Imagine moving into a new city, starting your life afresh. You walk down to the corner deli and not being able to communicate how you would like your sandwich. Or if you are visiting a foreign country on a vacation and fall sick, and unfortunately not being able to inform the first responders if you have any medical history or suffer from any allergies. This is not a rare occurrence. Many people suffer due to language barriers. In such times, language apps come to the rescue.
Language Learning Apps For iPhone And iPad
For iOS users, it becomes a little easier to learn languages because of the many apps that are available online. Mentioned below are few of the best apps for learning languages.
1. DUOLINGO:
Download: iOS
Price: Free
Languages Offered: 28
This app is different from all others on our list of the best language learning app on iOS devices. Simply because, there are hardly any other tools that offer language learning support for ‘Klingon’ and ‘High Valyrian’! This app helps one learn, listen and speak and master any new language. It does so by making learning fun. The key features of this popular app are:
- Conducts mini-games that test the user’s reading, writing, and speaking skills over the course of time.
- Offers special courses for schools including night schools.
- One can customize the course according one’s speed of learning.
- Has clubs to communicate with other students in the language that one is learning. This helps one have ease of communication by using mainstream phrases and practice their dialect.
- Requires iOS 9.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
2. BABBEL:
Download:iOS
Price:Free
Languages Offered: 14
Babbel helps one learn everyday communicative languages. No more formal, bookish languages. Learn the slang and the flowing dialect of the language of your choice. This shall help one feel more connected while communicating with a native. One of the best language learning app on iOS, it’s other key features are:
- Offers small sized lessons for language freshers.
- Provides users a whole range of different options from work, travel, food and other miscellaneous topics.
- Has personalized review sessions for better understanding of our grasp over the language.
- Provides grammar tips for smoother communication.
- Requires iOS 9.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
3. MEMRISE:
Download: iOS
Price: Free (Excluding In App Purchases)
Languages Offered:22
Considered as one of the best app for language learning, this fan favorite caters to the many pop culture references we love. It helps one translate books and even teaches how to curse in different languages. One is sure to feel like a native once, they have used this application. It is fun to use and makes learning easy. Its other key features are:
- Uses ‘flash card’ like visual aid for easier learning.
- Learn memes popular in the local community
- One can learn specific phrase and words instead of a whole language.
- Offers Trivia on multiple topics
- Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch but requires iOS 10.0 or later.
4. BUSUU:
Download: iOS
Price:Free (Excluding In App Purchases)
Languages Offered:12
What better than communicating with a native and learning nuances of a language? With Busuu, one can do just that and learn skills and many expressions. A fun interactive user interface helps one customize and learn a skill set at their pace. One of the best apps for language learning it’s key features are:
- Provides accent training. A feature not offered in many leading language apps.
- Takes a quick placement test to know one’s level of language proficiency.
- Has multiple options for its users such as offline access and grammar tips.
- Requires iOS 9.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
5. Rosetta Stone
Download: iOS
Price: Free (Excluding In App Purchases)
Languages Offered: 24
One of the pioneers of language learning, this application has won numerous awards and holds a special rank in this field. Definitely considered as one of the best language learning app on iOS, it has many unique selling points. Particularly, one of its many specialties is that, though it may only offer 24 languages, it covers all the aspects that are involved in them. Additionally, its key features are:
- Makes conversation easier due to the numerous accent tutorials and grammar guides.
- Uses a unique method to graduate a learner from words to phrases to sentences.
- Offers guideline offline, due to which it becomes easier for one to learn a language when on the move.
- Has many audio and visual tools that make the learning process simpler and easier.
- Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch but requires iOS 10.0 or later.
6. Marlee Signs:
Download: iOS
Price: Free (Excluding In App Purchases)
Languages Offered: 1
Focused on the ASL (American Sign Language) alphabets, to make communication with the deaf community easier, ASL Couch has earned our respects. This application is perfect for those who want to know the nuances that are involved in ASL. Created by Oscar winning actress Marlee Matlin who herself is deaf, this application helps one easily learn words and phrases. The other key features of this application are:
- Offers video demonstration to know the difference between the ABCs.
- The videos have the option of slowing down so that one doesn’t miss out on the meaning of the different gestures.
- Offers community support with the help of different features that are built in the app.
- Requires iOS 8.0 or later this app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
7. Yi Kai Yai Yai Bannana:
Download: iOS
Price: US $ 2.99
Languages Offered: 1
Minion speak rocks! Following the craze of Despicable Me 1 and 2, and the Minion Movie, minion language is being used commonly by all. While this is language is used in fun, learning it and using it at your ward’s birthday parties or school events are a sure shot manner of becoming a hit in their eyes. Its other key features are:
- Helps one learn Minion speak fluently like Scarlet Overkill and Gru.
- Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
There you have it folks. The best language learning apps for iOS devices. Now one can visit foreign locations without fear of miscommunication. So, give in to wanderlust. Just remember to use one of these apps before you depart.