This week I was in London for 36 hours due to a business meeting on Thursday in Weybridge. It worked out perfectly that I could take the train from Marylebone versus staying in a hotel. Seeing Bo and our flat on a weeknight is such a nice treat! The journey via the tube and then the railroad was pretty seamless, especially in the morning.
In order to make the train time past quicker, I spent the hour studying French using Duolingo, a new to me App. Over the past 2 days of traveling I have spent more than 3 hours using the app on my iPad and am really enjoying it! One of my friends suggested that I download it as it is a convenient way to study French while I’m commuting to work or traveling each week. Each week I spend an average of four hours traveling in one way or another (tram, bus, tube, or plane) which can add up to a lot of wasted time if I don’t make it a priority to use the time wisely. While some people enjoy reading during this type of time, I have a hard time focusing on a book especially if I am standing on a crowded bus or tram.
Since Duolingo is more like a game, I can spend time practicing my French on any mode of transportation. The app includes multiple levels ranging from Basics 1 all the way through conjunctions, conjugations and various tenses. The sections are short enough that I can accomplish one each day within 30 minutes. The trick to this program versus a few others I have tried is that you can’t work on a new skill until you unlock it by successfully completing the previous skill set. This ensures that I don’t skip a tedious section or one that is causing my difficulty. Instead, I’m forced to continue reviewing it until I pass.
The program also takes into consideration different settings during which users may be using the app. For example, when commuting or traveling I will rarely be in a situation where I can speak. The app allows you to turn off the “speaking” portion and focus on typing, matching and translating exercises instead. Then, when I’m back in a setting that allows speaking I can focus on the verbal aspects.
If you have even the slightest desire to learn a new language or brush up on your skills before a trip, I highly recommend downloading Duolingo. Even better – it’s 100% free which means you have zero risk!
What’s your foreign language of choice? Did you study a language in school or are you learning for the first time? I minored in Spanish in college and even studied abroad in Cadiz for a Summer but haven’t used it much since graduation!
Thanks for the tip, I just signed up for Italian lessons 🙂
Free?!? Sounds Awesome!
That app sounds awesome! I took 4 years of high school French but have rarely used it since & know I don’t remember much…
I studied Spanish is high school and college, but without using it I feel like I have all but completely lost it!
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve been wanting to brush up on my Spanish, and I’ve been looking for a user friendly app to do it with.
You’ll love this app Natalie! It’s a winner!
Thanks for the Great Suggestion! Learning French is def on my bucket list! 🙂
Since moving to Oaxaca 2 weeks ago, I have been looking for a language app to supplement my learning. This one looks good! It’s nice to learn/review when I have time as well as my formal classes. How is your French going? I find it really frustrating not having all the words I want to say in a sentence at the moment.
My French is going pretty well – I am focusing on taking it one day at a time. I wish this app coordinated with my lessons more as now I’m learning some words that I haven’t learned in my 1:1 lessons but not studying that info as much. I am getting pretty confident in trying which is important!
What an awesome app! I took French for years growing up but have lost it, now I’m going to use this on my commute! Thanks!
Ha!
A friend of mine recently introduced me to this app and I love it! It’s not blocked at work so I can play during lunch :-). Plan to hit it hard when I get back from India.
Have you checked out InterNations.org yet? I think it will be right up your alley.
I haven’t checked out Internations.org yet as I’m really already overwhelmed with all the “get to know” people options I have in Geneva right now! But, I will – I promise! I’m glad you like the app as much as I do! Which language?
French. So much for our Spanish in high school and college right? I go into Spa-Fre-Ita-Russian mode when I travel in Europe, so I would really like to improve the French part. Speaking of French and social, Patricia Kaas is a French singer with a surprisingly huge following in East Europe. West Europeans don’t seem to care as much. She is currently on “Patricia Kaas chante Piaf” tour and is performing in Geneva on Nov 15. I prefer her own songs from 90s but it may be an interesting concert.
Thanks for introducing this app! It sounds like a neat way to learn some basics before traveling. Will have to try out!