European Language Day

  • 26 September 2019
  • 0 replies
  • 2875 views
European Language Day
Userlevel 8
Badge

Learn a new language with these apps

Today is European Language Day, a day to celebrate the huge linguistic diversity across Europe, and raise awareness of the benefits of learning a new language at any age. But what are the benefits, and what’s the best way to learn?

Why learn another language?

  1. You’ll completely transform your travelling experiences. Whether you’re going on holiday or backpacking across the continent, even speaking a little bit of the local lingo is a good way to immerse yourself in another culture. Locals will be more inclined to help you find beautiful places away from the well-trodden tourist path, and you might even hear about a great restaurant to try out!
  2. Unlock new doors in your career. Plenty of companies out there are looking to trade globally or break into new markets, and multi-lingual employees are essential in helping them achieve their goals. The ability to speak another language sets you apart from other candidates when applying for a job, and shows a willingness to learn new skills. And if you’re ever looking to study or work overseas, having another language under your belt is great for discovering new opportunities.
  3. Meet new people and develop friendships. There are loads of like-minded people out there, not just in the UK but across the globe. Don’t let a minor thing like language difference be the barrier to making friends. You never know, a simple ‘bonjour’ or ‘buenos dias’ could be the first words that spark a great friendship.
  4. Increase your brain power. On top of all the obvious perks of learning a new language, it can actually strengthen your mind. Studies have shown that the ability to speak more than one language increases your attention span, improves your memory and reduces the rate of cognitive decline as you get older.

So, how can your phone help you become multi-lingual?

Traditionally, getting to grips with a new language has meant paying for classes, studying for a qualification, watching foreign TV shows with subtitles or reading a newspaper repeatedly until the stories make sense. Now though, there are loads of apps out there designed to make learning languages fun.

What are the best language apps?

  • Duolingo

Since its launch in 2011, Duolingo has grown to be one of the most popular language learning apps in the world, with over 300 million users. The way it works is like a game – you start with basic verbs, sentences and phrases, learning new words each day until you become more fluent. Each lesson is bite-size, perfect for a quick round of brain training on your commute, and you can track your achievements and progress. With 34 language courses to choose from, you’ll be multi-lingual in no time.

Download Duolingo on Android or iOS here.

  • Memrise

If you like a little structure in your learning, Memrise may be the app you’re looking for. When you choose a language course or category, the app lays out a chronological path for you. Test your knowledge with ‘Speed Reviews’ (timed tests) and set goals like how long you want to study each day. There’s a lot to get your teeth into if you’re trying out the free version, but there’s also a paid membership version that unlocks premium content.

Check Memrise out on Android or iOS.

  • Busuu

Another language app with a huge community, Busuu is great for improving your accent as well as your vocabulary. Along with well-structured targets and a personalised study plan to keep you motivated, you can even get feedback from native speakers to make sure you’re on the right track. It’s not all about learning new words, either. The app also gives you excellent grammar tips on how to order your words, using the right verb tense and more.

It’s worth upgrading to Busuu’s subscription scheme as it unlocks grammar exercises, quizzes, feedback from fellow subscribers and downloads to keep you productive when you’re offline.

Download Busuu on Android and iOS.

  • Tinycards

Flashcards are a great way to help new phrases stick in your memory, and that’s exactly what Tinycards is for. Made by Duolingo, there’s a ton of flashcard collections covering a broad range of topics, and you can even make your own. The app uses spaced repetition and smart learning techniques to help you get to grips with the language you’re learning. We wouldn’t say it’s the best app to comprehensively learn a language in full, but it’s perfect for adding more terms and phrases to your linguistic arsenal.

Check out Tinycards on Android or iOS.

  • Rosetta Stone

No doubt you’ve heard of this one. For as little as £5 a month, Rosetta Stone offers a more practical language learning experience. The app teaches you to think in the language you’re learning by displaying a picture with the word, instead of a translation. A handy in-app phrase book helps you speak with confidence as you become multi-lingual. Refine your accent with the apps’ TruAccent technology, and you’ll be speaking like a native in no time. 

Download Rosetta Stone on Android and iOS.

And if you’re not quite fluent yet and need a phrase translated quickly, don’t forget Google Translate

 

Don’t miss out!

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to opt-in to receive iD Mobile emails, newsletters and more great content. With lots of fab prizes to be won in competitions, helpful blogs and community conversations, you’re missing out on a whole iD Mobile community. Be kind to yourself and opt-in today.


0 replies

Be the first to reply!

Reply


Why iD Mobile?