THE BEST APPS FOR LEARNING AND TRANSLATING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

According to the latest data, there is a very prosperous market. If for schools and classic media such as books, CDs and DVDs a global sales decline of 2.1 percent is expected by 2018, for the technology sector the expected growth is 73 percent by 2019 equal to one revolution of $ 14.5 billion. The advantages are many after all: just have a smartphone or tablet in the pocket to follow the lesson and perform the exercises, the absence of books, paper and pen allows students to study anywhere and then there is interactivity. So let's see the most promising apps on the market. The forerunner starts from Rosetta Stone (199 euros per course) that uses the microphone of the device to check the pronunciation. It is the daughter of a technological linguistics colossus that made a fury at the time of courses on CD and DVD, has a huge offer and in addition to the classic European languages we also find Hebrew, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese. If it is important to learn well to speak any idiom, the vocal recognition becomes fundamental in tonal languages such as tangerine where a same syllable can be pronounced in five different tones assuming often opposed meanings. Social learning the connection of device instead can transform the learning experience in a social key thanks to applications such as Busuu (subscription from 9.99 euros). The teaching method is classic, based on cards and images but in addition offers an online exchange with other users. Busuu exercises are subjected to the screening of native speakers who monitor them in real time giving learners the advice and making them notice any errors while they will control the work of others in the languages to perfect. This creates a very fruitful cultural exchange that can lead to the videochat where learners can make conversation with foreign people and practice, having fun. Another out-of-the-box approach is that of Memrise (subscription of € 8.99). As the name suggests, this application aims at memorizing words through visual learning: by associating words and images, it stimulates the mind to remember what students are learning. Here too, there are many languages and the European ones such as English, German, Italian, French and Spanish are divided according to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference to train students better for specific examinations. Wanting there are also sections dedicated to history, geography and quizzes of pure fun in addition to the cards dedicated to learning foreign songs. Easy and intuitive, it is impossible to speak of language apps without mentioning Duolingo, the queen of learning via smartphone. Available on iOS and Android, it is completely free and before starting the lessons offers a short test to check our level. Very interactive, allows learners to set daily goals and choose a relaxed, normal or intensive learning style. Basic offers French and English but those who know the language of Shakespeare can also access Norwegian, Ukrainian, Russian and even Esperanto. Keeping under control our every step forward, Duolingo allows us to review the concepts in which we are lacking and to study them again until we have learned. In also another celebrity in the industry is Babbel (subscription from 9.99 euros), we follow step by step only that is focused mainly on the conversation. From the first exercises we will learn the phrases necessary to present and interact with each other and then go deeper and deeper and study the grammar (Spatafora S., 2016).