Language Learning Websites and Applications Review Part-1
There are lot of great applications out there to learn languages in this language learning website and application series we’ll try to discuss all the well-known language learning websites & applications and try to give you an article that will tell you what that platform will offer.
This is part one of this series it’ll cover Duolingo, Mango, Mondly, Alison & Babbel.
1) Duolingo
I spent over 6 months using this application to learn the French language and I can tell you this is one of the best free language learning application (It has both paid and free versions) out there as it has a lot of game-like language learning lessons and its streaks features always encouraged me to open the app every day and complete at least one lesson.
-Duolingo Teaches over 40 different languages on its platform.
–In its new update they have compiled its language lessons into the proper sections with which learners can follow a proper unit-by-unit curriculum.
Pricing- One can learn languages absolutely free on Duolingo but they also offer a subscription called Super Duolingo
- Monthly Super Duolingo Subscription: $12.99/ month
- Super Duolingo Yearly Subscription: $83.99/year paid all in once.
Super Duolingo has following features-
1) Of course no advertisement
2) one can make unlimited mistakes in lessons.
3) Unlimited attempts at Legendary Challenges
4) Mistakes review lessons in order to reinforce all the mistakes you made Duolingo will provide you with personalized lessons that’ll help you correct them.
IOS – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/duolingo-language-lessons/id570060128
Play Store- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo&hl=en-IN
Web – https://www.duolingo.com/
2) Mango
It is also one of the highly-rated application created by native speakers and language professionals with 4.8 on the App Store and 4.8 on the Play Store.
Mango offers over 71 languages, from French to Pirates it has it all, but a small observation I made is major languages have more content and lessons than less known languages.
It also has high-quality audio playback that helps you understand all words very nicely, but as we’re talking about audio, its audio recognition exercise is not very effective as it’ll ask to to record the audio then match it with the word that you’re learning in a manual wave like manner
example-
It has a sleek and sophisticated interface which is very user-friendly.
First, the learner has to choose a language then they will be taken to main units where the language is divided into major units such as Introduction, Lifestyles..etc then major units are further divided into chapters example- The introduction is divided into chapters like Small Talk, Language and Origin ..etc then the chapters are divided to lessons which contain lessons, a vocabulary section and a chapter review section(it is same for most major languages may differ in less known languages)
Lessons are designed to help people develop actual conversational skills and it doesn’t focus much on grammar, however there are small grammar notes in lessons.
Lessons help the learner learn words and phrases by repetition which will help them reinforce the words they’re learning.
Their lessons also have small cultural notes in between which help you understand the context of words or phrase you’re learning.
There is also a vocabulary section which contains all the words you’ll learn in that chapter you can listen to them, hide them and try to guess their meaning.
For Assessment, there is a review section in chapters which is more like a self-assessment in which it shows you words or phrases and asks you did you got the answer right, which is a good way to reinforce the words and phrases you learned so far.
Pricing– It has both free and paid languages, free languages are mostly those which are less spoken or endangered, I really respect Mango for this awesome initiative to get people to learn these languages free of cost, these free languages include-
1) Chaldean Aramaic
2) Cherokee
3) Dzongkha
4) English, Shakespearean
5) Ancient Greek
6) Hawaiian
7) Irish, Standard
8) Pirate
9) Potawatomi
10) Scottish Gaelic
11) Tuvan
12) Yiddish
13) Shanghainese
One can also access free of cost 1st three lessons of 1st chapter of 1st unit of any paid language.
You can also access paid language for free from libraries and institutions (Check Find Free Mango section in the Application to find libraries near you)
Subscriptions
For Single Language- $7.99/month or $79.99/year
This plan will include access to 1 language (all lessons), Bonus language courses, mango movies, mango reader, 24/7 support, assessment & placement tests and progress tracking.
For All languages- $17.99/month or $179.99/year
This plan will include access to all languages, you can add up to 5 member profiles, parental control, Bonus language courses, mango movies, mango reader, 24/7 support, assessment & placement tests and progress tracking.
IOS Application – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mango-languages-learning/id443516516
Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mango.android&hl=en&gl=US
Web – https://mangolanguages.com/available-languages/
3) Babbel
Another well-known platform to learn your desired languages, currently Babbel only offers major languages unlike its competitors these languages include Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Indonesian, Polish and English
Babbel have a proper curriculum for all its languages with 10-15 bite-size interactive lessons, Its fill-in-the-blank exercises will help you remember the words you’ve learned so far, and it also uses images which can make your mind friendly to what the word or sentence really means and what gesture it conveys and conversational dialogue exercises to help its learner gain conceptual clarity on language.
Its application also has other great features like Babbel magazine- where you can read language-based articles, and Babbel podcast where you can listen to the podcast-related to language you’re learning, it also has games on its application to help learners learn words and phrases in game-like manner.
Team Babble also offers Babble Live which offers live classes by certified language teachers it offers a separate subscription and no the normal app subscription is not included in it
1 month – $99
3 months – $54/month (paid all at once)
6 months – $45/month (paid all at once)
12 months- $35/month (paid all at once)
Pricing- There is a 7 days trial then if you wish to subscribe to the application.
1 Month – $13.95
3 Months – $29.85
6 Months – $50.70
12 Months – $83.40
Lifetime plan (includes access to all languages) – $299.99
IOS- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/babbel-language-learning/id829587759
Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.babbel.mobile.android.en&hl=en&gl=US
Web – https://www.babbel.com/
4) Mondly
Mondly is a very known application which currently offers 41 Languages.
It is a consistent application means it almost has the same curriculum for all languages example ordering food in restaurants, Introduction etc…
Mondly lessons are small and made to teach learners in a game-like manner, in its lessons it also uses images which will help the learner to retain the information that is being taught.
I really liked its interface it’s easy to use and very interesting, I personally found its Hands-Free mode very useful example- if you are on the go just click on lesson choose the hands-free mode and it’ll teach words and phrases and will ask you to repeat it, its audio recognition function is also top-notch.
The application also offers motivational features like Study Reminders, progress sections and leaderboards
It focuses a lot on vocabulary and not much on grammar.
Pricing-
For one language
$9.99/ Month
$47.99/ Year
They also have a lifetime access plan which cost $89.99 (It includes access to all 41 languages)
IOS – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/learn-33-languages-with-mondly/id987873536
Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atistudios.mondly.languages&hl=en&gl=US
Web – https://www.mondly.com/
5) Alison
Alison is not necessarily a language learning website as it offers free courses on almost everything, Alison offers over 200 courses in 9 different languages for all kinds of learners be it beginners or advanced.
Its courses consist of various types of video lectures created by professionals and most importantly its free.
One thing is its courses are not interactive like Babble or Duolingo but if you’re looking for free online lessons to learn a language you can try Alison language courses.
I enrolled myself in Alison’s French diploma course along with I used Duolingo I used to do the same exercises as I’m on the course it really helped me gain clarity on language + I got a good-looking certificate to show 😊.
The courses are completely free but one has to pay in order to get a certificate
Here’s my certificate & Transcript
Check out Alsion Language courses
IOS – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/alison-online-education-app/id1558468968
Play Store- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alison.mobile.flutter&hl=en&gl=US
Web- https://alison.com/?utm_source=alison_user&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=23625150
At the end it’s your choice try the one you feel is best for you.