Learning a new language offers many benefits. It’s fun, it gets your brain ticking and it opens up plenty of opportunities when it comes to exploring new countries. It’s also often easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Your iPhone and iPad offer a variety of different apps to make learning a new language a little easier, and we’ve rounded up 10 of the best solutions for doing exactly that.
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1. Duolingo (Free) - If you only download one app, it should be Duolingo. The app makes it possible for you to learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Irish, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and English, no matter how little free time you might have. The app does so through bitesized chunks, meaning you can easily find the time to give it a try. A leveling up system, along with achievements, further encourages you.
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2. Babbel (Free) - This subscription-based service offers the means to learn 14 languages, providing new words as you go about your day. All you have to do is visit various locations, and the app unlocks new words for you to learn. Alongside that, you can participate in various exercises to keep your language skills honed.
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3. Memrise (Free) - Another subscription service, Memrise focuses on using your memory skills to teach you to remember various words. The app offers multiple game modes with an aim to teaching you 44 new words per hour. Hundreds of languages are catered for here, even constructed languages such as Klingon. An adaptive engine means it'll adjust for your abilities too.
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4. Busuu (Free) - Busuu makes it simple enough to learn the basics behind vocabulary and grammar for 11 different languages, including Spanish, German, Japanese and Turkish. You can set personalized goals to motivate yourself, along with participating in various quizzes and practice exercises. It's a subscription based service, but that means you can also take part while offline, as well as online.
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5. Rosetta Stone (Free) - Rosetta Stone is a famous name within the language learning industry. Its app is pretty good too. Offering the means to learn one of 24 languages, the app focuses on teaching you grammar as well as vocabulary. The first lessons are free, before requiring you to spend a rather chunky $199.99 to unlock a full course, but it's worth it for those who are taking learning seriously.
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6. Learn Spanish by Mindsnacks (Free) - Available for a variety of different languages, Mindsnacks' apps are great for a colorful and fun take on education. Learning is conducted via a series of games that are perfect for all ages. For $4.99, you can unlock all 50 lessons for one language, offering 9 different games, 1000+ words and phrases to learn, and a series of quests and achievements to complete.
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7. Living Language Course Pack (Free) - It might not be the most stylish app here, but Living Language Course Pack is great for those who love to learn through flashcards, as well as interactive games. Offering 36 lessons across 3 difficulty levels, the app ensures you're sure to learn something, regardless of your skill level.
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8. Google Translate (Free) - Not so fussed about learning a whole new language, but could do with learning a few words? Google Translate is the free solution for that, making it simple for you to decipher some words. You can type them in, snap a photo of a sign, or even speak at the app for a translation. It could be useful in a jam.
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9. Brainscape (Free) - Brainscape offers smart flashcards by enabling you to make your own, download some from experts or check out other users' creations. It doesn't apply just to learning a new language, but it's useful regardless of what subject you're trying to learn. For the full wealth of content, sign up for the subscription service.
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10. HiNative (Free) - Offering a Q&A community of users, HiNative allows you to communicate with native speakers of the language you're learning, quickly solving questions you may have, as well as being able to check out audio clips of different accents and pronunciations. It's best used in conjunction with a more structured educational app, but it's great for the more personal touch.