Top 5 E-Learning Apps for Learning Foreign Languages

Online learning has been a trend for the last few years, and language learning apps can be great resources for self-education. Here we collected the best apps for beginners and everyone who wants to improve their skills.

Best 5 E-Learning Apps That Help You Learn Foreign Languages Easily

In a world where we are constantly glued to gadgets, it is no surprise that even learning has moved online. One of the most utilized innovations is e-learning apps that focus on teaching foreign languages. From the comfort of any location, at any time, and within your budget, you can learn French, Spanish, Mandarin, and many other languages simply on your phone, tablet, or PC.

While there are numerous language e-learning apps on the internet, not all of them should be considered effective options. Here are 3 qualities that a good e-learning app must have.

1- User-friendly interface

Learning a foreign language can be lengthy. Therefore, it is critical to ensure the e-learning app you settle for is easy to navigate and enjoyable to spend time on through a friendly UI.

2- Diversity in learning materials

A good mix of videos, images, audio clips, reading texts, etc, improves engagement when learning a foreign language. These materials break the monotony in the learning process, making it entertaining.

3- Real-time progress tracking

Learning while tracking how much progress you have made (or not made) can be quite motivating. As your learning app monitors your performance, it should clearly indicate your strengths and the areas you need to improve on.

Now let us introduce you to our best 5 e-learning apps that help you master foreign languages easily.

a) 3ears

Developed by e-learning software development gurus Twinslash, 3ears is a foreign language e-learning platform that teaches languages using video and audio content supported by subtitles.

In summary, here is what you can expect from 3ears.

Pros

• The learning app offers a variety of learning materials, such as cartoons, songs, poetry, and reading exercises. It caters to a diverse audience of learners.
• The use of video and audio content with subtitles makes the learning of foreign languages interactive and fun.
• The app offers different learning levels, from newbie to advanced, allowing users to access content most relevant to their proficiency in the foreign language.
• The app highlights words as they are spoken in video and audio. This greatly improves listening and reading comprehension and results in high retention of content learned.
• Additional information, such as correct pronunciation, gender, case, etc., available on vocabulary provides comprehensive and contextual learning for effective communication.
• The learning app has a progress record for users to see their journey so far and motivates them to achieve more.
• The app’s interface is user-friendly for a seamless learning process.

Cons

• At the point of publishing this review, the app only had 6 foreign languages available for learning.
• The lack of a speaking practice feature limits learners' fluency when learning a foreign language.

To start using 3ears, simply visit https://3ears.com/ and sign up to create your free account.

b) FluentU

Fluent U is a gamified app that employs videos with subtitles to expose learners to the vocabulary of foreign languages. Learners can hover over the subtitles for a video to automatically pause, access the translation of the vocabulary, and practice the pronunciation while understanding the context of using the words.

For a glimpse of what the FluentU app has to offer, here are its pros and cons.

Pros

• The use of video clips of native speakers allows users to learn the foreign language within the context and in a natural setting.
• Numerous audio and video clips expertly captioned are available for learning and make the process entertaining and enjoyable.
• The use of flashcards makes memorizing and retaining vocabulary quite easy.
• The app keeps track of the videos and learning content you engage with, thus painting a clear picture of your progress in regard to topics.
• The quizzes available at the end of each video make it easy for users to review what they have learned and assess their learning progress.

Cons

• It does not offer a structured learning course or process, which can make learning a foreign language overwhelming or chaotic.
• The lack of a speaking practice feature makes it challenging for users to gauge the accuracy of their pronunciation.
• You can only enroll to learn one language at a time.

To begin learning a foreign language on FluentU, visit https://www.fluentu.com/ to sign up or download the app on Google PlayStore or AppStore and set up your account. Select the language you want to learn and your preferred subscription.

c) LinguaLift

LinguaLift is an e-learning app that takes the format of reading a textbook but employs voice-over techniques to provide more engaging explanations and lessons.

Below is what to expect from LinguaLift in summary:

Pros

• The content is skillfully crafted with the involvement of native speakers to ensure authenticity in the lessons.
• The app offers tutor support, which is highly beneficial to new users.
• In-depth explanations of culture and cultural context to deepen understanding of the foreign language.
• Lessons conclude with homework to do for a more intentional learning experience.
• The app is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
• It avails many tools for additional practice for users during the learning process.

Cons

• All the discussions and explanations in the lessons are in English, thus requiring users to understand English before learning a foreign language.
• All lessons are presented in the same format and design, making them appear repetitive and boring.

To get started on LinguaLift, visit https://www.lingualift.com/ and create your account. Follow up by selecting your preferred subscription package.

Finally, complete the questionnaire provided. It helps establish your preferred study times, set up your goals in learning the foreign language, and provide in-depth info, such as your reasons for learning the language, so the app can create your personalized study plan.

d) Memrise

Memrise uses short videos of locals speaking the language to introduce words and phrases, followed by learning exercises comprising flashcards, listening, speaking, reading, and writing materials to promote understanding and retention.

Should you choose Memrise as your e-learning app, you can expect the following:

Pros

• The app offers multi-layered options for learning that include several languages, different learning levels, and varied lesson topics.
• All languages and lessons available on the app are accessible in the free version.
• The app employs a scientifically backed spaced repetition system to enable users to retain information learned by emphasizing the repetition of complicated words and moving along phrases that users easily grasp and remember.
• The high quality of video and audio provided by the app is notable.
• Speaking practice for users has been enabled through speech recognition software available on the app.

Cons

• Varied features across platforms, such as differences between the app and website.
• The words and phrases are randomly displayed without context or connection to culture, making advanced learning difficult.
• The learning app offers limited grammar explanations, making it difficult to achieve optimal conversation skills in foreign languages.

To learn on Memrise, download the app or create an account at https://www.memrise.com/ after selecting the language you speak and want to learn. You can opt for the free version of the product, which still has all the foreign languages and lessons, or the paid subscription that offers access to premium tools such as speech recognition and downloadable lessons for offline learning.

e) DuoLingo

Duolingo is one of the most popular language e-learning apps among youngsters. The app is known for its gamified learning of foreign languages, including content presented in bright colors, notable sound effects throughout the lessons, and shiny medals to celebrate achievements and progress.

The app is extremely engaging and capitalizes on regular positive reinforcement to motivate users to complete their lessons.

Pros

• All the language courses on the app are available in the free version.
• You can learn multiple languages simultaneously ( 20+ languages available).
• The app is optimized for mobile phone users and is very easy to navigate.
• The app utilizes a placement test to correctly determine your language and tailor your learning experience.
• Vocabulary is always spoken out loud to improve learning.
• The app tracks your learning progress, thus motivating you to continue and complete your courses.

Cons

• Excessive gamification of the language learning process results in the goal being to unlock the next achievement as opposed to learning how to communicate in a foreign language.
• The quality and quantity of learning materials vary among the foreign languages offered — less popular languages are not extensive.
• The app seems to target younger audiences and not adults with the addition of more animations and cartoon characters.

To start learning on Duolingo, you can download the app and create an account or register at https://www.duolingo.com/.

Conclusion

Learning a foreign language is one of the most productive yet fun activities you can engage in on your gadgets. We hope our review has helped you narrow down to at least one that will kick-start your learning journey.

Apps