What Is The Best App For Functional Spanish

 So, spill it.

What's your reason for learning Spanish?

I was born into the Spanish language but I've studied others, so I understand many different reasons.

I learned Italian for love. French for fun. German on a dare.

That last one unfortunately wasn't the most successful venture.

But the point is, everyone has their own reason for learning a language—including Spanish.

The good news about all that language learning? There's an app to support every reason!

In fact, there are so many, you're probably wondering how to choose which ones to download. How will you ever figure out what app is the best for your Spanish learning needs?

No worries! ¡Somos amigos aquí! (We're friends here!)

I've taken the legwork out of investigating Spanish language apps and have curated a super list of the best ones for any language learning goal. So all you've got to do is download one or two of these to get on your way to Spanish fluency!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

How Can Spanish Apps Power Up Language Skills?

You've heard the old Apple tagline:there's an app for that.

Spanish learning is no exception.

Maybe you want to prepare for an upcoming trip to South America.

Maybe you want to order food or buy coffee in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood where you live.

Or you might just want to increase your vocabulary or shore up your pronunciation.

There are apps that help you learn all that—and more. No matter what your learning goals are, you can find an app to achieve them.

Plus, the convenience of apps makes it a lot easier to fit Spanish practice into your daily routine. Use them in your downtime, like standing in long lines or sitting in waiting rooms. If you turn that wasted time into study time, it's not really wasted, is it?

You can also use apps to supplement more involved or focused study programs, like online Spanish courses. Treat the app as you would a textbook, homework assignment or any other Spanish practice tool.

Devoting 20 minutes a day to an app that addresses a particular trouble spot is a great way to gain the upper hand on any aspect of language learning.

What Is the Best App to Learn Spanish in 2021? 22 Apps for Different Goals

Apps for Comprehensive Spanish Learning

FluentU

Imagine the sounds of native Spanish all around you. Even if you can't jump up and move to a Spanish-speaking region, FluentU makes it possible.

Unlike other apps that take a scripted approach, FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You'll learn Spanish as it's spoken in real life.

So how does that work?

Each video comes with interactive captions you can click for an instant definition, visual learning aid and native pronunciation of any word. You'll also see other videos that use the word, so you understand its usage in any context.

You'll also get lots of other learning material to explore, tailor-made to each video, like full transcripts, flashcards and exercises.

The videos are organized by genre and learning level, so it's always easy to find something that works for you. Plus, since you can choose what you learn and when, every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they're watching the same video.

Ready to start learning Spanish from real soccer clips, hilarious YouTube videos and more? You can get started now with a free trial.

Mirai Spanish

This Spanish audio-tutoring app is suitable for all levels of learning, from beginner to advanced. The first 20 lessons are free so trying before buying is an option.

Native Spanish narrators teach sentence structure, grammar and vocabulary. Plus, you can create your own vocabulary lists using the words and phrases you encounter.

Mirai Spanish also has flashcards to use and quizzes to take that give you a sense of how much progress you're making.

The modeling of pronunciation by native speakers is an asset to any language learning tool. This is a solid app that's so uncomplicated anyone can use it with ease.

This app is particularly appealing to people who favor structured learning programs.

Learn Spanish from Mondly

Mondly's Learn Spanish app has a lot to offer, especially to beginning learners. There are daily lessons that teach core vocabulary, sentence building and the basics of conversational Spanish.

The user-friendly format ensures that even the least tech-savvy Spanish learners can access all the app's features or track their learning progress.

This is a great introduction to Spanish or a supplement to any other Spanish program. Daily lessons teach new material or review what you've already learned, which can be beneficial, especially to those interested in building a solid language foundation.

Wlingua Spanish

Wlingua Spanish is a great alternative for beginners to upper-intermediates, and there are two courses that you can choose from.

First, there's the full Spanish course, and you can decide between Spanish from Spain or Spanish from Mexico. This one's jam-packed with 520 lessons and tons of vocabulary and grammar exercises. The second course is focused on conjugations with 200 lessons.

And just in case your native tongue isn't English, this course can also be taken in French, Italian, Portuguese and Russian.

