Welcome back! In the previous article, we conversed about the plus points of learning a second (or third) language. (If you haven’t read that, let me request you to have a look at that first.) We got aware of the benefits of mastering language skills. And, we also chose an ‘optimum’ language to learn. Now, we’re going to discuss some resources, as promised, to spruce up learning. Let’s get started!
1. Duolingo
Let me call it the best mobile app to learn a language. The app, being 100% free, provides you with quality content in bite-sized lessons. With it, learning seems like a game (not PUBG; Come on!). In the mobile app (or webpage), you find various tutorials, stories, and podcasts in different languages. I’ve tried it and have found it useful for beginners and intermediates. It’s certainly not for experts (Yeah, experts don’t need it! Hmm.) “The best free language learning app,” says The Wall Street Journal. Duolingo offers a wide variety of languages with English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, and Russian, to name a few.
2. Memrise
This app allows you to know translations of words and phrases and understand them in real-life scenarios. Just like Duolingo, Memrise has databases for many languages, including some extinct ones too. The app is free to install, yet you could purchase the membership to use all the services. Developers claim to get you from learning to speaking a language faster than you can think possible. Some languages offered are German, Chinese, French, Mexican or European Spanish, Italian, Brazilian, and Arabic.
3. Rosetta Stone
It is also a freemium app meant to help to learn foundational words and phrases. (Kind of traveler stuff, right?) One of the most constructive features is that it fits your schedule with its 10-minute lessons. The app has its unique “Dynamic Immersion®” method. Follow up from beginning to end or take drills randomly; this app doesn’t mind at all! There are many features available for free, but you might have to pay for additional resources. Rosetta Stone proffers Spanish, French, English (American or British), Dutch, Portuguese, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Persian, etc.
4. Google
Nope! Google doesn’t teach any language itself (with programming being an exception). But, we can use its resources to aid us. The two most important features are Google Translate and Word Coach. Most readers would be aware of the former one. Translate is a savior when you need to know the instant translation of a word in your language. But, it doesn’t end here. It puts forward the meanings in the same language that of the word you’re translating. Also, it writes down definitions, synonyms, and examples of usage. The second thing, the Word Coach, is a service provided by Google for non-English speakers to get familiar with new words. Access it effortlessly by typing “Word Coach” in Google’s search bar.
5. Cake
(The dessert that makes your mouth water! No, wait!) Developers say a teaching app should be free of cost, and so the Cake is. However, the fly in the ointment is that the app only teaches English. Not basic English, by the way. Even if one is proficient in English, this app can help him improve further. No bite-sized lessons, no leaderboards, nothing; only the tiny video expressions curated from YouTube. The thing that makes it different from YouTube is that the videos are all about English and nothing else. Jake, the guide (Jake and Cake. Heehee!), takes you from many video lessons to boost your vocabulary, lexis, and pronunciation. The app also has AI face recognition technology to grade your pronunciation as you repeat phrases used in the video.
6. HelloTalk
Presenting you a unique way to learn a language, HelloTalk is a matchless mixture of language learning and messaging app. It has a community of millions of learners around the world. You explore the app, choose ‘strangers’ you want to connect with and get started. Its usage might seem perplexing, but once you commence, the app becomes as easy as ABC. It comes up with many features while chatting, like text translation and text correction. Howbeit, there is some trouble with the “barter system.” Two learners need to have needs matching each other to get the most out of it. For instance, if I speak English and want to learn Japanese, I’d expect to connect with the one who knows Japanese and hankers after learning English. Besides this, the app also provides free voice and video calls.
I hope you liked these resources. Just grasp anything that suits you from above to begin your language learning. I’ve chosen Spanish after thinking a lot and will try to be a medial at least. Okay! What have YOU chosen?
 language. Now, we’re going to discuss some resources to spruce up learning.){kind=link}