Understanding Language Learning Software

Understanding Language Learning Software

Traveling to a place where you don’t speak the language can be an exciting, confusing, and delightfully terrifying experience. While some people simply accept that they won’t be able to communicate very well on these trips, there have always been others who try to pick up a little of the local lingo with phrasebooks and language tapes before hopping on a plane. With the advent of smartphones--those powerful computers all we carry around everywhere we go--more and more people are turning to language learning apps and software to prepare for their linguistic odyssey.

Though some are content to only reach for the level of classic high school phrases in the vein of “¿donde está la biblioteca?” and “le singe est sur la table,” others want to achieve a higher level of fluency. Whether you’re just interested in ordering dinner like a local, or want to discuss Neruda in the original Spanish, there’s an app for that, as they say.

However, not all language learning software is created equal. And, in fact, depending on your fluency goals, the top-rated options may not be the right fit for you.

The first step when choosing language learning software is to identify your proficiency goals. Cheaper or free options might be your best bet if all you’re trying to do is ask for directions to the train station. But if you’re traveling for business, education, or on a long-term visit, it might make sense to spend a little extra money to take your fluency to the next level.

Considering that there are different models of language acquisition and retention, and different apps subscribe to different models, it’s important to choose an option that fits how you learn. Are you a visual learner, or do auditory methods work best for you? Do you have the time or patience for longer lessons, or do you need a more bite-sized approach? Do you need more of a game-style app or a more straightforward hard study session? A high-rated app isn’t going to do much for you if its teaching philosophy doesn’t mesh with how you learn.

Even when you find the software that best suits your learning style, you may run across a few hurdles common to self-directed learning by app--namely motivation and direction. Without a teacher or mentor keeping you on the straight and narrow, even three-minute lessons may prove to be too much for the undisciplined student. You may find you’re not making much headway in your lessons for the same reason most people can’t seem to work in 20 minutes of physical exercise in any given 24-hour period.

Even if you are disciplined enough to stay on top of your lessons, learning software generally doesn’t present you with the opportunity to converse with native speakers. Though most speakers of any given language tend to have a shaky understanding of grammar at best, that can be a big positive. No one speaks the textbook version of a language naturally--why should you? If the goal is to speak like the local population, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the vernacular, rather than the pompous diction you’d find in a legal contract or state dinner.

Though some language learning software allows you to choose your path of study to varying degrees, in practice your options are rather limited. You may be able to choose a track more focused on sports overcooking, but you may not be able to, for instance, focus on action verbs over vocabulary.

As the market matures and more apps become available, your chances of finding the perfect solution will increase. In the meantime, the team at Consumers Advocate has taken some of the guesswork out of the game by researching and testing some of the top options in the industry.