Today, there are many methods and ways to learn foreign languages, from classical programs and courses to gamified apps that turn every lesson into an interesting experience, and microlearning. But is it really possible to acquire a thorough knowledge right in your smartphone?
We asked English teachers from biscuIT, Headway School of English, Englishdom, English For IT™, Solid English School, Boosta, and Lalafo whether language apps are effective, who can benefit from them, and how to get the most out of such training.
Content
- 1 Veronika Shevchuk, Head Teacher at biscuIT | School of English for IT Crowd
- 2 Natalia Tovbas, founder of the Headway School of English
- 3 Yulia Ternopilska, Senior Teacher and Content Maker at Englishdom
- 4 Victoria Korsun, English and Soft Skills Instructor at English For IT™
- 5 Anastasia Mashtalar, founder and CEO at Solid English School
- 6 Hanna Handrabura, founder of English For IT™
- 7 Anna Torkunova, Team Lead of English Teachers at Boosta
- 8 Inna Kolomiets, IT recruiter and teacher of IT and Business English at Lalafo
Veronika Shevchuk, Head Teacher at biscuIT | School of English for IT Crowd
English language learning apps can be very effective, but their success depends on several factors, such as personal skills, motivation, and choosing the right resources, Veronika told us.
In terms of knowledge levels, beginners can use these apps to acquire basic skills. For those students who have already made some progress, apps will be useful for improving their use of the language in real-life situations. Also They can be an ideal option for people who don’t have time or can’t fit in with class schedules. After all, you can use such programs anywhere and anytime.
«Overall, apps are an important complementary tool in learning English that can be very effective if used correctly and in combination with other learning methods,» Veronika believes.
Natalia Tovbas, founder of the Headway School of English
Natalia distinguishes two groups of main skylines:
- receptive — the ability to look, listen, read;
- productive — speaking and writing skills.
According to her, you can’t learn to speak and write without practice by simply pressing buttons in the app.
«It’s like learning to ride a bike by looking at it. Apps can be great for memorizing words, but even that requires contexts. It is absolutely useless to have a thousand words in passive memory. Only the ones that come to mind instantly in a particular situation count, and you pronounce them. That’s why you need an interlocutor, and ideally — a teacher in the subject», she says.
However, if you want to use the app, Natalia advises to pay attention to the fact that it provides relevant and modern contexts, not «there is no elephant in this room».
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Yulia Ternopilska, Senior Teacher and Content Maker at Englishdom
According to Yulia, foreign language learning apps are quite effective, especially when it comes to new words. The fact is that they are carefully thought out in terms of learning and memorizing words. But, in her words, learning grammar doesn’t always yield such results, as high-level grammar is a bit more complicated. That’s why sometimes apps are not as useful as, for example, a video with explanations or a conversation with a specialist who helps to put everything on the shelves.
Overall, they are quite good when you need to develop reading and listening skills. Such programs allow you to highlight a word and see its explanation, listen to it again and analyze it, add a phrase for future study, and so on. But with writing and speaking, things are a little different.
Anastasia Mashtalar, founder and CEO at Solid English School
Anastasiia advises using apps to improve 1-2 skills on a daily basis. When it comes to grammar, these can be Duolingo and Grammarly Keyboard. And if you need to improve your vocabulary — Anki or Quizlet.
For those who like learning in a playful way, she recommends the app Elevate. It has a lot of interesting things for each level, the ability to track progress, take tests, etc.
«But it’s not a panacea, as apps provide superficial knowledge and help you practice a specific skill. They will not help you learn specific professional English and develop your speaking skills,» Anastasia warns.
Read also: English for IT: problems in learningand languages and how to overcome them
Hanna Handrabura, founder of English For IT™
Hanna believes that apps like Duolingo are effective at the very beginning of learning (at the Elementary level).
«For IT professionals, they may not be very useful because their level is usually higher. For example, in our school, less than 5% of IT students have Elementary level. To improve pronunciation, you can use, for example, Elsa,» she warns.
Hanna herself advises ChatGPT or its analogs. Using it you can create an English tutor or English speaking buddy and practice conversations, ask questions, ask for feedback, and communicate like a real teacher.
«This is how I learn Spanish — it’s very interesting and useful (even for beginners like me), and it’s also adapted to your level because you can specify it at the beginning of the conversation,» the teacher summarizes.
Anna Torkunova, Team Lead of English Teachers at Boosta
According to Anna, thanks to apps that you can develop regularity in your classes and practice microlearning. In addition to Quizlet she advises using other effective tools, especially in the initial stages:
- Playphraseme is a great app for seeing and hearing how words are used in different TV shows and movies;
- BoldVoice helps to place emphasis and work on correct pronunciation;
- Promova is a project within the framework of the program to promote the English language in Ukraine, the free Pro version can be opened by logging in to the application «Action».
Inna Kolomiets, IT recruiter and teacher of IT and Business English at Lalafo
According to Inna, it is unlikely that you will be able to learn English only with the help of Duolingo. However, apps can enrich the vocabulary and regularly add to it. In particular, they can be effective if you have little time to attend courses.
Inna also points out a disadvantage of such programs: the lack of interaction with real-life interlocutors. This is important for successful language learning, as live communication and social situations play an important role in language acquisition.
«The most effective way to use apps is as part of a whole system, in combination with practicing what you have learned in class or during live communication. For example, if you don’t use the words you’ve learned, they remain in the passive vocabulary and never become active. Therefore, we seem to know the word, but we cannot ask it during a rally», she says.
Inna also recommends the app Promova which she tested personally. She noted the possibility of taking four different English courses: General English, Business English, English with TV series, and Travel English with grammar and vocabulary lessons, as well as exercises to practice English pronunciation.
Other interesting applications, according to Inna, are Mondly, Busuu, Rosetta Stone, Memrise, Babbel.
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