Language practice and learning tools.

[Heretic121]

I've seen there's been a few suggestions for websites, services and applications used to help people with their language learning and retention. So, list here what you use to help yourself and I'll try my best to keep the OP updated with a list of the tools you guys use to help. Remember to give a small explanation of why you use/like it and what it would help with (learning, retention or both), as well

 

Name: DuoLingo

Website: http://www.duolingo.com/

DuoLingo is a learning service, with retention elements. DuoLingo is a community-driven website, with a website and Andriod/iOS apps. It's completely free, with a fun "currency" called Lingots which allow you to "purchase" different things like different boosts during lessons, outfits for the "mascot" (called Lingo, iirc) and two bonus lesson groups (one for Idioms, the other for flirting). There are a number of languages with new ones being added consistently. There are a few other features, like Immersion which gives you access to whole blocks of text with inline translations included, that really help you test out what you've learnt in the lessons.

 

I only use this website as I've very happy with the level of detail and the ability to move between PC and mobile learning. The daily reminders to keep going are also helpful as I get easily distracted and tend to stop doing things after roughly 3 days, but I keep coming back to DuoLingo thanks to the reminders

 

So, now you guys add your suggestions and I'll update this with your suggestions

 

 

Xernicus suggests:

Name: Italki

Website: http://www.italki.com/

Language: English and Japanese

"There's two ways of using it... but essentially it's "teach and be taught". For example, if I wanted to learn English and knew Japanese, I'd teach an English speaker Japanese, and learn English in return. Otherwise, you can pay for a professional teacher, but that's not as fun... or fulfilling."

Edited November 10, 2014 by Heretic121
Added Xern's suggestion.

[Xernicus]

I recommend italki myself. http://www.italki.com/

There's two ways of using it... but essentially it's "teach and be taught". For example, if I wanted to learn English and knew Japanese, I'd teach an English speaker Japanese, and learn English in return. Otherwise, you can pay for a professional teacher, but that's not as fun... or fulfilling.

[Heretic121]

Added to the OP Thanks for the suggestion, Xern!

 

Anyone got any others they use?

[Springfield-]

When I was learning english I used to  glue little piece of white duct tape wrote names on in and glued it on everything, like couch, bed, door, windows, glass... then I could build a vocabulary about my home

and I change the displaying language of my computer, browser, softwares... (if you've already got the basics of a language.. you must do that)

I followed youtube channels in english, watched online tv news  to get the pronunciation

I'm not great  english speaker and don't practice as much as I should , I don't have access to any  other language offline,other then portuguese

only when I'm playing or browsing.

U can apply these methods to any language

[Springfield-]

LOL I still have old duct tape from 3 years ago in some windows in my house

[CHAMBArelli Eduardo]

A simple way to do it: Google traslate 😁

[Sixxx]

@Heretic121 Thanks