APP
OF THE
DAY
iTranslate Lingo
Learn Spanish, Italian, French
iTranslate Lingo is a language-learning app that teaches in little bits.
Short bursts.
Tiny lessons.
Of just four words at a time.
It doesn’t sound like a lot. But iTranslate Lingo has done the math: Four words a day adds up to almost 1,000 new words in eight months, all of which you theoretically learn while waiting in line for a sandwich. (And the words are satisfyingly random: We got “sky,” “adventure,” “highway,” and “sausage,” which are hard to work into a single sentence.)
To get started, tell iTranslate your native tongue and the language you want to learn. Identify yourself as Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. The app will teach you four words with this five-part approach:
1. See the foreign translation.
2. See the native translation.
3. Spell the word in the foreign language. (Don’t worry: iTranslate gives you the letters, so you just have to put them in order.)
4. Hear the spoken version.
5. Speak the words back using your device’s microphone. (You can skip this step if you’re at work, in class, or on a very crowded bus.)
The idea: Repetition breeds familiarity. The upshot: That’s really all there is to it.
You want to establish a habit of learning a few words a day, so iTranslate Lingo will send you reminders to practice every day at whatever time you want.
And if you find you’re flying through French—or struggling with Swedish—change the level and speed of your lessons anytime in Settings.
While in the Settings menu, adjust the words you’re shown by tapping My Interests. That can be handy if you’re trying to order with confidence at a local restaurant or want to really understand the local history.
The app will keep stats about the number of words you’ve learned and assign you awards based on your progress. Before long you’ll know the word for “fluent.”