Parents looking for the best language learning apps for kids need look no further! In this blog post, we’re sharing a list of 8 apps that are perfect for children who want to learn popular foreign languages like French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.
Just one question before we begin: are language learning apps the right approach for parents aiming to raise a bilingual child? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It really depends on what goals you and your child have for language learning.
So, let’s start by taking a look at the pros and cons of language learning apps for kids before going through the list!
Here are the major pros and cons of language learning apps for you to consider.
Even if they’re not perfect, there are some great language learning apps! Your child can use one or more of them to learn the basics of a new language and/or to supplement what they learn in a more traditional classroom setting. Here are 7 apps you and your child can try.
Babbel is one of the best language learning apps for kids because it’s designed to make learning a new language fun and engaging. There are mini-games and other activities that help reinforce what your child is learning. The app offers instruction in languages like Spanish, French, and German. It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Droplets is a language learning app for kids that is focused on teaching vocabulary through visual learning. The app features short lessons (5 min or more) or games for your child to make quick progress in learning vocabulary in different categories, such as animals, food, and transportation. On this app, your child can learn languages like French, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese. The Droplets app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Gus on the Go is a language learning app for children that has lessons in 30 languages, including French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, and English. Each lesson contains 10 simple words that children can learn in fun, interactive, story-based game sessions. Gus on the Go is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Rosetta Stone has existed for a long time and now offers its programs on an app for language learners. The programs offer a comprehensive language learning experience with lessons in multiple languages, including French, Spanish, and Italian. The app also includes pronunciation practice sessions, live tutoring sessions, and progress tracking tools. Rosetta Stone is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Duolingo aims to be the best free language app. The app offers short and effective lesson plans to learn key vocabulary, phrases, and grammar in many languages, including French, Spanish, and German. It also uses “streaks” to boost motivation.
In addition to the regular app, Duolingo for School can be downloaded for free and offers a way of tracking and checking student progress. Parents or teachers may restrict the vocabulary to a specific age. Duolingo is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Peg and Pog is a language learning app that’s based around the story of two kids who travel the globe and learn languages along the way. As they explore new scenes in their own home, they learn vocabulary. Peg and Pog is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Memrise is an app that uses memorization techniques, like spaced-repetition learning, to help users learn vocabulary and key phrases in a foreign language. Memrise has designed courses in several languages including French, Spanish, German, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese. Users of Memrise can also create their own courses, which can be of varied quality. Memrise is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Dinolingo is a language learning app & website for kids. It is available in 50 languages with over 30,000 online activities. Dinolingo’s online portal is 100% safe and secure. No ads, no pop-ups, no chat rooms. Their dashboard allows real-time parental controls to monitor the child’s participation and progress. Dinolingo is available on the Apple App Store and you can visit them on their website.
There are some definite advantages to using language learning apps with your kids, even if they’re not perfect. There are, however, also some limitations to keep in mind — especially when it comes to young children using these apps to learn a new language.
That’s why we recommend pairing your child’s use of a language learning app with regular language classes with a native-speaking teacher. That way, they can enjoy all the pros and avoid all of the cons of learning from an app!
If you want your child to learn how to speak French, check out Bilingual Bebe! We’re an online language school (for children ages 3-12) that helps children enjoy the benefits of being bilingual in French, English or Spanish. Get your child’s first lesson free by registering for a trial lesson today!