What are the best apps/tools for learning languages? + Your experiences and struggles
The last 2 or 3 years, I have been trying to learn more foreign languages besides English.
My go-to app is (not surprisingly) Duolingo.
I have also experience with Memrise, but it didn't feel like a good fit.
I find these apps to help learn vocabulary or for keeping up with a language I've previously learned in other ways (for example, from a language school or online lessons), but not necessarily for learning at a conversational level.
1️⃣ Do you have experience/know of other tools or apps that are more effective alternatives?
2️⃣ What do you personally miss about these language learning apps, or what are your biggest struggles in learning languages?
3️⃣ What languages are attractive to you to learn?
4️⃣ The last but not least: Does it make sense to build another solution for language learning?
– For me personally, the biggest struggle is not knowing if my pronunciation is good enough, where I make mistakes in intonation, etc.
– I also miss reflecting on where I make mistakes most often – those should be the things I should practice most often.
Replies
For me, the hardest part is speaking without sounding robotic. I can memorize words, but real conversations still throw me off.
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@jonny_vince I probably know what you mean. Anytime I hear someone speak the language I am trying to learn, I cannot understand anything. :D Real-life situation is different.
I miss real feedback in these apps. I want to know where I sound off or what patterns I keep messing up, not just whether I got a sentence right.
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@tina_kim2 Do you mean any audio feedback?
I've been using Duolingo to - especially for learning French recently. But I agree it doesn’t go deep enough for pronunciation or real conversation.
If anyone knows a great app for learning French more effectively, I'd love to hear your recommertdations!
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@isabel_engineer I am here for that as well. Predominatly trying to learn German, Spanish and French partially – this one I consider the hardest one for me :D
I’ve actually enjoyed using Duolingo over the years — especially w/ its streaks for daily consistency, but i'll admit, once they started leaning heavily into AI it lost its merit. While i’m generally a big supporter of AI-powered tools, when it comes to language learning, i tend to prefer the traditional textbook style experience.
I did some research and Speak AI might be worth checking out!
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@indukeys Thank you for the Speak AI suggestion. :)
ANKI is the only answer.
It is simply the closest thing to uploading vocabulary to your brain like Neo in the matrix. I suggest downloading Fluent Forever's list of the 625 most used words, and make flashcards for them in your target language (the ANKI community may have them created already). Then slowly work through it over time.
Other than that, the only way to truly learn is full immersion in your target country.
Spent 3 years learning Chinese with this method and got to HSK Level 3.
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@emikes919 I asked this question on Reddit in all 3 subreddits I received this answer. Probably need to observe this. Do you think it makes sense to create another online solution for learning languages?
@busmark_w_nika I do not. I think there is nothing superior to ANKI as far as online tools go.
Beyond that, maybe take one online course to get you started, then immediately switch to:
paid tutor (in person or online)
language learning communities (where you meet people who are trying to learn your language and vice versa)
going to your target country
All of this only if you're serious about learning a language. Like anything else, consistency over years wins
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@emikes919 I rather meant the tool where you can practice pronunciation – not only vocabulary, but probably it doesn't make sense to create one. 😅
@busmark_w_nika Ah I see.
for that purpose, I find it's best to use language specific resources. For example, when I was learning Chinese, there is an extremely comprehensive resource called ChinesePod. It massively advanced my progression. It was built exclusively for Mandarin Chinese. In my experience, these are the best.
A good middle ground is the Pimsleur Method. They cover multiple languages and are very very good.
Good points, Nika! My Duolingo experience (2-3 years ago) was that streaks kept me going and bite-sized lessons were great. The main hurdle was Chinese intonation; I couldn't get the feedback needed to improve, which led me to stop.
Seeing AI tools (like Speak, potentially?) making strides in pronunciation is promising. It begs a bigger question for me: will these language-learning apps eventually become the engines for highly accurate, real-time translation technology embedded everywhere? Curious about others' thoughts on this.
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@hanselh Do you mean that these tools will be used rather for live translations instead of learning languages? Because it would be very sad if people resigned and stopped learning.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Nika! I totally relate to your experience with Duolingo and Memrise—both are great for building vocabulary and daily practice, but they often fall short when it comes to developing real conversational skills.
In my experience, apps like HelloTalk and Tandem have been helpful because they connect you with native speakers for language exchange, which really pushes you to practice speaking and listening in real contexts. Also, I’ve tried using speech recognition tools like Elsa Speak to improve pronunciation, which helps highlight intonation and common errors.
One struggle I face is staying consistent and motivated, especially when progress feels slow. I also miss having personalized feedback on my mistakes—just like you said, knowing exactly where I slip up would help me focus my practice better.
As for attractive languages, I’m drawn to Spanish and Japanese, partly because of culture and travel interests.
Regarding building another language learning solution, I think there’s definitely room for innovation, especially if it can combine AI-driven personalized feedback on pronunciation and mistakes with opportunities for real conversation practice. Many current tools focus on passive learning, so something that actively guides and adapts to your unique challenges could be a game-changer.
Looking forward to hearing what others think!