According to research, approximately 75 percent of the world’s population does not speak English. The most widely spoken languages, excluding English, are Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, Bengali, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, German, and French.
It is a commonly accepted fact that children have an easier time learning a second language than do adults; however, one recent experiment surprisingly showed that “adults turned out to be better than kids in every aspect of learning.” Learning a new language can be a large time commitment, but with a little patience and a lot of hard work it can be very rewarding for people of any age.
Here are three language-learning apps that can help you learn a new language:
MindSnacks is an app that can make learning a new language fun. The app allows you to pick a language like Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, or German. Once you choose the language you wish to learn, the app will present you with fun games designed to help you learn vocab words.
According to the website, “MindSnacks is a San Francisco-based company that builds the best mobile educational games for students and lifelong learners on the go. Driven by the belief that learning should be fun no matter the subject, we differentiate our apps from other learning software by designing rich, engaging experiences that are both entertaining an effective.”
MindSnacks is free and available for download on iOS devices.
Busuu is an app that will help you take those vocab words you learned and put them to the test. The app helps you learn grammar and sentence structures, makes sure you don’t forget your vocab, and allows you to practice speaking the language you’re studying with native speakers.
According to the website, “Take busuu with you and make use of any spare moments to get learning – [in line] for coffee, waiting for a friend. Even in the [subway], without Internet – you can download your lessons for offline use! The app aims to not only teach you a language but also make you fall in love with it. You can also learn with the help of over 60 million international native speakers, who improve skills by practicing and teaching alongside you.”
Busuu is free for download on iOS and Android devices.
HelloTalk is an app that works similarly to Busuu in that it allows you to immerse yourself in another language and culture by connecting you to native speakers. In doing so, HelloTalk can truly help you see the world in a new and different way.
According to the website, “In HelloTalk, you get connected with real people who might be your ‘pen pals’ that can help you with your Japanese grammar/accent, explain Chinese culture to you, be your travel buddy in France, and even be your friends in the country you expat in. It helps you overcome language barriers, see the cultural diversity, and prepare for culture shock before you travel/study/expat in a foreign culture.”
HelloTalk is free for download and available on iOS and Android devices.
Expand your worldview and strengthen your mind with these three apps! You never know when speaking a different language may come in handy.
Featured Image by Al Lloyd on Flickr
Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
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