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When it comes to learning languages, everyone imagines that it is important to get a good job. But have you ever stopped to think about the benefits it can have for your personal life?
Believe me, there are many reasons why you should dedicate a few minutes of your day, every day, to learning languages. Here are some of them:
- Improves cognition: Learning languages helps improve brain function, making it better at performing activities such as logical reasoning, memory, attention and problem solving;
- Opens doors to the world: How about getting to know new cultures and, who knows, incorporating some of this knowledge into your daily life? This is one of the biggest advantages of learning languages;
- Enhances creativity: Expressing yourself in other languages means thinking about how to convey information in a different way. This type of activity sharpens creativity and makes everything more interesting.
Is learning languages expensive?
No! A considerable portion of the apps in this article have excellent free versions. Furthermore, even the paid versions are much more affordable than the famous language courses in physical locations.
This happens because professionals work from home. Imagine how wonderful it is: learning to speak English, Spanish, German and many other languages without having to leave your home! Less time spent in traffic means more time learning. And enjoying your family, too.
Is it necessary to have knowledge of the language?
No! All of the apps listed below are suitable for all skill levels. Both beginners and advanced learners can learn languages (or improve their previous knowledge) without any major difficulties.
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Without further ado: time to learn!
1 – Duolingo
Android [DOWNLOAD]
iOS [DOWNLOAD]
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Image: Google Play
This language learning app needs no introduction. It is one of the most famous in the world and offers free courses so you can learn dozens of languages in a fun and intuitive way.
Duolingo uses gamification techniques to make learning more enjoyable: a strategy widely used by top language teachers to help them learn lessons. Learn English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Korean, and more!
One of its great advantages is that it is completely free. Even the Duolingo for Schools version can be used at no additional cost. The only difference between the paid version (titled Duolingo Plus) and the free one is that the premium version removes ads and allows offline lessons.
2 – Babbel
Android [DOWNLOAD]
iOS [DOWNLOAD]
Image: Google Play
Babbel is an app focused on direct conversation between teachers and students. Foreigners are usually responsible for teaching online classes, and this is a very solid feature of the platform, as students will be able to learn the correct pronunciation much more naturally.
In addition, the app has several recorded podcasts so you can train your ear and different pronunciations for the same language. Very interesting, isn't it?
Although a good portion of the content is free, the best part is reserved for subscribers to the service. However, the monthly fee is usually very cheap: around R$$ 23. Just quickly compare the price of Babbel with that of any other in-person course to see its incredible value for money!
3 – Memrise
Android [DOWNLOAD]
iOS [DOWNLOAD]
Image: Google Play
Do you like games? Memrise makes extensive use of them to teach English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Mandarin, and many other languages. It has an interesting difference from the others: through an Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant, you can practice your pronunciation until you reach excellence.
Over 50 million users in 189 countries are using Memrise to learn or improve their foreign language skills. It’s one of the most popular mobile apps available – and a big part of that is due to the extensive gamification that’s built into its methodology.
Like Duolingo, it's free and you can organize your own schedule to learn.
4 – Preply
Android [DOWNLOAD]
iOS [DOWNLOAD]
Image: Google Play
This paid app is considered by many to be the best for learning languages. The reason behind this is simple: starting from R$52/month, students can choose professional teachers based on predetermined parameters such as native speaker status, popularity, and price.
Its price is not as affordable as others, as it is a more intimate and exclusive learning method. After all, teachers always deserve to be rewarded for their efforts!
If you didn’t like the first lesson, no problem: Preply will exchange the tutor for another one of your choice for free. Do you prefer one-on-one lessons? Do you absorb the content better that way? Then consider subscribing to Preply.
5 – Speakly
Android [DOWNLOAD]
iOS [DOWNLOAD]
Image: App Store
This app is a great option for learning languages from the comfort of your home or wherever you are. Train your pronunciation through its voice recognition engine and be mistaken for a native speaker!
However, it is important to mention that Speakly does not offer as wide a variety of languages as the others (only eight). In addition, its most interesting features are also only present in its Premium version.
To learn grammar concepts, Speakly requires a lot of reading rather than dynamic activities. Whether this is a plus or a minus depends on what you think is best for learning.
6 – HelloTalk
Android [DOWNLOAD]
iOS [DOWNLOAD]
Image: TechTudo
Do you want to learn English but don't have the money to invest in it? HelloTalk is a great option. Its free version contains ads and is limited to that language only: to learn other languages, you need to subscribe to its Premium version.
Its paid version has a huge variety of options: in total, there are more than 150 foreign languages for you to learn. It is one of the apps with the greatest number of opportunities.
7 – Open English
Android [DOWNLOAD]
iOS [DOWNLOAD]
Image: Google Play
Famous for its silly and funny ads, Open English is an excellent app for learning languages. It is paid and offers live English courses, divided into eight distinct modules.
There are loads of interactive resources and materials to make learning more dynamic and fun. But make no mistake: the study plans are 100% personalized, tailored to each student.