Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
THE LOCAL LIST

LEARNING

The top five free smartphone apps for learning Italian

Always wanted to learn Italian but didn't know where to start? The huge number of language-learning apps now available means it's easier than ever, and The Local has rounded up five of the best.

Published: 16 June 2017 07:58 CEST
The top five free smartphone apps for learning Italian
Photo: ikostudio/Depositphotos

The best way to become fluent is to get out there and practice speaking to real Italians, but if that's not possible – or you just want to gain a bit of confidence before embarrassing yourself in front of the beautiful barista – then smartphone apps are the way to go.

The following apps are tailored to different needs so whether you just need to learn enough to order at your favourite trattoria or want to be able to tackle the works of Dante in the original language, you can brush up on the verbs, vocabulary and/or phrases you need. They're cheaper than taking a course or investing in chunky textbooks, and many use algorithms which adapt to your skills so that you'll learn faster.

The Local has rounded up the five best apps for learning Italian which are available for free on the Google Play store. They all have an offline mode, meaning you can hone your skills whenever you have a few spare minutes without eating into your data allowance.

Let us know if you've tried them out yourself.

1) Learn Italian Words Free

Learn 10,000 words and phrases relating to useful topics from beginner to advanced level – that's more words than any other free app offers. There is a flashcard dictionary and audio pronunciation, plus a listening-only mode so you can learn while exercising or doing housework. It even has an option to switch on background relaxation music which is thought to increase your capacity for learning.

User Breanna Davis wrote in a Google Play store review: “Easily the best language app I've ever used! So easy to use, and makes learning fun and easy.”

2) Learn Italian – 50 Languages


50 languages works well if you want to learn the basics to get by on holiday or in everyday situations. It’s similar to a traditional textbook approach, combining audio and text exercises which teach you vocabulary and grammar organized into different subject areas. The free version has 30 lessons available, and then you pay to upgrade to 100. You can download extra exercises and audio files from the website, www.50languages.com

“Excellent app. Great vocabulary and easy to use. The best language app out there for the price,” commented Jim Kerr.

3) Learn Italian – Speak Italian


The app's creators, busuu, promise that learning Italian is “easier than you think”, and its 50 million users worldwide seem to agree, judging by its positive reviews. It's aimed at those who want to develop a comprehensive understanding of Italian, with vocabulary and grammar units, audio dialogues and language games, but the most exciting feature is the option of sending send exercises to a native speaker for feedback.

Carine T praised the app in her review, saying: “Great app. Learning Italian is just great! I love the written exercises corrected by native speakers.”

4) Verbi Italiani

Already learned the basics but want to improve your grammar? This app allows you to conjugate over 10,000 verbs in all the tenses – perfect when you’re dealing with the tricky irregulars or one of the less common tenses, so you’ll amaze natives with your mistake-free Italian.

“Excellent application for those who study Italian and have troubles with verbs,” said user Zury Sof.

5) Duolingo

One of the most comprehensive and best-rated language-learning apps out there, Duolingo's makers claim 34 hours on the app “are equivalent to a semester of university-level education”. Grammar, vocabulary and phrases are organized into different topics which you work through in small, bite-sized lessons that feel like a game. It evolves as you go so that you'll be tested on the topics you struggle with most, and you get rewards for regular practice, making it addictive as well as educational. The only downside is that you can't pick and choose specific topics to learn, but have to unlock them in the correct order.

“Amazing! Duolingo is really easy and fun and really does a great job of teaching the language you have chosen!! Its cool that you get 'gems' when you finish a topic and can spend it in the store to get icons or clothes for the Duolingo bird!” writes user Hannah Bottomley.

A version of this article was first published in April 2016.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

EXPAT

Living in Spain: Why Valencia is officially the best city in the world for foreign residents

Anyone who lives there probably already knows it to be true. But now the secret is out: Valencia has officially been declared the most desirable city to live abroad as a foreign citizen.

Published: 26 November 2020 10:17 CET
Updated: 16 December 2020 14:58 CET
Living in Spain: Why Valencia is officially the best city in the world for foreign residents
Valencia tops a ranking of 66 cities in the world for expats. Photo by Giuseppe Buccola on Unsplash

The Mediterranean city in the east of Spain ranks top in the annual Expat Insider Survey published by InterNations.

More than 15,000 expats participated in the survey which analysed 66 cities around the globe during March 2020 in pre-Covid times and before the global pandemic sparked lockdowns.

The survey placed four Spanish cities in the top ten worldwide; Valencia in first place, followed by Alicante (2nd), Málaga (6th), Madrid (9th). 

Spanish cities overwhelmingly score high for the ease of settling in and quality of life indices but score less well when it comes to urban work life, because Spain can’t compete on the work opportunities front.

The city of Barcelona lags far behind in 25 place since expat life seems to be most expensive there: it ranks far behind the other Spanish cities in both the Finance & Housing and the Local Cost of Living Indices.   

So what’s so great about Valencia?


Photo by travelnow.or.crylater on Unsplash

 

Well, according to the survey which asked more than 15,000 expatriates representing 173 nationalities and living in 181 countries, the Spanish city scored the best in all five indices but one.

It ranked first worldwide in both the Quality of Urban Living and the Local Cost of Living Indices.

In fact, 94 percent of expats rate the local cost of living positively (compared to 46 percent globally), and 91 percent consider healthcare easily available (vs. 74 percent globally) which places the city first in the Health & Environment subcategory.

The climate is also a big draw with Valencia ranking second in that category thanks to conditions that are not too hot or too dry but with plenty of sunshine and a sea breeze that means summer temperatures usually max out at between 32-35C, far more hospitable than the over 40C found in parts of Andalucia and inland Spain.

Valencia also ranked well for its leisure options (4 in the survey) with vast stretches of beach within the city, the warm Mediterranean to enjoy swimming, watersports and sailing as well lots of parks and bikes routes and hills to explore inland.


Photo by Paul Povoroznuk on Unsplash

It’s also easy to get settled in Valencia. More than four in five expats (84 percent) find it easy to get used to the local culture (vs. 61 percent globally), and 91 percent say that the local residents are generally friendly (vs. 68 percent globally).

And more than four out of five expats in Valencia (82 percent) find that housing is affordable in the city, compared to 41 percent globally.

“The quality of life and the cost of living” are what makes Valencia great, according to one American expat who responded to the survey.

Where Valencia, and indeed all Spanish destinations, score badly is in the Job and Career categories.

Valencia ranks 62 out of 66 in this section with 46 percent of expats living in Valencia admitting that they are unhappy with their local career opportunities.

“Finding employment has always been difficult,” responded a French expat living in Valencia.

But all the reasons that make Valencia a favourite among expats are also found just down the coast in the region’s second city Alicante, which ranks a close number 2 on the list beating Lisbon, Panama City and Singapore.

Malaga appears at number 6 on the global list and Madrid at number 9, although Spain’s capital scores the most points globally for “leisure options”.

Barcelona however doesn’t make it into the top ten or even top 20. In fact it ranks 25th out of 66 cities in the world. Only 53 percent of expats are satisfied with the state of the local economy (vs. 63 percent globally). According to the survey 28 percent of expats in the city are dissatisfied with their financial situation (vs. 21 percent globally), and 67 percent find local housing unaffordable (vs. 41 percent globally).

“I do not like the working conditions, the pay is too low, and the rents are high,” remarked one German expat.

READ MORE: 

 

SHOW COMMENTS