6 Ways + 21 Tools to Unlock Language Learning on Your Phone

6 Ways + 21 Tools to Unlock Language Learning on Your Phone 6 Ways + 21 Tools to Unlock Language Learning on Your Phone If youre living in the 21st century (as most of us are) and reading this, your phone is likely your most trusted companion.You can use it to pay for coffee.You can use it to communicate with your friends and family.You can even use it to swipe through endless dating profiles full of filters and embellishments.(In reality, people dont have dog ears, not everyone graduates from an Ivy League school and the primary result of a long walk on the beach is usually strained calf muscles.)Between your favorite apps and all of its  other terrific features, your phone is a tour de force.But theres one phone feature you might not be using to its maximum potential: its language education powers.Your phone can be one of the most powerful learning tools youll ever encounter if you use it right.Heres all you need to know about learning a language with your phone. Why Learn a Language on Your Phone?First and foremost, learning a language on your phone is incredibly convenient. After all, you have i t with you all the time regardless, and you can keep language learning tools at the tips of your fingers with almost no effort.Plus, learning on your phone can involve a wide array of options. Whether youre learning  through innovative Android apps  or  your beloved iPhone, or listening to language audiobooks  on your commute, your phone is one of the most versatile language learning tools out there.Finally, opportunities to learn on your phone can grow and evolve with you. Some of the best language apps  monitor your learning to give you better material. But regardless of what tools youre using, theres enough variety that you can keep using your phone for learning from the moment you decide to study a language straight through until youre fluent.How to Get the Most Out of Learning a Language on Your PhoneUse multiple methods.When it comes to learning on your phone, there are countless methods you could use, which well detail below. But the best scenario is using multiple methods. E ach method has a different focus and can give you a unique perspective on your target language, so combining multiple methods is an ideal way to develop a more well-rounded skill set.Fit in some learning whenever you get a chance.More conventional courses might have you studying for an hour or two at a time, but when youre learning on your phone, theres no need to wait until you have a long stretch to practice your language skills. Whenever you have a moment, all you need to do is pull out your phone and select your favorite way to learn. Even if youre only studying for a minute or two at a time, those minutes can really add up.Dont be afraid to try new things.There are a lot of options when it comes to learning on your phone. It can be tempting to just stick to the first app or site you try and avoid branching out, but if you do this, you might just overlook some of the best ways to learn. Dont hesitate to try new things. Even if you love how youre studying now, theres no guarantee ing that there isnt something else out there that youll love even more. And remember, you never have to stick to just one tool, so you can always add more variety into your language learning routine.If you find yourself getting addicted, consider comfort measures.Learning on your phone may become addictive, so you might need to take some precautions to ensure your comfort and well-being. Particularly if youre using interactive apps, you might find that your hands and wrists get sore. To ensure that your learning binge doesnt have to end, you might consider investing in products that can make using your phone more comfortable, like  PopSockets  or wrist splints. You dont want to make your poor wrists unfortunate victims of your language learning habit!Easy Opportunities to Use Your Phone to Learn a LanguageIn just a minute, well get into some specific resources you can use for learning on your phone, but first, lets quickly note all the opportunities you have to make time for your la nguage learning.During your commute.If you drive yourself to work, try using audio-only phone options. Whether that means an audiobook, podcast or hands-free app, there are plenty of ways you can turn your drive time into learning time.If you commute via public transportation or carpool, youll have even more options. You can pop on some headphones and use audio-based content or go ahead and use your favorite app (as long as you dont get motion sick).While on a flight.No, you dont have to pay exorbitant prices for in-flight internet service. There are plenty of downloadable options that dont require an internet connection to use. Some apps offer offline content and you can download audiobooks or podcasts. And best of all, with the right noise-cancelling headphones, you can not only improve your language skills but also avoid hearing your seatmates sonorous snores. Its a win-win.Waiting in line.Whether youre at the gas station, the grocery store or the drive-thru, chances are that you wait in more lines than youre even fully aware of. Even if a line is short, youll often spend at least a couple valuable minutes just waiting. This is a great time to take out your phone and use one of your favorite apps. You dont even need to turn on the sound. You might consider studying flashcards, looking up words you dont know or just playing a quick game in your target language.This is a quick, easy opportunity to practice your skills and distract yourself from the fact that your ice cream is quickly melting as the person ahead of you slowly writes out a check to pay for their pack of gum.Whenever you turn on your phone.Want to trick yourself into studying? Just get a little studying in whenever you turn on your phone. Change your lock screen or phone background to a vocabulary word or list, and every time you pick up your phone you get a quick study session.  