Want to learn a new language before your next big trip? There’s an app for that

Language learning can feel like an overwhelming task, a whole new system of syntax and synonyms, stress and syllables. Breaking the process down into bite-sized chunks makes progress more attainable and accessible through quiet attention during small pockets of the day. With the help of tailored language learning apps, you can prepare to dive into the local dialect with more confidence than you thought possible.

Memrise

For a gamified learning experience that includes a variety of styles of input, content presented from a range of native speakers and timed reintroduction of phrases that is strategically paced to help you retain vocabulary, try this app. With stimulating review activities, a welcoming interface and a diversity of modalities to practice with, an affordable subscription price makes this app more than worth it.

Hello Talk

Centered around conversation with a feed for social media-style content posts, Hello Talk allows users chat with natives in their target language and receive feedback and corrections on photo captions.

Local social media

One of the greatest hurdles when going from classroom language instruction to real-world usage is bridging the gap between formulaic and overly formal speech used in textbook dialogues and the more relaxed, everyday speech of casual interactions. Downloading the most popular social media app the country has available and following some popular users can help introduce you to the rhythm of casual speech, typical greetings and goodbyes, how to formulate questions and answers and so much more.

This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Want to learn a new language before your next big trip? There’s an app for that."