Learning a new language has never been easier. In fact, there are so many different Apps and Software packages that are available to learn that it’s mind-boggling to just how much content there is that’s out there. There is always at least something new that pops up with new lessons, a new way to learn, and a new way to naturalize your voice so you sound like you’ve been speaking the language for years.
With the amount of content that’s out there, it’s all so dizzying on what exactly you can choose. There seems to be something that is useful for everyone, and most major platforms seem to have a fair amount of positive reviews and a large base of daily and active users. So what, and who, do you go with?
Well, take a quick look at at least four of the best Apps and Software that’s available on the market right now for you to use, and hopefully, help you choose a Software/App that’s right for you.
Preply
is a global language learning platform that connects students with private tutors. This is done remotely via online chat. A ranking algorithm uses machine learning for recommending tutors and also classifying them. This platform prides itself on having a higher number of tutors in comparison to other platforms – there are 15,000 tutors from all over the world.
As some language platforms focus entirely on languages, Preply also offers maths, music, and other subjects beyond language learning. So if you are looking to learn something new outside of languages, it is a great option.
Preply was founded in 2012 and is still on the smaller side with only 300 employees. However, it has recently witnessed a lot of growth which makes the capability of this platform quite impressive.
What can you expect from the lesson? Where lessons with other platforms usually take place on Skype, Preply hosts their lessons on their own platform. This is called the Preply Space. This area allows for file sharing, instant messaging, and interactive whiteboards.
The trial lesson is an hour-long rather than 30 minutes on other platforms. This is great value for money and also provides you with the opportunity to decide if your tutor is a good match. This comes at the price of less than 4 GBP, which is great value for an initial class.
Some benefits of using Preply include the large numbers of tutors, hour-long trial lessons, affordability of lessons (they cost only a few dollars), the classroom experience as well as the number of languages available. With these opportunities available, it’s possible to join and start learning a new language in a matter of minutes.
Pimsleur: top choice among many
Pimsleur is perhaps one of the most highly rated Language Programs that’s out there right now simply because it’s considered one of the most flexible. When you sign up you get an entire week free, and afterward, it only costs $15 a month after that. As of right now, they offer courses for over 50 spoken languages, and they do right now have a claim that if you follow their instructions you can be an intermediate level speaker in just 30 days.
A bold claim of course, that’s highly dependent on your own work ethic. However their language courses are divided up into different levels and lessons, and once you complete a course you are free to re-take it if you feel there is still more to learn from it (or just want to brush up on earlier basics). Currently, they work on any device that can connect to their website/App, and their interactive tools and easy-to-use UI is supposedly one of the best. There’s little wonder why Pimsleur is considered a top choice among many who use it.
DuoLingo: well-known and actually useful.
DuoLingo is so well known that it’s become a meme at this point, and is one of the most widely known free Language Learning apps that are available. Because of the fact that it’s free, it’s accumulated over 100 million daily users that actively use it to learn well over 100 different languages.
So what makes it so well known and actually useful for people wanting to learn a different language?
Mostly in the fact that DuoLingo actually doesn’t assume that you’re a native English Speaker for starter, and actually has many of its website/apps services done in the languages it teaches so you can easily switch from English to Spanish, to Japanese, to Swahili, or any other language of your choice. Not only that but DuoLingo is also created by native language speakers and is entirely community-driven by those speakers, so it’s held to a standard by those who actively use it and participate in it. Couple this with the fact that it’s less on giving you ‘lessons’, and more on turning language learning into a game, and you have a fun, addictive way to learn a new language. Because of all this, DuoLingo has a massive global reach and is often used in conjunction with many other Apps and Software available today.
Rosetta Stone: the gold standard
Rosetta Stone has been around for years and is often considered the gold standard when it comes to learning language apps. In fact, it’s one of the most trusted software that’s used by many major companies, all the way to fortune 500 corporations, as well as various institutions and other government bodies.
It’s not hard to see why either, since with Rosetta Stone you get what you pay for. They offer perhaps one of the most highly flexible learning courses available that’s completely specialized to individual needs and budget and are entirely based on pattern learning and repetition. In a way, it’s almost like getting a college course directly, but at a lower price.
In the early days of the Software, they use to offer their courses directly through VHS videos and other books that they’d mail directly to you, but these days thanks to the internet, you can simply learn through their software and apps with an internet connection, though they still do offer offline lessons as well. You can connect to their services using either iOS Android, Mac, or Windows, and they also do offer Linux support as well. All at $15 a month.
Babbel Short Review:
Babbel currently only offers 15 languages, which is far less than a lot of other Language Learning Software/Apps right now. However what makes Babbel so good compared to the previous entries on this list is that they offer a first lesson free, which is a sort of “try it before you buy it” option that a lot of people take advantage of. Plus, out of most options, it’s also one of the cheapest at just a little less than $7 a month. Which, for people on a budget but also want to experience a well-made learning process, is perfect.
So what do you get for your $7 a month? You get access to an App that works on iOs, Android, Mac, and Windows platforms, as well as 24/7 customer support. Plus, it has one of the best-integrated speech recognition programs available on the market today, which helps you immensely when it comes to trying to sound as naturalized as possible when trying to learn how to enunciate and speak, as opposed to just merely learning. As long as you have access to their App through your Phone, Tablet, or Computer, you can set your own pace, and learn based entirely on your schedule.
And that’s really some of the best that’s out there that offer varied services. There really are more, but the previous 4 are not only considered the best but also offer different things on their platform. Give them a look, and see if they fit your needs!