A selection of the best programs for learning English

For those who want to learn English or improve their language skills, mobile English learning apps are not just a trend, but an effective tool that offers flexible learning schedules, a variety of exercises, and interactive features, and makes it easy to integrate learning into daily activities. Among the variety of resources, let's analyze the advantages and some disadvantages or limitations of the most popular English learning apps. This will help you choose the best application for your needs and goals.

Let’s start with probably one of the most famous resources – Duolingo. Thanks to its interactive and game-based approach, Duolingo has become one of the most popular English learning apps. Learning with this program is similar to a game where students earn points, improve their level, and get rewards for achievements, which motivates them to continue studying.

Duolingo

Duolingo offers:

Individual learning: the program adapts to the user's level by first assessing their knowledge with a test and then adjusting the content to suit their needs.
Development of different skills: Duolingo helps to improve reading, writing, listening, and even speaking skills.
Regular practice: the program encourages continuous learning by counting the number of days the user is actively engaged and motivating them to keep practicing.
Intuitive interface: the app’s easy-to-understand design allows users to quickly get used to it, and frequent repetition of material helps users better learn vocabulary and grammar.
Modular structure: lessons are divided into modules dedicated to different topics.
Ease of use: after downloading the app, users set up their profiles, choose their language and level of knowledge, and then take an initial test to start learning.
Free access: most of the features are available for free, which is an important advantage and makes Duolingo one of the best options among English learning apps for free.

Nevertheless, the app has limitations as well, namely:

The exercises do not always reflect natural pronunciation or real-life situations.
The program is more focused on basic language learning rather than in-depth practice or improving speaking skills.

All in all, Duolingo is a great choice for those looking for an affordable and fun way to learn English. It is one of the best free apps for learning English.

Memrise

Memrise uses repetition and visualization techniques to help beginners and advanced learners master new vocabulary. The lessons are based on videos of native speakers demonstrating natural pronunciation, and words are associated with images or similar-sounding words in the native language, which contributes to memorization.

It works as follows:

You choose your English level, take a test, and receive an adapted course.
Lessons include learning words and phrases, repetition, and memorization exercises.
Videos with native speakers help you improve your pronunciation and listening skills.
Memrise is a good app for learning English words and improving pronunciation, but you may need additional resources to learn grammar.

BBC Learning English

BBC Learning English is an English learning application that has gained popularity not only because of its developers from the British Broadcasting Corporation but also because of the effectiveness and accessibility of the materials for students of all levels. The app offers interactive learning in the form of news, stories, and video lessons on grammar, pronunciation, listening, and vocabulary enrichment.

The main benefits of the app are:

Learning materials for all levels: the program is suitable for both beginners and advanced students.
Interactivity: the use of quizzes helps to check understanding of the material and promotes consolidation of knowledge.
Audio format: the emphasis is on audio material, which promotes listening comprehension and familiarity with different accents.
Functionality: users can select topics of interest, save lessons, listen to audio, and view transcripts.
Exposure to British culture: the program not only teaches the language but also provides information about the UK, which is useful for tourists or those planning to live and work there.
Relevance and regular updates: the materials are constantly updated, ensuring that you have access to fresh lessons every day.

Among the limitations of the program:

An insufficient number of exercises for practical consolidation of knowledge.
The program focuses mainly on listening but does not allow you to practice speaking skills.
BBC Learning English is one of the most popular options among free English word-learning apps that will also help improve listening comprehension skills. However, for those who seek active speaking practice, this program may not be effective enough.

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is an English language learning app that aims for intuitive learning and therefore does not have a translation feature. Thanks to its unique methodology, the program helps learners of all levels to think in English and develop basic language skills.

Rosetta Stone attracts users by:

An intuitive approach: lessons are taught in English without translation, encouraging natural speech development.
TruAccent technology: the speech recognition system helps you improve your pronunciation.
Adaptability: suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
Thematic content: lessons are divided into units that help you learn new vocabulary and structures easily.
Different formats: tasks include matching words to pictures, repeating phrases, and making sentences.

But the app also has some limitations, namely:

Focus on reading and listening: speaking skills and grammar are not key aspects.
Difficulty for those who are starting to learn English: learning without translation can be a challenge for beginners.
Price: the subscription cost is higher compared to other apps.

