Using Mobile Phones to Learn English – A discussion [Part 2]
Mobile learning through apps. Check out the first part of this article here.
When it comes to mobile learning, you got to depend on the apps. And one thing is for sure – the varied apps available in the world of smartphones these days are never going to disappoint you. Most of these mobile apps have the habit of living up to the expectations. And it is sure to continue when you go ahead to learn English with the help of mobile phones. However, you need to select some of the most effective apps, which might come in handy to make the process of learning English easier for you.
Here’s a quick look at some of the apps, which you might consider installing in your mobile for learning English. And once you do that, you are sure to find out why these are among the most wonderful English learning apps.
Grammar is the foundation of any language. And it's true for English as well. If you want to learn good English, you need to have a proper grasp on the grammatical nuances of the subject. Only then you can tweak the language as you wish and make it come to your use.
So, how can you learn English grammar properly? Is there any app to help you achieve this goal is you are learning the language with the help of mobile phones?
Of course there is. The LearnEnglish Grammar app, which has been developed by the British Council, makes you acquainted with the basics of English grammar. Designed for learners of all levels, this app offers interactive practice sessions, which help to enhance your accuracy in the subject.
Gaming has been one of the most innovative ways that have entered the classrooms in recent times. So, no wonder a lot of educational mobile apps have also been integrating the process of gamification to impart education among the students.
Duolingo has been doing a similar thing. It tests your skill to translate real-world content. The app presents the lessons in form of a skill tree and points are awarded when each lesson is completed. There's a lives system as well. Besides, your progress it also tracked. So, you are encouraged to complete the lessons and move forward.
The app aims to help the students to learn the language in such a way that they never forget it. And that too, free of cost. This is best revealed through the tagline of the app provider: Learn a language for free. Forever.
Is your school sending you to some other country for an exchange program where the native language is English? Then it is essential for you to have a good knowledge about the subject. But only the ability to write great English won’t do under such a circumstance. When you are visiting a place, of course you are not going to communicate with the native people through writing. You will have to speak in English properly as well.
So, what’s the best way to gain expertise in spoken English?
Of course, you can go for a class. But only attending the classes won’t do. You need practice. Moreover, if you don’t have much time in hand, classes won’t be of much help.
This is where the mobile apps teaching spoken English become relevant. And a major one among them is surely the SpeakingPal English Tutor. This app is available free of cost and is extremely interactive.
This app runs perfect on Android or iOS and runs a voice-recognition technology, which helps it forge a voice call with a speaker having a British accent. Its paid version has over 100 levels, which help you master the speaking skills. However, the free version also offers as many as 16 levels. And once you are done with all of these, you can find that your English pronunciation and skills have improved significantly.
Learning any language is never complete if you do not develop proper skills to comprehend while others speak it. For this, you need to develop listening skills.
Don't think mobile phones can help you develop your English listening skills?
You might be wrong.
All you need to have to achieve this is a LearnEnglish GREAT Videos app in your smartphone.
Developed by British Council, this app has several features.
Functions of the different features of LearnEnglish GREAT Videos app
- Pitch control: To slow down audio and ensure you understand
- Audioscript: To read while listening
- Glossary: To learn words
- Comprehension questions: To ensure you have understood
So, this mobile app is sure to offer you a comprehensive knowledge about English, which is likely to come in extremely handy for you in the long run.
Rosetta Stone
If you are planning to learn a language through mobile apps, you just can't miss Rosetta Stone! It is probably the most popular of all the apps that are used for this purpose. This app offers a unique method. Most of the apps teach English by offering explanation to the students in their native language. But Rosetta Stone goes the other way round. It uses English to teach the language.
But how does it do that?
Initially it uses pictures to help the students understand the meanings of certain words. And finally, it offers exercises for the students to practice and master sentence and phrase formations.
English is often dubbed as the universal language. And that’s not without any reason. Citizens of lots of countries have English as their first or second language. So, for any student, it is quite important to learn the nuances of the subject. However, it is not an easy task. And the challenges that a non-native might face while learning the language might result in the learners shying away from English.
So, what’s the best way to prevent this?
Of course, the use of some innovative ways to teach English. It is extremely important to make the process of learning English engaging. And that’s exactly what the mobile learning experience offers. It provides the students with the opportunity to learning English the fun way. So, the interest level of the students is pretty high when they are using the mobile to learn the subject. The result: they remember almost everything they learn through such a process. And mobile learning isn’t a small thing. It includes voice calls, messaging or the use of apps. This ensures that almost every student can adapt to it.
The students can also learn English using mobiles by other ways.
These are fun ways and hence, students will be enough enthusiastic to take these procedures up by themselves.
So, the mobile learning process can always be integrated to ensure that the students are able to learn English in a proper way and master the language within a short time.
These are only a few of the innumerable mobile learning ways, which can help the students to learn English in an easy way. Do you think I have missed out on any idea, which should be included in the list? Feel free to share it in the comments section below. We are eagerly waiting to hear from you.
Sid
Sid writes educational content periodically for Wizert and backs it up with extensive research and relevant examples. He's an avid reader and a tech enthusiast at the same time with a little bit of “Arsenal Football Club” thrown in as well. He's got more than 5 years of experience in technical content framing, digital marketing, SEO and graphic designing.
