Learning a Language? 6 Fun Flashcard Apps to Improve Your Vocabulary
Let’s take a walk down memory lane…
To chalkboards, erasers, textbooks and… flashcards!
You may think flashcards are “old school,” but they’re still around—and they’re neither dull nor dated.
The amazing thing about today’s flashcards is that they’re available right from your phone with the help of some cool apps!
Language flashcard apps really are a language learner’s best friend.
Let’s check some out!
Contents
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Why Use Flashcard Apps for Language Learning?
The biggest reason to use flashcard apps for language learning is a simple one: They work! When you were a kid in school, flashcards brought the finer points of all core subjects (math, history, geography) into a tidy bundle that you could work with and memorize.
Language apps do the same thing—except they focus on a target language! They’re designed for fast learning by presenting bites of information that are easily memorized.
An added perk? They’re fun to use!
Growing vocabulary is a snap with flashcards since they incorporate spaced repetition, which essentially means reviewing information at certain intervals. Since vocabulary is key to all aspects of language, flashcard apps are an excellent addition to any language program.
Flashcard apps are always on hand, fill up small, otherwise wasted chunks of time with solid language practice and offer on-the-fly learning. What’s not to love?
To get you started, here are six top flashcard apps to take your vocabulary to the next level!
6 Fun Flashcard Apps to Improve Your Vocabulary
Lingvist
Looking to enhance your core vocabulary? Lingvist has you covered!
Using the Lingvist app is a straightforward method to increase vocabulary in a target language. There are no bells or whistles to this app, but it’s a solid option that is beneficial to any language program. The how-to features are clear and uncomplicated so users can easily navigate through all areas of the app.
Flashcards feature example sentences so learners can see words and phrases used in context. Also, there are audio pronunciations which help learners effectively model speaking practice.
Tracking progress is also streamlined. The graphics clearly show where you’ve been and how quickly you’re moving ahead. Placement tests help measure progress.
A bonus to the flashcard functionality? Lingvist provides some limited information on word forms and grammar.
FluentU
FluentU is based around authentic videos like movie clips, news videos, inspirational talks and more. These are at the heart of the flashcards system.
In each video, you can hover over or click on any word to see an interactive flashcard. Flashcards include an associated image, an audio pronunciation, grammar information, example sentences with audio readings as well as clips from other FluentU videos where the word appears. Definitions are contextual, showing you the meaning of each word as it’s used in the particular video where it appears.
You can also see a transcript and vocab list for each video, paired with audio and video features for additional context.
Vocabulary is compiled into sets that are generated from the video content. You can also create your own sets by adding words to your own card collections, ensuring that content is tailored to your individual needs.
The program uses a spaced repetition system that’s based on an altered version of the SM2 SuperMemo algorithm, so all your flashcards are presented to you in the optimal order and at appropriate intervals for best continued practice and memorization.
Drops
Drops adds a gaming feel to using flashcards for language learning. The screens are bright and the illustrations are fun.
Several languages are offered, including some that aren’t always easy to locate study material for, like Icelandic, Maori, Samoan and Vietnamese.
The app offers more than flashcards. The learning program itself is broken into 5-minute learning sessions, which the developers believe encourage users to tap in—after all, everyone has five minutes to spare so the “lack of time” excuse that’s so common is eliminated!
The program is also fully visual. Words and phrases are illustrated so there’s never any confusion about what a vocabulary word means. Learners see it!
There’s also no keyboarding with this app; it’s all swipes and taps to get the job done. Wonderfully engaging, this is an exciting way to acquire a language.
You may try this one for the flashcards—which are super!—and fall for some of the other energizing features, too!
Quizlet
This app gives learners tons of options for reaping the benefits of adding flashcards to a language program.
Choose from the flashcards already available on the site or create your own sets.
Either way, the flashcards are always available to fill up any extra downtime. Personally, this app has eliminated what feels like hundreds of hours sitting in waiting rooms and standing in long lines!
Quizlet’s flashcards are fun to use. They turn vocabulary memorization into a game by showing learners how they’re progressing—and for some of us, that brings out the drive to do better with each draw of the cards!
There are lots of options for working with Quizlet’s language flashcards. Audio features provide the correct pronunciation of words and phrases. Game functions let learners test memorization skills. Learners can also play the game called “Match”—a beat-the-clock memory quiz!
Flashcards can be shared with other language learners. Since this also works with words uploaded by individual learners, the potential for learning idioms, regional expressions and even unique phrases is excellent!
Brainscape
The Brainscape flashcard app really checks all the boxes on learning foreign language vocabulary quickly and easily. The app is formatted clearly and is so user-friendly that using it is an absolute pleasure.
Learners are able to utilize the app’s flashcards or create their own. The material already gathered and available on the app comes from publishers and educators, as well as other learners.
The flashcard decks are shareable and users can work together to develop highly customized content. So if you’re part of a group planning a culinary tour across the globe, you could collectively compile flashcards that feature food-related vocabulary!
Learners can set goals, track progress, shuffle cards, choose specific deck categories to study and much more. This is an app that definitely enhances a language-learning program so well that I found myself looking forward to using it!
Cram
The Cram flashcard app is a versatile vocabulary-building tool that has enough options to keep learning fast and fun.
There are multiple study modes depending on whether you download the app for iOS or Android, so there’s a lot happening in this small app.
Card mode brings up a full set of cards for review, while cram mode introduces spaced repetition into the flashcard decks. Memorize mode removes vocabulary that the learner is familiar with, showing only content that still needs to be mastered. Lastly, game mode brings a bit of gaming to learning vocabulary with flashcards!
The app keeps track of flashcard decks that learners are currently using and separates them into self-created decks, favorite decks and the decks studied most often.
All in all, this flashcard app is a great way to almost effortlessly get some extra vocabulary work into a language program.
Flashcards? They’ve grown up, too. They’re not just for children anymore.
Flashcard apps are perfect for language learning at any age!
Learning a new language should be entertaining, and flashcards are lots of fun. Download one or more of these apps to maximize learning time, enhance your core vocabulary and turn study time into playtime!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