Rosetta Stone is an effective tool for learning English, especially for those who want to improve pronunciation and start thinking in a foreign language.

HelloTalk

HelloTalk is a language learning app that connects users with native speakers of the language they would like to learn. The program’s main idea is an interactive exchange of knowledge: you teach someone your language and practice the foreign language at the same time.

HelloTalk is quite popular because it provides the following:

Practice with native speakers: users can communicate with native speakers in real time.
Different ways of interaction: participants can use text and voice messages as well as video calls.
Learning tools: chat includes translation, transliteration, and text correction features to facilitate the communication process.
Learning communities: users can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others.
Personalization: the software is adjustable according to the user's native language, and the language they are learning.

However, the program is not perfect because:

the quality of learning depends on the partner, and it can be difficult to find an appropriate native speaker;
there are no structured lessons: there are no grammar or vocabulary exercises in the program;
the effectiveness and regularity of learning depend on the activity of both parties.

HelloTalk is an interesting tool for those who want to improve their spoken language and find language partners.

Babbel

Babbel is a language learning application that combines interactive dialogue-based learning, grammar exercises, and vocabulary-building techniques. The program helps practice a foreign language in everyday situations.

This application is great because it has:

Individual approach: the program creates a learning ‘plan’ according to the user's level of knowledge and goals.
Dialogue format: lessons begin with a dialogue between native speakers, which becomes the basis for further learning of words, grammar, and pronunciation.
Various exercises: exercises include sentence completion, matching words with translations, and conversation practice.
Speech recognition: Babbel analyzes the user's pronunciation and helps to improve it.
Repeatability: the app uses the technique of repeating new words and phrases for better memorization.
Practical content: topics include greetings, traveling, business vocabulary, cultural aspects, etc.

Babbel’s limitations:

Subscription format: the app works on a paid subscription basis, which can be a drawback.
Lack of in-depth interactivity: despite the effective exercises, the program is less focused on conversational practice with native speakers.

Babbel is the ideal choice for those who want to improve their grammar knowledge, expand their vocabulary, and practice the language through realistic dialogues. The subscription cost is justified by the quality of learning and the absence of adverts.

Promova

Promova is a language learning application created by Ukrainian developers that offers personalized lessons tailored to the student's level of knowledge, interests, and goals. A definite plus point of the app is that it now offers Ukrainians free access to its premium features, supporting their commitment to learning in challenging times.

Other advantages of Promova:

Personalization of learning: lessons are tailored to the user's needs, taking into account their level of knowledge and goals (travel, business, daily communication).
Variety of learning formats: interactive exercises, listening, reading, grammar, and vocabulary tasks.
Practical topics: Lesson topics include traveling, work, everyday situations, and other relevant topics.
Motivation: the program uses a system of rewards to encourage regular practice.
The user-friendly design of the application makes it easy to find the necessary functions and start learning.

Promova has some disadvantages as well, namely:

Lack of direct interaction with native speakers: the app does not provide conversational practice with real native speakers.
Emphasis on self-study, which means that you may need an additional tool to develop your speaking skills.

Promova is a modern Ukrainian app that provides access to high-quality language learning through a personalized approach and interactive tasks.

Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing assistant that helps to correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes.

Grammarly advantages:

corrects mistakes in real time, which allows users to learn while writing;
context-aware: unlike standard spell checkers, Grammarly “understands” the context, correcting even minor inaccuracies if necessary;
has a style enhancement function, giving recommendations to make the text more natural;
suggests alternatives to avoid repetition and thus makes the text more lexically rich;
optimizes the text, i.e. detects unclear wording and suggests better options.

Grammarly functionality:

Integration: you can work in the Grammarly online editor or install a browser extension (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge).
Availability: the free version provides basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation-checking tools.

There are also paid premium features:

Advanced recommendations for style, text clarity, and vocabulary selection.
Plagiarism detector to ensure text uniqueness.

Grammarly is an all-in-one assistant that will help you correct mistakes and improve the quality of your written texts. The free version is ideal for basic use, while the premium features are useful for those who want to improve their writing skills to a professional level.

The variety of English learning apps gives you many options - you can choose one program or use several resources, taking into account your learning style, level, and needs. Take advantage of modern technology and enjoy learning English effectively!

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