Top 5 Language LEARNING Tools for adults
Top 5 Language Learning Tools for adults
At Fun World Language Academy, the majority of us are multilingual. Between us, we have years of combined experience speaking, teaching and learning foreign languages. This means that we know first-hand what it’s like to be a foreign language learner in need of a variety of ways to build and maintain your knowledge.
We thought that we would put our knowledge to good use and recommend some of our favorite online resources for learning and practicing a new language.
1. Language Learning on Netflix
We think this is an amazing idea for adult language learners. Language Learning with Neflix is a Chrome browser extension that allows you to learn your language of choice while watching Netflix movies. You are able to select subtitles in your target language and even adjust the speed of the movie as well as stop to review vocabulary. We think this is a great way to practice listening skills while also indulging in some guilt free TV!
https://languagelearningwithnetflix.com/
2. Duolingo
Duolingo is a free app that offers game-like instruction in many different languages. It allows you to set up daily goals, participate in friendly competitions, and receive reminders. It is widely used and well reviewed. In addition to being educational, the app is equally entertaining and therefore motivating for both adult learners and children.
3. News in Slow – Spanish, French, German, and Italian
Linguistica360 offers podcasts, created by linguists, that are designed to keep you informed about current events, while helping you learn a foreign language. You can learn contemporary and relevant vocabulary in each of the podcasts. We love this app for the multitasking opportunities it provides! At this time they only offer four languages but we hope they add more soon.
https://www.linguistica360.com/
InnovativeLanguage.com offers quick and affordable language lessons that come in various forms – you get daily emails, access to short lessons with audio, video, and lesson notes in your choice of over 40 languages. For an additional fee, you can get connected with a tutor who would check your progress and give advice. One of our favorite features is the online dictionary for your target language! This company offers a really impressive variety of languages, even our owner’s native Bulgarian.
https://www.innovativelanguage.com/
5. Mango Languages
Mango Languages is a paid app but make sure to check with your local library as they can sometimes offer free access to it. We find this app to be a bit of an upgrade compared to the aforementioned Duolingo. It’s like a combination of Duolingo and Rosetta Stone. This is a great app for those looking to learn a language as a beginner or even if you want a refresher on what you’ve already learning. You can take a placement test for the more popular languages so that you don’t have to start from scratch if your goal is to refresh prior knowledge. It’s really a great language tool!
In addition to these excellent online tools, we also encourage local conversation groups and meetups. If you don’t have one, start one! Go to meetup.com and start a meetup, or go to your local library, facebook group, or another local forum and search for language learning groups in your area. Better yet, send us an email, we may have a group going on already, and if not we can help you start one. We’d love to help enable you to learn a foreign language with those in your community!
We hope that our list of learning tools gives you a great place to start when looking for the best apps and websites that you can use to help learn a language or practice some of what you already know. We love teaching foreign languages but we also love learning, too. Let us know if you have any language tools you’d recommend as we’d love to add to our list!
Interested in learning a language with us? We would love to help - see our classes for adults here.