It's pretty impressive as a free course, but one thing I felt like was missing from this is more opportunities to practice speaking, since Wlingua seems to be more focused on listening, writing and reading.

Though speaking practice might be lacking, I do like the variety in reading materials, which allowed me to see written Spanish in different contexts.

Vocabulary-focused Apps

Spanish in Context: Language Learning with Texts and Conversation

If you're a texting fan (and who isn't?) this free app is made for you.

This app is perfect for helping you improve your pronunciation on top of exposing you to new and useful vocabulary.

So if you want to see authentic language used in context, you're in the right place.

Spanish in Context delivers on all its promises. It teaches you Spanish through texts and conversation—and it's more fun than most apps I've used. Most of us don't mind spending time with something as long as it's entertaining, do we?

Spanish audio is synchronized with the text on the screen so you'll learn pronunciation along with new words. If you have any trouble understanding a word or phrase, just select the troublesome area and you'll get an instant explanation.

The app uses informative articles and authentic conversations to teach basic Spanish. Its focus is on conversational skills so if you're considering a trip or are a novice who wants to get the basics down, this is a great way to set yourself up for success.

Lingvist Spanish

While this app does offer grammar tips and such, the main focus of Lingvist is vocabulary in everyday contexts. But that's not the only thing that's special about this app.

Lingvist utilizes AI technology to make sure that the teaching material is closely tailored to your needs. No two language learning journeys are the same, so there's no reason why your course should be exactly the same as mine and other users of this app.

So feel free to skip suggested topics if you've already studied them in the past or if they aren't relevant to you. The app will continually study your patterns and habits to customize your language learning.

There are more than 5,000 words to learn through Lingvist, and they're all grouped together in themed flashcard decks. You'll find tons of everyday topics in these decks, ranging from basic greetings to how to say, "I love you." They even have lessons on Spanish curse words.

FunEasyLearn Spanish

Want to learn 6,000 words and 5,000 phrases in Spanish through games? This app is just what you need.

By playing games, learning never gets too boring or serious. And what I really like about these games is that they tackle all language skills, including speaking! Normally I find language learning games to only focus on reading, writing and listening.

In addition to the generic Spanish for the various levels, you can also choose to learn Spanish traveling or business to make the language more relevant to your needs or interests.

There's also a section for kids, which is honestly really fun, cute and helpful if you want to learn Spanish with your little ones.

Beelinguapp Spanish

As far as vocab-centric apps go, this one is pretty unique.

You don't always realize how many new words you can pick up from simply reading for pleasure. That's kind of what Beelinguapp is all about—teaching you new words in your target language through stories.

Whether you're a tech nerd who stays updated with news in the digital space or more of a fan of classic literature, this app's got a wide selection of reading material for beginners and polyglots, and everyone in between. You can even read children's stories with illustrations if you're just starting out.

All the literature is in parallel text, and the sentence you're reading is always highlighted along with the corresponding translation. The text also comes with suggestions for vocab terms. You can go with those or choose your own from the text, adding it to your personal glossary.

Apps for Travelers and Fast-track Learners

Survival Spanish for Travel

The makers of this app contend that it can teach someone to speak Spanish in a week. While I don't think that should be taken literally, this free crash course does pack a lot of basic vocabulary into it so it's definitely useful to have handy.

200 of the most common Spanish words and phrases are presented on audio flashcards in foundational order. That is, the easy words appear first and as they're learned, the content becomes more advanced.

The app uses an algorithm to avoid repetition, so don't worry about seeing the same words over and over.

This is a fine app for a beginner or someone looking for a basic vocabulary. This is because it introduces conversational vocabulary, the kind you'd want to have under your belt if you're heading to a place where Spanish is spoken.

Devoting some study time to this app prior to packing your bags might give you a head start on talking like a local!

AccelaStudy Spanish

AccelaStudy's app is great for anyone who wants to learn Spanish fast. The program is set up so you canunderstand and pronounce words quickly.

There are over 2,400 basic and advanced vocabulary words and more than 200 commonly used verbs taught with this app.