It will only take a second, but you might find your vocabulary slowly expanding with very little effort.During your s hower.Yes, you can get clean while cleaning up your language skills. The safest way to do this is to purchase a Bluetooth shower speaker. Then, you can listen to your favorite audio from your phone while you shower without the risk of losing it to the dangerous waters.While working out.If youre looking to keep your body in shape, that doesnt mean you cant get your mind in shape at the same time. Your phone can be an easy way to infuse learning into your workout.If youre doing something like running or weightlifting where it would be difficult to look at your phone, you can lean on hands-free apps, audiobooks and podcasts. However, if you like something more stationary, like spinning, you might even be able to use some video apps during your workout.Whenever you want to tune out the outside world.Sometimes, the world is too much and you just need a retreat. Whenever youd ordinarily resort to daydreaming, you can instead improve your language skills by using your phone. There are plen ty of engaging options out there, so using your phone to study a language can be a great way to zone out when you need a break.6 Ways + 21 Tools to Unlock Language Learning on Your PhoneAppsTheres a massive array of apps that are beneficial for language learners. Between learning apps, conversation apps, translator/dictionary apps and entertainment apps, theres an app for virtually every language learning need and level imaginable. Here are some of the best apps to help you learn a language on your phone.Learning AppsFluentU The FluentU app adds a language learning punch to videos youll want to watch anyway. Thats because FluentU takes real-world videos, like music videos, movie trailers, news and more, and captions them, giving you easy access to any words definition, example sentences and an associated image.FluentU is flexible. Since you select what you watch and for how long, you can use the app on your phone for just a couple minutes or for hours on end. Additionally, FluentUs algorithm tracks your learning to present you with level-appropriate questions, so it can stick with you from the moment you start learning straight through until youre fluent.One plan gives you access to FluentU on any and all devices, so try out the free trial today!Duolingo Available: iOS | AndroidDuolingo is one of the most popular language learning apps on the market, and if youre looking to learn a language on your phone, the thought of downloading Duolingo has probably been on your mind. And it should be!The Duolingo app has a lot to offer for phone-based learning. For one thing, its free. But beyond that, it offers reading, writing, speaking and listening practice in short, bite-sized chunks, making it easy to fill whatever spare moments you have available.MemriseAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre looking for an app that focuses on real-life language skills, Memrise might be the app for you.Memrise aims to teach useful words and phrases through fun games and videos featuring n ative speakers. You can even compare your pronunciation directly to that of a native speaker.Not only that, Memrise also offers an offline mode. Perfect for those heart-wrenching moments when free Wi-Fi just isnt an option.Conversation AppsitalkiConversing with native speakers is one surefire way to improve your language skills, and italki offers some great options for doing just that.Through the italki app, you can connect with a native speaker for language exchange or hire a language tutor. You can message users, interact with the learning community, read articles, book lessons and more. Whether youre looking for practice or more formal lessons, italki enables you to get what youre looking for through your phone.HelloTalkAvailable: iOS | AndroidWant to talk? Want to write? Want to read? Want to listen? HelloTalk is an app that can allow you to do all this through your phone.HelloTalk not only connects users with native speakers, it also allows them to exchange text and audio messa ges, for terrific, free reading, writing, listening and speaking practice whenever its convenient for you.Translator/Dictionary AppsGoogle TranslateAvailable: iOS | AndroidGoogle Translate is probably the biggest name in online translators, but its app packs a learning wallop, too.Through the app, language learners can look up words and listen to pronunciations. You can also translate text, images and/or speech. You can even translate text without a data connection. This makes it super easy to look up unfamiliar words on the go.Bing Microsoft TranslatorAvailable: iOS | AndroidBing Microsoft Translator also comes in the form of an app that you can use on your phone. Like with Google Translate, you can translate text, voice and/or images. Plus, Bing Microsoft Translator offers audio pronunciations and offline text translation.So whats the difference between Bing and Google Translate? Well, on the surface, there isnt a huge difference. However, some individual translations may vary. Pl us, the interface is different. You might see which translator you like best or even keep both on your phone in case a particular word or phrase isnt translating well in one app.Entertainment AppsSpotifyAvailable: iOS | AndroidLike listening to music on your phone? Well, you can work in a little language practice by listening to music in your target language. The Spotify app offers music in a variety of languages. You might search for playlists in your target language or even create your own for easy listening on the go.NetflixAvailable: iOS | AndroidNetflix offers tons of foreign language content. Just search the name of your target language to see what Netflix has to offer.This app is a great companion since it will allow you to watch foreign language content wherever life should take you. Plus, the app even allows you to download some material to your phone, so you can binge-watch it on your next flight.YouTubeAvailable: iOS | AndroidYouTube, everyones favorite source of free con tent, also has a terrific app. Between user-generated authentic content, learning material, movies, music and more, youll never lack for language learning material here.Since YouTube videos range from just a few seconds to several hours, having the app on your phone is an easy, convenient way to fill whatever time you have available. If youre watching authentic content, you might even switch between the YouTube app and a translator app for quick translation. (If youd rather not bother with all that, though, FluentU takes care of all translations and lookups for you.)Phone Settings/FeaturesYou might not have noticed, but your phone already has some helpful features you can use to learn a language. Here are some of the features you can use to improve your language skills.Lock screenWant to learn words every time you turn on your phone? Change your lock screen to a vocab list.Just take a screenshot of whatever vocabulary you want to learn and set it to your lock screen.BackgroundYes, y our phone background can be changed to vocabulary, though try not to make it too text-heavy or it might be a little much to look at.To do so, follow the same basic protocol used for changing the lock screen. Just be sure that when given the option, you