With more than 7,000 languages in use around the world, there are many options to choose from when looking for a new language to learn. We’re living in a time when learning a new language is easier than ever. No longer do students need to attend live classes with fixed schedules or read long textbooks. With the vast range of language apps and software available, students can study while commuting or doing daily chores, and they can choose a learning method that works best for them. Throughout our website, you’ll find detailed reviews of these products, comparisons to help you determine the language learning app that best answers your needs, plus coupons and free trials so you can test the software hassle-free.
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 $13.99 per month, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out Rosetta Stone risk free.
With millions of active subscribers all around the world, Babbel sits at the top of the industry as one of the best-selling language learning apps. The courses use real-life situations, which means students are ready to have conversations within the first three weeks. Babbel offers complete writing, listening, and speaking exercises to teach vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and cultural trivia. There are also various extras, such as games, podcasts, and live classes. Unfortunately, Babbel only teaches 13 different language courses, but they’ve been carefully created by a team of over 150 language experts. You can try one class for free, but to gain full access to Babbel’s teaching methods, you’ll need to subscribe. There is no free trial but you can take advantage of the 20-day money-back guarantee.
Launched in Romania back in 2013, Mondly is a language learning app that offers a more engaging way to learn a new language than studying flashcards. Instead of focusing on individual words, Mondly teaches you commonly used phrases that allow you to learn new vocabulary and memorize sentences. Moreover, all exercises are backed up by a native speaker, enabling you to listen (and repeat) words with the correct pronunciation. There are speaking exercises available too, where the app takes advantage of speech recognition to tell you whether your pronunciation is correct or not. With over 40 language courses, there’s a lot to learn with Mondly, and due to the company’s recurrent promotions, you can get access to all of them for as low as $4 per month. You can also try the app’s premium version through the 7-day free trial.
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.
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.
We’re living in an era where the world is not that big anymore. Due to technological evolution, it’s easier than ever to go overseas, access media from foreign countries, or connect with people from around the world. Now more than ever, learning a new language is very worthwhile.
Businesses that are not thinking globally nowadays are doing it wrong. With a lot of potential customers spread throughout the world, the economic ecosystem is no longer local. Because of this, companies are looking for polyglots, and having more than one language under your belt can be the decisive factor in getting you hired.
On a more personal level, knowing the language of a country that you’re going to visit can be extremely beneficial. You’ll be able to blend in with the locals and have them share more with you (and maybe even lower their prices).
It’s also proven that learning a new language improves memory and attention span, reducing the risk of age-related cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Considering the various benefits and how affordable language-learning apps are nowadays, there’s really no reason not to start learning right away.
With many studies claiming that their pet method is the most effective way to learn a new language, it’s hard to know which approach is truly better. The fact is that all of them are. What makes a language-learning method more or less effective is not the method itself, but the way your own brain learns the fastest. Some people learn better by memorizing, while others prefer to practice. Likewise, while some students are more visual and learn better when they have an image attached to the content being learned, others prefer listening or reading. That’s why different language-learning apps offer different teaching methods, and only certain ones will work best for you.
While some companies provide their language courses through flashcards – perfect for people who prefer to memorize words – others make their students speak right from lesson one. Moreover, there are also language-learning apps that associate images with words, use popular songs as a learning mechanism, or provide native-written books to be read at the student’s leisure. In other words, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all method, but the good news is that there are enough methods on the market to fit everyone’s study preferences.
Before the internet was a thing, learning a new language was an expensive hassle. You could sign up for language courses with tight lesson schedules at specific times, hire a costly private tutor, or get a heavy, complex, and expensive language-learning book.
Fortunately, nowadays we can study a new language from anywhere we want. Most language-learning software is available for both desktop and mobile. While some offer their learning material through their websites, others provide desktop programs and mobile apps for both iOS and Android. In other words, it’s possible to study a new language anywhere and anytime you want. Better yet, since the per-user software cost is lower than having a teacher for a small group of students, subscriptions also come at a more affordable price. Simply put, learning a new language is easier than ever before.
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