Language Learning Apps: From Duolingo to Babbel, Here's What You Need to Know

Let me tell you a little backstory, I'm so American-born Chinese that when I was a kid you could find my picture in the dictionary under "Banana, see also 'Twinkie'." Growing up, my parents spoke to me in Cantonese and I responded in perfectly fluent, unaccented English. So now I use Duolingo to brush up on my Chinese and even learn new languages like Korean to feed my passion for Kdrama binging. My kids are interested too, and it's the only way they are getting exposed to the "mother tongue" these days because, let's be real, it's way more fun than Chinese school.

But enough about me, let's talk about language learning apps. Today I'll give you the skinny on a few of the popular apps available for you and your future globe-trotting offspring.

Duolingo - Best for beginners on a budget

Let me tell you all about the awesomeness of Duolingo. It's like having a personal language teacher in your pocket, but without the judgmental looks when you mispronounce something.

First of all, let's talk about the price. It's free! That's right, you can learn a new language without having to sell a kidney on the black market. And let's be real, as a mom, free is my love language.

But just because it's free doesn't mean it's cheaply made. The lessons are well-designed, easy to follow, and actually fun. You earn points and badges for completing them, which is basically like getting a gold star from your kindergarten teacher. And if you're competitive like me, you can even compete with your friends to see who can learn the most.

Bonus, Duolingo may have one of the most extensive libraries of language courses. You can even learn some endangered languages like Navajo and Hawaiian, or nerd out with Klingon and High Valyrian.

Memrise - Best for flashcard junkies

A great option for all you flashcard-loving learners out there. It has a spaced repetition system, which means you won't forget what you learned five seconds after you close the app. Plus, it has AI-powered speaking practice (courtesy of ChatGPT-3).

Babbel - Best for language mastery and live support

If you're feeling fancy and have some cash to spare, Babbel is the app for you. It's like having your own personal language tutor, but without the awkward small talk. Babbel's courses are designed by language experts and cover everything from basic vocabulary to grammar. Plus, they even have a live chat feature, so you can ask a native speaker for help. Impressive, right? Unfortunately, they're limited to 13 language courses and don't cover most of the big Asian languages.

StudyCat - Best for toddlers and kids

And last but not least, for all you parents out there who want your kids to be bilingual geniuses, check out StudyCat. It's a suite of language learning apps designed just for kids! They cover the big five (English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and German) and the apps are super interactive and fun. It's like handing your kid a phone and saying, "Here, learn something useful for once."

So there you have it. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, on a budget or rolling in cash, there's a language learning app for everyone. Just remember, learning a new language is like a marathon, not a sprint. So pace yourself and don't forget to have fun along the way! If you have a favorite language learning app not mentioned here, share it with us!