what are the best language learning apps

For students AND teachers!

30 years ago I learned Indonesian Language.
I really really liked it, but I only got good, when I travelled over the islands for almost 3 months.  It was amazing how easy it was to communicate without any textbook or dictionary.  It is such a simple beautiful language.
However, after those three month in 1991 I never ever went there anymore, nor did I meet anyone from Indonesia I could have talked to, nor did I continue studying.

Result:

I forgot!  At least I thought I had forgotten!

Until I met this app!!!

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Duolingo!

I started to play, to figure out wether I should suggest the app to my students.

I am not a 'Gamer' at all.

However, this got me!  Within 2 weeks of playing I was able to talk for 5 minutes about myself in Indonesian.  And those 2 weeks were something like, 15 minutes game (FUN!)/day.  No cramming of vocab or studying of grammar.

This was 2019, and obviously with Corona and all that went on I didn't touch the app for more than 1.5 years again, until 3 days ago.

And, surprise, surprise, I am basically where I stopped after just 2 days (30 minutes) of playing.

​Why is Duo lingo so good and how does it help language teachers?

What about Duo lingo is so good and what can we learn from it as teachers?

It starts very simple, it gives you some words and pictures to choose from, and it does it in a way, that you hardly can mistake.
Then it goes into sentences,
sometimes you have to listen and write,
sometimes you have to listen and choose the words you have heard from a list, 
sometimes  you have to translate into English 
and sometimes you have to translate from English into the language you are learning.

But whichever the task is, there are tiny hints, that help you getting it correct and feeling motivated, without really realizing there was a hint.
One  example the word in a sentence that has to come first starts with a capital letter.

Getting 10 correct in a row, and even harder sentences perfect is a confidence booster and makes us wanting to go on.  
While we see those easy sentences again and again and again, with different slightly new words, we remember the sentence patterns and grammar, without noticing, and this way we improve and can suddenly get along without any crutches.

Isn't this what we should do with our students?
Instead of giving them new grammar patterns and new expressions, and expecting that they memorize them, repeat and repeat without them really noticing that things are repeated because the content is so engaging, and then when they really got it, move on to something slightly new and different.

And here you can see me play and showing you what I mean with 'crutches'

​Which language are you going to try?