided into 15-minute lessons. The app and the web app have a minimalist interface that does not intervene too much with language learning.
I would recommend it to people who are looking for a challenge, as it not only teaches words, it also teaches variations of them and tells us if it is formal or not. The app has lessons that will take you through translations, pictures, and spellings.
Currently, you can only learn fourteen languages on Babbel and only the first lesson is free. Babble also has a live version, which lets you learn a language live, with an instructor and other students present. However, a major downside is that the total amount of content greatly varies for every language.
Duolingo
As one of the most common apps known for language learning, Duolingo will let you learn through game-like exercises that are short but engaging.
Now, the thing is, I would only recommend it for people looking to learn a language in a fun way. The app’s streak feature also serves as a great source of motivation. It also lets you learn multiple languages at once.
However, it is only a good source of language learning for beginners or intermediate-level learners. A lot of people use it as a revision app, to retain the language they’ve learned.
Mondly
Mondly is a great app for helping you remember various phrases of a language. Its colorful interface is welcoming and makes language learning appear fun rather than daunting. It incorporates both visual and auditory lessons to cater to various kinds of learning needs.
It has 41 languages available for learning and lets you use AR and VR products for a more immersive learning experience. You can click on verbs to see their conjugations and the words are spoken in a melodic way, which will definitely help you retain them better.
Pimsleur
Pimsleur incorporates a specific learning method i.e., spaced repetition which lets you learn a language quickly. It introduces you to a word or concept, lets you repeat it once, and asks you to repeat it after a short interval.
It is a great app if you want to learn the proper pronunciation of the language, as it focuses on audio-based learning. It currently has 51 languages available for learning. The app’s driving mode lets you learn even when you are on the go.
However, it is a bit on the pricier side as each subscription gives you access to only some features.
Rosetta Stone
As one of the oldest language learning services, Rosetta Stone now has an app. It takes learning words and basic grammar side by side. Each lesson takes roughly 30 minutes to complete and the primary mode of learning is auditory with images. The lessons are wonderfully structured and clear, which makes the entire experience seamless for you.
But despite it being a great source of starting a language, it falls short of providing lessons for professional proficiency.
Concluding Thoughts
Learning a language is a full-fledged commitment. It requires consistency and constant revision, otherwise the hours and effort can go to waste. You should set goals for yourself and seek factors that will motivate you to keep going.
What’s more, if you are a beginner, you might not know which learning style will work best for you so it is good to experiment first before subscribing. As you progress in the learning process, I advise you to maybe hangout with a native speaker and talk to them in their language. This can really polish the language for you.
