If you’ve decided to learn a language, you’ve certainly looked for apps to help you on your journey. However, there are countless choices and that makes taking a decision quite complicated.
Learning a language means developing various skills related to the same language. This means one single app won’t cut it.
Luckily, if you take the right approach and know what you are looking for, it won’t be that complicated before you set the right tools on your phone.
Here are the 5 types of apps you definitely need to sail through fluency.
1. Dictionary
No matter the level you start at, you will need a dictionary app. I’m not talking about some random Google Translate, I mean a specialized dictionary just for that language.
There are countless dictionaries for all languages around the world so it might take some trial and error, but you should be able to find one that suits you quite quickly.
2. Flashcards
Whether you like flashcards or not, no one can deny the efficiency or Spaced-Repetition Systems (SRS). The concept is simple: Bringing back a flashcard you have studied around the time your brain needs it.
To make the best of a flashcard app, you should create your own deck of cards. Why? Because the action of creating each card takes a bit of time and thus a connection is made in your brain, thus instantly leaving a mark for you to remember the word or expression.
Even if you’re not a big fan of flashcards, you could modify the system as you want. For instance, making only audio cards if you are an auditory learner. Or you could create cards based on images if you are a visual learner. Adapt it to your favorite style for the best results!
My favorite one is the famous Anki which is flexible but doesn’t offer the most “beautiful” interface. However, there are newer ones being created regularly. It seems Quizlet is a quite good option, with tests and a “match” game pushing you to react quickly.
3. Tiny articles
Even if you are learning a language just to talk to people, you will still need to be able to read a certain amount. After all, you can’t just meet people, right?
A good way to learn a bit every day, even when you are busy, is to have an app that displays small articles in the language you are studying. You can then read one (or more!) a day and make sure you keep on improving.
It gets even better if you find an app showcasing articles related to whatever hobby you have because your motivation to check it every single day will be even higher.
4. Language Exchange
On the opposite side, even if you aren’t learning the language to exchange with people, having a language partner is a great way to keep yourself accountable and to get constructive feedback. The best thing to do here is to find more than a few language partners so you get access to different patterns of speech.
Again here, there are countless such apps but the most famous ones are still the best to date: HelloTalk and Tandem. It might be scary to put yourself out there but trust me, such apps are a must to improve quickly thanks to practice and feedback.
Bonus: Tutoring app
This one isn’t a must per se, but it could drastically improve your level further if you can afford it.
Find someone who can teach you on a tutoring platform. The one-on-one system and access to the tutor from anywhere in the world are incredible. Furthermore, tutors are here for the single purpose of teaching you to get better at the language. They are thus constantly giving tips for you to improve while fixing problems before they get stuck as a habit.
The reference for this is obviously the well-known italki platform that pretty much any polyglot has used extensively.
Get one of each and you’ll be ready to rock your language study while enjoying the journey. Sure, you’ll face challenges along the way but, in the end, these tools will save you much time and hassle in the long run.
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Mathias Barra is a French polyglot living in Japan and who has learned 6 languages and dabbled in numerous others. Being a curious child full of wonders is how he keeps on learning and can’t stop sharing about every tiny idea, even non-language-related.
Yuhakko 语학子 