Learning English can be as fun as games. Actually, it could be more fun than playing games. That is exactly what these softwares do. They make learning English sound more like playing a game where you learn a lot. There are plethoras of software to choose but only few have earned users’ praise. Here is a review of some of the popular downloadable offline softwares and online learning resources.
Downloadable English Learning Software
Tell Me More
This software aims at beginners at an international level. There are three learning levels from beginner to advanced level. It has one of the best speech recognition technologies making it great for improving pronunciations. The interactive interface is not monotonous and changes according to the user’s level of skill. However, all these come at a heavy price. Download a free version.
Instant immersion
The title says it all. Once you start using the software you will find yourself immersed in a world of English. The strategy is that you will learn a language only when there are no alternatives and hence you will be forced to learn language. The software is much cheaper but not very in depth. It is very useful for beginners who need help with simple English but not of much help to advanced users.
Improve Your English
In the freeware category, Improve Your English comes with reasonable features. You can learn pronunciation from its read aloud feature, look up words and their meanings though its pop-up dictionary and it has a system to keep flashing words. This will help you to retain new words in your memory. Download.
Online Software and Resources
BBC’s Learning English
BBC’s online resource on learning English is an excellent guide for beginners and advanced learners. It provides authentic practical tips on pronunciation, grammar and business English. Instead of boring texts, audiovisual methods are used that help in following the tips easily. There are course materials available for free download that offer further reading. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
Babbel.com
Babbel.com offers users to choose from seven languages to learn. There is a free account that requires only a sign up and you are ready to start learning. There are paid accounts as well which you can opt for. The website is highly interactive and very user friendly. The website has speech recognition, which makes it even more interesting. http://www.babbel.com/
English Café
This is a site for both teachers and students. You can join to learn free lessons from specific people or teach people by posting tips and articles. The resources are from real people with real experiences. You can join as a learner under the teacher of your choice and the best part is that it is all free.
Further reading
A good compilation of English learning resources:
http://www.1-language.com
Read more articles on English speaking courses, software and downloadable videos
- Veta English Speaking Course – Overview and Review
- BBC World Service – Learn English Course – Overview and Review
- English Speaking Courses and Tutorials – Information and Review
Related useful links:
English speaking classes in India
English speaking classes in Bangalore
English speaking classes in Mumbai
English speaking classes in Delhi
