9 ways to learn a language without leaving the country — or the couch

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By StackCommerceMashable Shopping2020-01-25 10:00:00 UTC

There are a lot of convenient things about living in this brand new decade. For one thing: it’s never been easier to translate foreign languages. Can you imagine doing your high school Spanish homework today? You’d be Google Translating the heck out of it.

There have also never been so many different ways to learn a language as an adult. From smart translating devices to award-winning language software, here are nine great, tech-forward language deals. 

Language Learning Apps and Software

Learn a ton of languages with a lifetime subscription to Mondly

Learning a new language doesn’t have to be as boring or tedious as it was when you were in school. In fact, plenty of apps make the learning process really fun for fully-fledged adults. Take Mondly, for instance. This award-winning app has earned itself App Store App of the Day and the Google Play Editor’s Choice, among other accolades. It uses its advanced speech recognition technology to keep your pronunciation in check and give you positive feedback along the way. You’ll be surprised how quickly your accent will go from sounding like a tourist to that of a native speaker. 

Currently, a lifetime subscription (with access to 33 different language courses!) is on sale for nearly 95% off. That’s just $99.99 for life.

A lifetime pass to Rosetta Stone

Arguably the most famous language learning software out there is Rosetta Stone. And trust us, it has come a long way since its CD-ROM days. You can access its immersive language lessons on any Internet-enabled device, and its TruAccent technology can analyze your speech 100 times per second, giving you nuanced feedback throughout each course. Plus, its courses don’t just center around basic vocabulary. Once you have a handle on the fundamentals, you’ll soon progress to nice, but still relevant topics like pop culture. A lifetime subscription to either Spanish, English, French, German, Mandarin, or Japanese is on sale for $199.

Talk with an actual native speaker with HelloTalk VIP

Ask anyone who is bilingual, and they’ll tell you the secret to actually mastering a foreign language is by surrounding yourself with native speakers. That’s where HelloTalk VIP (now on sale for just $29) comes in handy. This app connects language students with native speakers so they can perfect their conversation skills and pronunciation in a real-life setting. Chats are done through text, voice recording, calls, and video chats, and can be done in a one-on-one or group setting. Currently, there are more than 15 million speakers on the platform who can converse in nearly 150 different languages, so you’re bound to find someone to chat with. Need more convincing? It has 4.7 stars in the App Store with over 14k reviews.

Get a lifetime pass to Babbel

Babbel was designed with the help of over 100 linguists and has won over millions of users with its easy-to-use interface. With Babbel, you can expect bite-sized lessons that can fit into any busy schedule. You’ll also focus on practical vocabulary, which means you won’t be spending your time learning words you may never use in a real-life conversation. Get access to all of the language lessons Babbel offers (there are 14 different languages available currently) for the rest of your life for just just $159 — a savings of 60%.

Learn a language by listening to music with Earworms

Why is it we can’t listen to a song once on the radio and have the words stuck in our head for days, yet can’t seem to retain vocabulary words we’ve practiced for hours on end? Earworms solves this problem by employing music-filled language lessons to help you retain a foreign language. Plus, it makes learning some of the more dull, but still essential, topics of conversation actually fun. And its newly discounted $14.99 price tag will be hard to beat.

Access 140 different languages with a lifetime pass to uTalk 

Learn a foreign language at your own pace, at your own time, and on your preferred device with a lifetime subscription to uTalk. This software can be accessed on your Android or Apple device, as well as your PC, Mac, or any internet-enabled smart device. Plus, compared to the other services on this list, uTalk has the most comprehensive collections of languages by far, with over 140 foreign languages on its roster. And its newly reduced price of $99.99 is the pièce de résistance.

Translators

Get real-time translations with the Mesay 3.0 PRO: AI Global Translator

You’ve practiced as much as you possibly could ahead of your trip, but even so, there might be a conversation or two your curriculum didn’t prepare you for. That’s where global translators, such as the Mesay 3.0 PRO can help. (See Mashable’s picks for the best translators here.) 

This portable device can enable two-way simultaneous translation for 76 different languages. It even provides accurate translations of complex sentences or phrases, giving you the text in your preferred tongue on its real-time display. Normally $199, it’s on sale now for just $129.99.

Go super lightweight with the ONE Mini Pocket Multilingual Assistant

Another discreet translator you can keep in your back pocket on your international travels is the ONE Mini Pocket Multilingual Assistant (currently on sale for 40% off). Like the Mesay, it can translate conversations in real-time. Simply start recording a conversation and the interpreted text will show up directly on your smartphone or device. And its lightweight design proves to be a more backpacking-friendly option than lugging around a dense pocket dictionary. It would normally run you $99, but it’s available here for an affordable $59.

Get translations through your earbuds with the Aunu Audio M50 Headphones

If you’re more of an auditory learner, you should try the Aunu Audio M50 True Wireless Headphones and its companion translator app. Pairing the software and hardware together gives you verbal translations for 33 different languages on-the-fly. It also doesn’t hurt that the device also doubles as a solid pair of wireless earbuds to listen to music or video content when you’re traversing the globe or staying put in the comfort of your own home. Get the bundle for 56% off, just $99.99 while you can.