English humorist and novelist Douglas Adams once said: “You live and learn. At any rate, you live.” He must have meant that learning is a lifelong process, and this is especially true when picking up a new language. You can never fully master one (even if you’re a native), but even the process itself can become a pleasure with the numerous exercises you can do and the right tools at hand. However, you have to know what kind of learner you are first.
For visual learners, the most important aspect is what they see, while auditory learners prefer the spoken word. Reading and writing learners find the most comfort in texts, whereas kinesthetic learners enjoy physical activities above all else. While all are equally valid, visual learners are the most spoiled in an age where we spend so much time in front of screens. For these students, heavily image-focused language learning apps are ideal.
For a visual learner, analyzing pictures, drawings, charts, and mindmaps is the most beneficial. If a teacher explains more through drawing and writing than speaking, visual learners process the information easier, as they learn best when they have to associate words, phrases, and sentences with pictures. It’s no surprise then that a language teacher or an app can grab a visual learner’s attention with eye-pleasing activities.
The best software for this type of learner is the one placing heavy emphasis on association, immersion, and deduction, where the three work together: association makes them approach problems creatively; immersion encourages them to dive deep into what interests them but solely in the new language, and deduction helps them to quickly understand the language’s context for a more effective learning. Most apps provide the visual stimulation at a beginner’s level through flashcards, but fail to do so for the more advanced levels. However, visual learners need constant visual stimulation, not just at an entry level. Luckily, some language learning apps providers have this in mind and offer various tools catered to visual learners across the full program. Plus, since students may also benefit from associating words with faces, videos showcasing the country and its culture can significantly help – especially if they also want to speak like a local.
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 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.
Used by millions, Busuu is a well-known and well-loved language-learning application. Based in the UK, this platform ensures an engaging experience by providing a decent variety of exercises. There are 12 courses available, and all of them are built taking into consideration the language’s and country’s cultural aspects. In other words, besides teaching vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, Busuu also provides hints on how to properly behave when speaking with the natives. What’s more, Busuu offers a limited free plan that you can use forever. That being said, a paid subscription is necessary to have access to Busuu’s full potential, such as the ability to interact with other people using the app. The price can be as low as $5.41 per month, and there’s a 14-day money-back guarantee to test the premium plans.
Do you stick post-its all around your home when you have to remember something? Then you’re a visual learner. Putting notes at various places in the house can help a lot, as you’ll bump into them even when you aren’t actively trying to learn. No matter how difficult the language is, taking notes will help you absorb the information.
Learning by doing may sound like a method for kinesthetic learners, but sometimes it applies to visual learners, too. Hobbies like drawing or painting are especially beneficial. Imagine learning the word ‘snowman’ in Japanese, after already having learned some basic aspects of Japan’s history and culture. So, you start by writing the word in Japanese script, and then draw a snowman holding a katana (a samurai sword), and wearing an ajirogasa (a wickerwork hat).
You can also increase your cultural knowledge by watching a movie or documentary, preferably in the language you’re learning. If a film is overwhelming, try streaming a short series. If you prefer reading a book about the country’s culture, you may want to use highlighters. Or better yet, read on a screen and use a highlighting app.
Visual learners enjoy learning alone and in complete silence. It’s best to read in complete silence, too. So, why not combine the two and learn by reading a comic book or graphic novel in your new language to boost your skills without any noise? Visual learners are also excellent organizers, meaning that they often use approaches such as mindmaps. Luckily, you can create these in most text editors and there are a multitude of mindmap apps out there. Finally, a visual learner can greatly benefit from making to-do lists. There are many programs available that can help tracking your studying goals. Some of them, like Asana, even offer a free version.
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