Since technology is expanding our possibilities, but making the world smaller, learning a new language is becoming more important. Even if you are not planning to travel abroad, you may want to be able to talk to people around the world using internet, or you may run a business that caters for international customers. In any of these cases, language skills will come handy and in a competitive market, they can also help you to increase your chances of getting a job. The problem is that language courses can be very expensive, not to mention that learning a language requires time and dedication.
The good news is that there is no shortage of options available online and people who want to learn a new language or improve their existent skills, can access a wide variety of websites and apps. Babbel is one of the most popular and complete learning systems you can find and it aims to offer a convenient alternative for those who want to study a foreign language. If you are dedicated and practice consistently, Babbel can be a powerful learning tool. If your purpose for the new year is to work on your language skills, check how Babbel can help you to achieve your goal.
Getting started with Babbel
Babbel offers online language courses on its website and also as an app, which makes it a practical solution for people who don’t have much time. You can learn from your home, office, school, or while you are on the go. It currently supports 14 languages including Spanish, Swedish, German, English, Danish, Portuguese, Turkish and Russian. Getting started with Babbel is very simple and the website provides complete information about the courses available. You can register in a few steps and get access to the first lesson in every course for free.
After trying the first lesson of the language of your choice, you will need to pay in order to get unlimited access to the course. Babbel offers different plans to suit your learning requirements and your budget. If you choose to pay for one month, the cost is $12.95 USD for any language. The monthly cost is reduced when you extend your subscription time. For three months, you only pay $26.85 ($8.95 per month), $44.70 is the price for six months ($7.45 per month) and if you sign up for a full year, your cost per month would be only $6.95.
How does it work
Choosing Babbel as your language learning method, gives you access to a series of courses that contain a variety of lessons. As you advance within the course, you will be able to access new lessons and each of them offers new vocabulary words, a dialogue, grammar instruction and the option to review/practice what you have learned. The lessons normally take up to 15 minutes to be completed and you will be able to go through the content repeatedly. After the lesson is delivered, you will get to practice and put your knowledge to the test. You will be scored to determine your progress.
Features
With Babbel you can enjoy a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of options. The software is appealing, easy to use and it works seamlessly. The content offers great quality and it is clear that the team behind Babbel has an extensive knowledge of languages and learning techniques. You will be able to find words and phrases that will be very helpful in real life. There are also detailed explanations that will allow you to understand better grammar rules and other elements of the language you are learning.
Babbel also includes a practical feature called Review Manager, which is a library that contains the vocabulary that you have learned throughout the lessons. You can practice these words consistently to ensure that you don’t forget them. The lessons are clear, effective and they have a good pace. You can go through them very fast, without affecting your capacity of retention. However, the lessons can feel a bit monotonous at times and they lack the dynamism that other language apps offer.
Babbel is designed as an instructive learning method and while that may be the preferred option for many users, others may look for an application that makes learning fun and challenging. Nowadays, you can find a wide selection of language learning solutions that are set up as a game, allowing users to feel more engaged and committed to the lessons. Adding the option to play as you go through a course, can make you feel more competitive and to get a stronger sense of achievement. Babbel can be an effective way to learn a new language, but it may feel too serious for those who want to have fun while learning.
Conclusion
Babbel offers a comprehensive, convenient and affordable language learning method. It is very easy to use and if you are dedicated, you can see a considerable improvement in your language skills within a few weeks. Babbel includes clear explanations, a good selection of tools and high quality content to help you learn a foreign language. However, you should not rely on a single application to become fluent in a new language. Babel is a great way to start, but it is advisable to complement it with additional tools and resources such as books, other apps and practices like watching TV, listening to radio or talking to native speakers.
