Best Apps for Learning a Second Language

If you’re learning a second language, you’re probably wondering what certain words mean and what apps are the best for learning new languages. Learning new languages can be tough and there are many questions associated with learning languages like Spanish. Spanish has a lot of unique qualities that some apps may represent better than others. Certain apps deal with more traditional forms of the language, while others include more slang and modern expressions in the language. When learning a second language, it’s important to get real world experience in addition to lessons on the app itself. As they say, practice makes perfect and there’s no way to practice without engaging in conversations. 

Meaning of the Word Pendejo 

First let’s discover the meaning of a commonly used word in Spanish. Pendejo meaning roughly translates to the word ‘idiot’ in Spanish. It’s a gendered term, meaning that there is a masculine and feminine version of the word. Pendejo is the masculine version and pendeja is the feminine version. Pendejo meaning idiot is often used in casual conversation between friends joking around, and should be avoided in professional situations. Make sure when you use this word that the person you’re saying it to understands that it is a light hearted joke. With that being said, don’t be a pendejo and check out these awesome apps for learning second languages! 

Babbel 

Babbel was one of the first online platforms created and it remains a top choice for individuals and businesses to offer second language training. There are multiple subscriptions tiers to choose from and just about every if not all major languages are represented on their app and website. You can take lessons right from your smartphone, or choose to take lessons through your internet browser at home. Whatever your preferred method is, you can do it with Babbel. You can also take advantage of their live virtual classes where you will get to practice your language skills in real time with real people! 

Duolingo 

Next on our list is Duolingo. You may already know its mascot, the Duolingo Owl, and that’s because this app has made a huge splash in the last ten years. Duolingo is great because its methods are less traditional and more catered to younger audiences who are used to using apps and smartphones to conduct a majority of their lives. The drawback of this is that Duolingo is newer, and customers have reported some mistranslations. We encourage exploring these claims yourself and seeing which one you’d prefer to use. Duolingo is great for learning quick phrases and getting started with your language learning journey, but you may want to look into a more robust program in the long term. That brings us to our next app, Rosetta Stone. 

Rosetta Stone 

This app is a classic, well known language software that at one time existed only in the form of CD-ROMs that included their language learning program. Rosetta stone is still considered to be one of the best language learning apps and it’s no mystery why. They have been around for years and have an extremely robust history of producing these kinds of softwares. Today, you can sign up online and purchase a lifetime subscription for a fairly affordable fee, especially if you are committed to fully learning the language. And if you don’t want to pay for the full lifetime subscription, there are monthly options that last for 3-12 months so you can try it out and get to know the program before committing.

Memrise 

Memrise is another great app for language learning based in the UK and it can be a tough call between this and Rosetta Stone. Memrise has slightly different lesson plans and features user based courses from active speakers of the language so you’re getting personalized lessons dealing with real life situations regarding the language. Plus, it is much more affordable than Rosetta Stone. In reality, both have their benefits and both have unique characteristics that may draw people in. It just depends on what you prefer and it’s probably a good idea to trial a few different ones to get the best sense of their individual style and learning frameworks. 

Conclusion

Whether you are trying to learn a new language fluently or discover the meaning of words like pendejo, any of these apps would be a great starter choice. The best app for long term learning is probably Rosetta Stone, with over 25 years of experience creating and distributing effective language learning software. But it’s likely that some of these other applications and websites have lessons catered to more real life situations or have attractive aesthetics for visual or interactive learners. Each app has its own unique collection of lessons and its own ways of connecting those lessons with real world applications. 

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

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