Self taught courses like “Inglés sin Barreras” and Rosetta Stone have secured the market of learning for several years despite their moderately high costs. The Rosetta Stone software costs $324 for the CD, and although it is an excellent program to learn languages everywhere, some university students interested in being bilingual or multilingual would not be able to pay more for a CD than a required textbook.
This is why, with the increased use of smart phones, Apple and Android have created new options for those with the spark to learn new languages. Duolingo, a free language learning application, was Apple’s Best Free App for iPhone in 2013.
The free app offers six languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, and German. Apps like Duolingo do not only help people on a budget learn the basics of languages but also create interpersonal relationships between a dispersed public in all corners of the world.
“I would say Duolingo does a great job introducing the basics of any language and encourages you to start talking from the beginning. This is a big deal, considering that one of the biggest challenges that come with learning a language is to overcome the lack of confidence in itself,” Benjamin Markoch said. Markoch, a junior in Graphic Design, studied almost a year with Duolingo in preparation for his trip to Spain with the N.C. State Marching Band.
Markoch added that Duolingo “also does a lot of things that Rosetta Stone does, like comparisons between pictures and words, translations and repetitions, but it does it on a smaller scale. While Rosetta Stone’s audio synthesis and recognition is more complex, Duolingo is simpler. I left craving more realistic conversation.”
LiveMocha is another program that has the function of breaking down barriers and connecting millions of people in a common goal. Controversially bought by Rosetta Stone in April 2013, it is not available in an app for smart phones, but is extremely useful for practicing verbal and audio skills in a language. When you subscribe with Livemocha, over 35 languages are accessible for virtually free learning. Lessons can be purchased in two ways: with points accumulated by participation in the program or a system of virtual beans that can be purchased. Points are accumulated by participating in exercises or helping others learn your native language, and in this manner they also create connections that later are the key to language exchange.
Although Livemocha was very well received by the multilingual community before it was bought by Rosetta Stone for $8.5 billion dollars, it is now receiving criticism from users and other businesses alike trying to understand the potential financial gain for the expensive Rosetta Stone.
While nothing can compare to an immersion or study abroad experience when learning a language, apps and learning tools like these are valuable for anyone trying to learn a language.
When there is a willingness to learn a new language, one just needs to pursue the idea to find easy methods of learning. The use of Duolingo and Livemocha is definitely recommended for anyone learning a language. For those with or without a base in any language, these programs are a great stepping stone to becoming multilingual.