change the wallpaper rather than the lock screen.SiriIf you have a recent iPhone, your Siri can provide you with plenty of help.Cant resist a good simulated conversation? Change Siris language settings by accessing Settings, then Siri Search, then Language. Now you can speak with Siri in your target language and receive a response in your target language.However, if youre looking for something simpler, you can also ask Siri to translate. Yes, Siri can translate words for a number of common languages, making it easy to learn new vocabulary whenever you realize youre missing a key word.Change settings of existing appsSome apps come in several languages. If you wish you could use your apps in your target language, you might try changing your phones language settings. You can usually do this under Settings. For beginning students, this might be overwhelming, but once you build up your skills, using your target language in as many apps as possible can be excellent, immersive practice.AudiobooksIf you want some immersive listening practice, foreign language audiobooks can be a terrific choice. After all, you can download them and have them with you wherever you go. Once you have the audiobook you want, you can listen on your headphones or through Bluetooth speakers.AudibleAvailable: iOS | AndroidAudible is one of the leading providers of audiobooks. And you can either search for audiobooks entirely in your target language or language learning books. Either way, its incredibly convenient.LibriVoxAvailable: iOS | AndroidLibriVox also has audiobooks, and guess what theyre free!LibriVox offers audiobooks in a wide variety of languages. These are intended for native speakers, so they might be a little challenging for begi nning students. However, more advanced students can download classic works to their phones for convenient, on-the-go listening practice.PodcastsPodcasts designed specifically for language learners can offer easy, affordable listening practice that you can take with you when you travel. Theyre usually shorter than audiobooks and are particularly useful for beginning and intermediate students since theyre intended for non-native speakers.LanguagePod101LanguagePod101 offers learning podcasts for a huge variety of different languages, including popular options like Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Podcasts are relatively brief, so theyre easy to listen to on your phone whenever you have a few minutes.NewsinSlow.comNeed some listening practice but not ready to dive into authentic material just yet? NewsinSlow.com is a great resource for transitioning to more native-level listening activities. The reading is much slower and clearer than native-level speech, so its approachable for beginning and intermediate speakers. You can download podcasts to your phone to get a hearty dose of listening practice and news wherever and whenever you have a chance to listen. Podcasts range from a few minutes to around half an hour, so theres a podcast for any amount of time youre prepared to commit.NewsinSlow.com offers podcasts in French, German, Italian and Spanish.WebsitesReading websites in your target language can help you practice your reading skills through your phone. Best of all, there are some websites that offer relatively short articles that can keep you up-to-date on the latest news while giving you reading practice in your target language. It only takes a few minutes to read an article, so you might squeeze one in the next time youre waiting for your friends to arrive for coffee.BBC NewsBBC News offers high-quality news stories in a wide array of languages, giving you a terrific opportunity to read a l ittle news in your target language whenever you have a moment. Youll get a nice mixture of world news and more regional stories, which will give you additional insight into the cultures of places where your target language is spoken.BuzzFeedYou may know BuzzFeed for the viral articles you see posted all over your Facebook news feed, but you might not know that it can also be a language learning tool. In addition to English-language pages, there are regional editions in different languages for Brazil, Germany, France,  Japan, Mexico  and  Spain. And best of all, articles tend to be short and image-heavy, making them easy to read on your phone.Social MediaSocial media is a fun, interactive way to practice your language skills. You can access social media via app or website on your phone and get some reading, writing, speaking and/or listening practice. You cant get much more well-rounded than that!SnapchatAvailable: iOS | AndroidYou might already be using this on your phone, but chanc es are, you havent started using it for language learning just yet.To make Snapchat a language learning tool, start posting in your target language and following speakers of your target language for a quick learning fix. Whats great is that your Snapchats will be deleted, so there wont be a long, embarrassing record of your language mistakes.InstagramAvailable: iOS | Android Instagram is your go-to source for inspiring photos, but can it help you learn a language? Of course! You can post in your target language, interact in the comments section in your target language and/or follow native speakers to get some practice whenever you open Instagram on your phone. But beyond that, you can find language learning accounts that offer graphics designed to help you practice your target language.TwitterAvailable: iOS | Android Whether youre posting in your target language or following native speakers of your target language, Twitter is a great source for reading and writing practice on your p hone. It only takes a moment, so you might find yourself sneaking in a few tweets whenever you have a second.Facebook Available: iOS | Android Facebook offers plenty of language learning options. You can friend native speakers, post in your target language and/or join groups that use your target language or are dedicated to studying it. No matter what you choose to do with it, having your Facebook set up for language learning will make it easy to maximize the learning potential of your phone.PinterestAvailable: iOS | Android Pinterest is helpful for pinning things like articles and study guides for your target language. Have trouble with a particular verb conjugation? You can probably find a graphic on it to pin. Once youve pinned it, youll have easy access to it on your phone and can use it like your own private reference material whenever you need a little guidance.With these tips, tricks and resources, youll have all you need to learn a language on your phone.All you need to do n ow is swipe right on learning!