App Review and #Giveaway: Babbel

If you're having trouble with that High School Spanish you haven't practiced in years, or want to explore a new language, there are a variety of books, sites, and methods for learning. One of these is Babbel. The app and website allows users to start at the beginner level to refresh their skills while learning new ones. 

I opted to try the site and app as I've recently begun getting back into Spanish after years of not using it at all. Both the site and app run well and are overall very easy to use. The one glitch I noticed was that I had to repeat the first lesson over on the app, as I hadn't downloaded the next one when I shut down the tablet. Since I started making sure the next lesson is ready to go, there have been no problems with that, although if you go back and forth between the app and the site version, it doesn't seem to coordinate. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on your outlook. It will give me a chance to re-do a couple of lessons to strengthen my understanding. 

Currently doing this lesson.

The lessons are done in a couple of ways. First, it introduces the user to several words that will be used often in that lesson. You click on the icon to hear what each word sounds like when spoken. After, you go through several exercises where you choose the correct word and fill in blanks in conversations. The conversations are casual scenes generally reflecting typical conversations one would get into. Users are scored as they go and are given the chance to repeat questions they missed at the end of the lesson. 

Overall, I think it's a great tool to use when trying to refresh your knowledge, or learn a new language from the beginning. Obviously, the tools work best if used in conjunction with other things (I'm choosing to watch Spanish novelas with subtitles), but it's an excellent start and I'm looking forward to completing the rest of the lessons available.

GIVEAWAY

Babbel will give a lucky winner a code that will allow them to try the app out for free. To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end 11/15/15 and is open to the US only.  The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Babbel for offering this fantastic prize.


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