With over 1.3 billion speakers worldwide, English is the most spoken language around the globe. It’s commonly used in business settings – operating frequently as a lingua franca – and most people know the basics, especially those living in popular tourist areas. So, if you want to learn a new language and be practical about it, English is the obvious choice. It also helps that the language is one of the least complicated to learn. Both English grammar and phrase construction are straightforward, and it’s easy to find someone to practice the language with. Plus, there’s plenty of English entertainment for you to immerse yourself in. But just because it’s easy, doesn’t mean it lacks benefits. By learning English, you expand your career options, improve your cognitive abilities, and protect yourself from dementia and Alzheimer’s.
There are many strategies to learn a new language online. Some people prefer to learn by watching their favorite shows, others turn to free YouTube courses or online tutoring. While the one that works best ultimately depends on the student, we always recommend backing up your studies with a language learning app.
Often, language learning software provides structured courses for you to follow that make the learning process more straightforward. Plus, the best ones come with exercises to hone all the necessary skills you need to become fluent, such as writing, listening, and speaking. Because of this, they tend to be dynamic and fun to use – there are even platforms that make a game out of learning a new language. Several providers also offer certificates after completing a course, which helps you show off your skills while applying for a new job.
Other kinds of language learning apps connect you to like-minded students. You’ll be able to chat with people learning the same language as you or native speakers of your target language. In short, language learning software offers a well-rounded solution that will help you boost your skills.
Lingoda is the perfect language-learning service for people looking for live classes but still wanting flexible schedules. Instead of repeating exercises, Lingoda enables its users to schedule one-hour lessons with real teachers 24/7. Lessons can be solo or in a group, and all teachers are native speakers. Unfortunately, it only offers courses in four languages: Spanish, German, French, and English. It’s also more expensive than other language-learning apps where lessons average the $10 mark. However, people who are committed to taking daily lessons for three months straight can get refunded up to 100%. Students can try Lingoda through the 7-day free trial available for the Monthly and Marathon subscriptions.
Launched in 1992, Rosetta Stone has over two decades of experience in teaching students a new language. The result is one of the most thorough and effective language learning apps in the industry. The software covers over 20 languages, tackling reading, writing, listening, and speaking with an immersive approach. It’s so intuitive that we didn’t even notice we were learning new vocabulary.
While courses are on-demand, Rosetta Stone does provide 6-week personalized study plans that consider students’ goals. In addition to the usual classes and exercises, the language learning platform also offers live sessions with native speakers and expert tutors, interactive stories, an audio companion, and much more. Prices start at $10.95 per month, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out Rosetta Stone risk free.
Pimsleur was one of the first self-instructional language learning courses to hit the market. Back in 1963, Dr. Paul Pimsleur released his very first reel-to-reel tape with a Modern Greek course. Nowadays, Pimsleur offers programs for more than 50 languages. Though the time of reel-to-reel tapes is long gone, there is one thing that Pimsleur maintained: the Pimsleur method. By combining graduated interval recall, the principle of anticipation, core vocabulary, and organic learning, Pimsleur helps people speak a language in no time. It’s possible to get the various learning language courses by purchasing each level of the program, or by subscribing to a monthly billing cycle that provides full access. Either way, unless you get the CD version it’s possible to use the software both on desktop and mobile, or to download the lessons in MP3 format for offline use.
The challenges you face while learning English depend on your native language. For example, if you speak a language that is completely different from English, such as Japanese, you’ll have a harder time understanding things like the alphabet and phrase construction. Fortunately, language learning software tells you exactly where to start by giving you placement tests, so you won’t get thrown into the deep end.
The trickiest part about English is mastering pronunciation. Since there are many colloquialisms, it can be challenging for beginners to understand which ones they should learn. While British people and Americans can understand each other, their way of speaking is completely different. To make things more complex, there are different accents within each country. For example, a Texan pronounces things very differently from a Californian. Thankfully, language learning apps make this distinction by offering separate courses for American and British English.
Next, there’s spelling. Although writing in English isn’t the most complicated thing in the world, there are some words that sound similar but are written differently, like to, two, and too. Plus, it’s challenging to memorize all the irregular verbs past tenses. For example, the past tense of ‘spend’ is ‘spent’, not ‘spended’. Language learning platforms that include interactive flashcards are your best weapon for tackling these singularities.
Unless you believe those shady advertisements that tell you that you can learn an entire language while you sleep, immersion is still the best way to learn English. This means interacting with the language as often as possible. Fortunately, with so many streaming services and YouTube channels, there’s a lot of content to choose from. For beginners, we recommend watching kids shows, as actors tend to speak slowly and clearly. A service like Disney+ is the perfect streaming service to help you learn English while revisiting your favorite films. Start by watching with subtitles in your native language, then switch to English subtitles, and finish by skipping them altogether.
We also recommend reading English blog articles or ebooks while using a translation browser extension like Quick Translator. This allows you to easily highlight a word or sentence you don’t understand and check its translation in your native language. Listening to audiobooks or podcasts is worthwhile, too. But bear in mind that these don’t come with subtitles or transcripts and work best when you already know the basics. If you’re more of a bookworm, pick a novel that you already read in your native language. For instance, if you’re a Potterhead, try reading the Harry Potter books in English.
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