It's formatted so the focus is on retention, pronunciation and comprehension of the core vocabulary. And it does so through the use of flashcards, a dictionary and quizzes.

To top it all off, a statistics feature tracks progress so you don't have to wonder how you're doing—you'll see your progress and stay motivated to keep working.

This is also great for anyone who wants to learn on the fly. Hands-free mode allows for learning while driving (or at the gym!) so its mobility feature can't be beaten.

Learn Spanish with Lingo Arcade

Gamers who like to play while they learn will love this app.

There's one free level to try and then you can unlock all 150-plus levels for just $1. Four games provide accelerated play for learners from beginner to advanced.

This app is appropriate for all ages to enjoy, including young learners. It adheres to the "learn like a kid" tenet and turns vocabulary acquisition and other Spanish skills into pure fun!

SpeakEasy Spanish

If you're not looking for anything too fancy and you just want to learn Spanish right away with the help of flashcard decks, this one is for you.

Spanish is easily one of the most phonetic languages out there, but I really appreciate that this app takes their pronunciation guides a step further with a readable phonetic translation for each phrase, in addition to the native speaker audio. After all, it's nice being able to hear and read what each expression is supposed to sound like.

You can also take advantage of the "slow play" feature so you can really hone in on your pronunciation.

All features are available for offline use, so there's no need to worry about using data or being connected to WiFi to use this app.

Learn Spanish Phrases

If you have plans of visiting Spain in the future, this pocket-sized Spanish phrasebook is a must.

And just like any traditional pocket guide, you don't need an internet connection to look up any terms and expressions. You can also work on your pronunciation by recording yourself and comparing it to the native speaker audio provided for each entry.

The phrases included in this guide are definitely enough to get you by on your travels. You probably won't be able to have deep, meaningful conversations with locals, though the romance category could help you out in this area.

Just be aware that Learn Spanish Phrases is based on European Spanish, so some of the language and pronunciation may not be applicable to your travels in South and Central America.

Apps to Talk with Real Spanish Speakers

Wyzant — Find a Tutor

Want access to a Spanish tutor, wherever you are? Wyzant offers one-on-one Spanish tutoring lessons with its app as well as a browser platform.

Getting started is easy since Wyzant asks you a few questions about your learning goals and availability. That way, they can vet and recommend tutors who meet your needs.

You'll make the final choice after reading the tutors' profiles and reviews from other students.

You can quickly message your tutor and book lessons from the Wyzant app. But unlike standard tutoring platforms, Wyzant actually gives you the opportunity to learn either online or in person.

If you've got a super crammed schedule or just want to get to know your tutor first, you can meet over a web conference. Otherwise, you can choose from tutors in your area, grab a coffee together and get learning!

Start exploring the full range of Wyzant Spanish tutors here.

HiNative

HiNative is perfect for anyone who wants their app experience personalized. It's basically a question-and-answer platform that's used by speakers from over 170 countries. When learners ask questions, they get answers—from across the globe!

Actually, this is a really intriguing way to learn a language. With so many native speakers available to reply to questions, there should be some truly authentic answers and that opens the door to getting lingo and idiom exposure that doesn't usually come firsthand in an app.

Audio uploads make it possible to ask questions and receive feedback on your pronunciation from native speakers. So while you're having your language questions cleared up you'll also get pointers on how well you're actually speaking.

You can ask about anything you want! There are even question templates so you can get native speaker exposure no matter how recently you started learning Spanish.

In particular, I'd recommend asking about Spanish-speaking destinations you're considering visiting. It's possible that locals will advise you on customs, travel tips, share city-specific idioms and maybe even point you in the direction of the best restaurant to visit while on your trip!

italki

It can be a bit pricey paying for a Spanish teacher or tutor if you're looking for one outside of the italki network. On italki, each language teacher sets their own prices for their lessons, and you have the power to choose your teacher based on your budget.

Also, you don't have to commit to a monthly subscription or a set number of classes, as you can just pay per class.

You don't even have to learn from the same teacher every time, which is great because it gives you the chance to feel out everyone's teaching styles. Plus, chemistry is really important when it comes to this kind of one-on-one setup.

