Whether you’re planning a trip to a new country or moving to settle, learning the native language of a country is the best way to communicate with locals. With smartphones becoming an extension of us, language-learning apps can be a great way to start learning a new language.
In this article, we'll look at whether language-learning apps are effective for learning Spanish, as well as a few apps you should use.
How Effective Are Language Learning Apps?
Depending on how you approach language learning, apps can be a great supplement. However, these shouldn't be treated as substitutes as they can only serve as an introduction to a new language.
While you can learn new phrases and vocabulary to improve conversation skills, we recommend watching videos, studying grammar, and taking classes to get a full understanding of the language.
All of this has become extremely easy and you can do this through the power of a reliable internet. A strong internet connection like Spectrum offers seamless connectivity as well as support through Spectrum en español for Spanish-speaking customers (English too!).
So, vámos amigos (let’s go, my friends), let’s take a look at some of the apps you can use to get a better understanding of the Spanish language
Duolingo should almost always be your first choice when choosing to learn a new language. It comes with a generous free version that only has a few limits and doesn’t have any restriction on how many languages you can learn.
While the quantity of material can vary from language to language, the Spanish lessons are some of the best ones you can find in the app. You'll find a clear structure with some great exercises as well as excellent podcasts where you can hear natives speak and learn through them.
The app has a fun, gamified structure that allows users to have fun as they learn. For every day you take your Spanish lessons, you’ll continue a streak, motivating you to keep going.
Duolingo is one of the best apps you can use especially if you’re a beginner and their paid subscription doesn’t cost as much as some other language apps.
Babbel is a great app that offers an entire learning package. You can learn the basics of grammar, consonants, special vowels, and their pronunciations. Once you have that covered, you can move on to common conversational scenarios, which can be particularly fun since you get to fill in the blanks.
You also have the option to choose courses that cover different topics, which don’t have a fixed order. Other than this, you can get insights into slang and local culture as well.
Babbel does an amazing job at explaining grammar rules. The best part about Babbel is its pacing. It’s not too fast that you don’t understand anything and it isn’t too slow that you feel dragged.
You also get a well-tuned mixture of learning options that include games and podcasts as well as live classes with certified language teachers.
If you're looking to focus more on vocabulary and casual conversations, Memrise is the app to get. It's a great learning tool that has a very accessible interface that uses the flashcard approach. The app uses repetition to help you remember phrases and words.
The app also has grammar lessons and speech recognition. Plus, its feature called Learning With Locals allows you to watch video clips of native speakers. This makes the experience feel closer to having conversations with locals in the country.
In the app, the lessons are quick; you can set goals and access gamification elements similar to Duolingo which keeps you coming back. It also has user-generated content for learning as well as a GPT-powered chatbot to help you practice conversation.
The free version of Memrise offers a lot of value but some of the advanced features require a subscription.
Use Translation Apps to Your Advantage
The language learning process can be quite long. So, if you have less time remaining on your trip or don't feel confident enough to talk to locals yet, then make sure you use translation apps to talk to locals.
Apple Translate is a great option to use if you have an iPhone or an Apple Watch, mainly because it's free, accurate, and integrated with the Apple ecosystem. Not only that, it also has offline language support, allowing you to download languages and translate without an internet connection.
Google Translate is another great option to use if you have an Android phone. The app has a simple user interface, making it easy to use, and has full support for Spanish.
While translation apps aren’t entirely accurate due to complex phrases or lack of context, they can still be an awesome way to make small talk with people who speak a different language.
Overall, smartphone apps are a great idea if you want to learn Spanish or any other language. Plus, learning Spanish can not only be a great way to communicate with locals when you travel but also to converse with local Spanish-speaking community in the U.S.