APPS THAT CAN IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING SKILL WHILE STUDYING AT HOME

Now the era of learning does not have to always be in a formal institution, mainly in a classroom. With technological sophistication, everyone can learn in a digital way. For students in quarantine time like this, the learning system can continue to run this way. It is certain that students can develop with current technological advancements. They can independently explore knowledge in cyberspace. By not meeting friends and teachers at school, it does not mean that students cannot develop English speaking skills.

There are several applications that can be used by both students and anyone who wants to develop language skills. I have searched and summarized several applications that can be used to develop English speaking skills. Combined with other English learning strategies, these apps can be powerful tools to learn how to speak English fluently.

I’ve found several of the most unique, innovative English speaking apps out there. They’ll be the talkative digital companions you need to develop your accent and speak more naturally.

So grab your favorite device and let’s get talking!

How Using Apps Benefits English Learners

Ok, I get it, apps are great. But why should I use apps when there are so many other learning methods out there?

Freedom to learn anywhere you are, anytime you want: You can learn on your own time and create a program that fits your needs. For instance, you can practice in bed before sleep using these apps. Or you could practice while you travel and watch that otherwise boring time on the plane flying by as you learn!

You can clearly learn English this way with a book, too, but with an app, you don’t need to carry anything other than your favorite device.

Increased productivity: An English speaking app is always with you. Sometimes, you waste time while waiting for an appointment or on your commute, but by using an app you’ll have the chance to invest that time in a more productive way: reviewing, learning and playing.

Fun and motivation: Yes! You can learn while having fun. These apps let you play games and complete exercises while learning the language.

Plus, with an element of fun, English apps will help you stay motivated to keep practicing. Many of them will also track your learning progress, which can further boost motivation.

Affordability: Maybe the biggest benefit of English speaking apps is that they’re affordable—sometimes free! There are tons of apps that offer free lessons, activities, and resources for speaking English.

I’ve selected some of the best ones for you.

ELSA

Website/iOS/Android

Before you start speaking English, you’ve got to focus on your pronunciation. ELSA—which stands for English Language Speech Assistant—is an interactive speaking app that helps you speak English better by fine-tuning your pronunciation.

When you begin learning, ELSA asks your native language to sense how your English pronunciation might be. Then, it presents you with a few common phrases and words and listens to your own pronunciation of them.

Once that’s done, ELSA starts teaching you specific syllables and sounds that you’re having trouble with.

ELSA’s program was designed by experts in communication and speech coaching. 

Nativox

Website/Android

Nativox claims to be the first method to teach English based on improving intonation (pitch/cadence of speech).

Like any language, English has not only its particular sounds but also its own intonation patterns. Nativox focuses on helping users visualize and comprehend American English intonation to improve speaking abilities.

While using Nativox, first you listen with your ears and eyes—you’ll be able to see the melodic line of the intonation patterns. These are specially designed for you to find out which part has a stronger pronunciation and what part has a weaker one.

Then, you’ll be able to repeat phrases and record yourself imitating the pronunciation and intonation until you get good at it. Just like we learned when we were children.

Finally, you’ll listen to yourself while you find out the meaning of what you’re saying. Nativox is designed so you can learn how to say something while learning what it means. That way, your brain is free to focus on speaking, rather than on grammar or vocabulary.

Duolingo

Website/Android

Duolingo is an interactive English application you can use if you are a novice learner or a young learner. It is really to use. But if you need to learn to speak English seriously, this app is not a good choice. On the other hand, if you need less time to study and want to have fun while developing your pronunciation and vocabulary, Duolingo can fulfill that need.

It's more like a game, so instead of learning in a boring way, you can feel easy and fun to study like you're not studying at all.

Duolingo has taken boring language textbooks with methods that don’t work very well and turned them into computer games that still don’t help you learn a language very well.

FluentU
Website/iOS/Android If you’re keen on audiovisual learning and want to learn to speak English while having fun, then FluentU is the right way to go. FluentU uses engaging, authentic English videos—such as popular talk shows, news, and funny YouTube clips—to provide you an entertaining English speaking experience.

If you want to watch it, FluentU’s probably got it.

Each video comes with interactive captions that provide definitions and pronunciations for any word you don’t recognize.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world-famous celebrities.

For example, tap on the word “brought,” and you would see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Videos become English lessons—each one comes with flashcards, vocabulary lists, and fun quizzes. With FluentU’s questions, you can always see more examples of the word you’re learning. FluentU also helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. That means not only will you learn English naturally, you’ll also be able to speak English the way native speakers really use it. What I like most about the FluentU app is the chance to keep a record of my progress as I’m learning, as well as the recommendations it gives me based on what I’m learning. No one will have the same experience, even if they’re learning with the same videos.


Apps4Speaking
Website/Android Missing having an English speaking companion? Then, this app is perfect for you. You can keep an interactive conversation with a video character so you can work on your English speaking skills even if you have no one to practice with. First, you listen to a dialogue in a video as many times as you need. You’ll be shown pictures to link with the meaning of the words. That way, you can focus on speaking instead of reading a text. Then, you can read the dialogues to better understand them before you start speaking. Finally, you get to play the role of one of the characters in the video and immerse yourself in the conversation. The app combines the latest speech recognition technologies with videos so you can speak with the characters like in a real conversation. What I love most about this app is the continuous feedback you get—as you progress you’ll get points based on your performance anytime, just like in a video game!


In conclusion, you don't need to worry about continuing to develop yourself, especially in your ability to speak English. instead, at this moment you have positive activities with lots of free time which will certainly benefit you both for now and in the future. I really hope that this blog will help you and you can take advantage of it.

Source:
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/english-speaking-app/
https://language101.com/reviews/duolingo/