There's also a community forum where you can interact with other Spanish learners. You can ask each other questions or even review some of the things you learned together.

Tandem

Socializing with native speakers can be really intimidating. You can't really avoid it. You have to communicate with them to test your language skills and see what you can do to improve yourself.

For introverts like myself who feel anxious at the thought of in-person social interactions, Tandem is a social networking app that connects learners with native speakers.

Rather than going to language meetups in your area, you can text, audio message or video call native Spanish speakers all over the world. While they teach you Spanish, you can teach them your native tongue. It's basically communicating with your foreign pen pal in the 21st century.

If you ever struggle to communicate, there's a feature that allows you to translate messages, as well as help you with your translations when you're composing a reply.

As for pronunciation, you can use voice notes and calls. You can also receive corrections and comments on your messages from Spanish speakers to improve your grammar.

HelloTalk

HelloTalk is pretty similar to Tandem as a language chat app, just with a couple of extra features that make communication more fun and reminiscent of big social messaging apps like Whatsapp.

On top of the regular chat and call features, HelloTalk has a doodle option.

Obviously, doodles aren't totally necessary for improving your Spanish, but they are an opportunity to get creative! I suggest playing games like Hangman and Pictionary to make your interactions more engaging and entertaining.

HelloTalk also has a Moments section that allows you, fellow Spanish learners and native speakers to post status updates, questions and more. I love this because it gives you more points of contact between you and members of the Spanish community.

Grammar-intensive Apps

ConjuGato

I love a good pun, so I'll admit that was what initially drew me to this app.

After using the app, I can now say that I enjoy the freedom in the way you study verbs.

You can go the standard route where you study by endings. You can also study verbs based on popularity or irregularity.

I also like that the flashcards are based on rhyme, so similar-sounding verbs are grouped together in a set.

There are 1,000 verbs on the app, but free users only have access to 250 most common ones and only in the present and preterite tenses. You'll have to upgrade to the premium version to see all the verbs in every tense and mood.

The free version is definitely useful for total beginners, but pre-intermediate and intermediate learners will need to go with the pro version to make the most out of the app.

It's totally up to you whether you want to upgrade or not. The free version was helpful for me as a beginner, and I appreciated that it was ad-free and available offline even without paying the premium price.

Spanish Verb Conjugator

As you probably have guessed, this one's all about conjugation practice.

This app gives you free access to 700 verbs in all the tenses and moods, and you can view everything offline. The creators also recently added audio to all the words so you can hear the proper pronunciation. Do note that this function only works with an internet connection.

I'll say that it's not the most innovative app in terms of interface and design, but it's a great reference to have on your phone that you can access at any time.

Although this app is only available to Android users, learners with iOS devices still have plenty of options on this list.

Spanish Grammar Test

Tests take the fun out of learning, but if you really want to know how you're getting on with your language journey, there isn't really a way around them.

If it helps, this app is nice and colorful. It's helpful for me at least, since the design makes it more approachable.

Spanish Grammar Test has over 10,000 multiple-choice questions. You can take tests according to your level, or you can test yourself across the vocabulary- or grammar-themed categories.

There's also some stuff particular to Chilean culture and language, which you might find helpful if you're looking to study Latin American Spanish.

SpanishDict Translator

The SpanishDict Translator is by far the most accurate online Spanish translator out there, making it a super handy app when you're having trouble communicating with native speakers.

Already impressive as an online dictionary and translator, this online tool actually offers much more.

In fact, there's a grammar guide, along with a section for conjugation practice for a fuller Spanish language learning experience. There's also a vocabulary section with custom lists.

Every section is packed with short video lessons that cater to all levels. Even when you reach advanced stages of fluency, the grammar guide is really helpful as a refresher. I still refer back to it every now and then.

So now that you've seen all these amazing Spanish apps, you're ready to download a few, aren't you?

Whatever your reason is for learning Spanish, apps are a beneficial part of any language program.

Check out these super options, choose a few that suit your needs and turn your Spanish language goals into reality!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

What Is The Best App For Functional Spanish

Source: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/what-is-the-best-app-to-learn-spanish/

Posted by: taylorthenautist.blogspot.com

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