Free App Friday - Duolingo

Apple's Free App of the Year!

Learning and speaking another language always seemed like such a cool thing growing up. Most of the kids on my favourite shows could speak another language, at least a little, and I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to impress people when I ate out at restaraunts and didn't stumble over the Italian names. (A skill I have yet to master. Also, I was eight, I never went to restaurants, unless you count McDonalds.) I wanted to be able to greet everyone in French and rant angrily in Spanish - something I still cannot do coherently in English.

I wanted this so badly as a youngster that I tried to convince my parents to buy me Rosetta Stone. But, sadly, my dad declared it a rip off - as he did with anything that wasn't free - and insisted on trying to teach me the limited Spanish he knew from his times living up in the mountains in Malaga, where he was surrounded by other English people. Safe to say that by the age of ten, I knew all the Spanish swear words and several jokes about his friend with the name C. A. Jones, but couldn't ask you how you were.

Then, at the ripe old age of 21, I found Duolingo.

To level up, users have to gain Lingots. These are gained by finishing a skill and practicing for several days in a row (even just for five minutes, if that's your goal). You can then use those Lingots to use in the store to buy things like Power-ups and Bonus Skills (which includes some hilarious flirting translations).

My nephews (well, two of them, 6 & 7) were intrigued by the little green owl icon on my phone (don't act like that isn't the cutest green owl you've ever seen) and decided to play it. They sat quietly for over an hour guessing the words and learning new phrases, cheering as the owl celebrated their ten day streak with them. I mean, I completed the other nine, but they wasn't paying attention enough to that, they were just happy they were winning their game. It's been a few weeks now and pretty much the only word they remember is 'Hola!' which they like to yell at random moments at the top of their lungs.

Duolingo is great as long as you don't mind the Spanish word for sandwich being stuck on repeat in your head at all times. (It's emparedado in  case you were wondering. See, the app works!)

Duolingo is a free app (doi!) that  can be found on both Android and Apple phones. Whether you're serious about learning a new language or just want to go at your own pace, Duolingo allows you to set your own targets and goals. And there's an online version too, so you can practice on your phone and on your computer. There's even a little reminder that pops up on your phone when it's time to practice.

There' a whole range of languages too - I have no idea what they are because I only chose Spanish, but there is a pretty impressive range. (Okay, with a little research, I found out that there are 23 different languages - all completely free!) Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, the list goes on.

Founded by Louis von Ahn and Severin Hacker (Please, take a long moment, those names are really cool) and built on the belief that 'free education will really change the world' this is a handy, well intentioned app that benefits everybody. The language-learning platform is constantly adapting and creating new ideas, with new courses for languages such as Hungarian, Hebrew and even Klingon in development. In the last year or so, Duolingo has released a new programme that allows teachers to use the site in schools and focus on each individual student's strengths and weaknesses when it comes to languages.

The app is easy to use and comes in different categories - from basics to medical talks to pronouns. And it uses both written and audio forms of learning, so you can hear and speak the sentences as you learn them. You can even add friends and compete with them.

Free App Friday: Marvel - Contest of Champions

This week’s Free App Friday deviates into mobile gaming. Mobile gaming is a big market, the introduction of the iPhone and the App Store, mobile gaming is a big deal. There are thousands upon thousands of games available for your phone through the App Store if you’re an iPhone user, and the various different stores for the various types of Android powered phone; such as Google’s Play Store, which is the one I use for my Nexus 6P.
Browsing through the millions of apps available for your smartphone can be a tiresome task, going through them all and deciding if this app is worth it? It’s a lot of effort, there’s a lot of apps! I know I’ve spent more time than I like to admit, just scrolling and scrolling and scrolling and scrolling, trying to find something I can get invested in. An app I won’t mind that takes up more memory than I would like, especially as I don’t have much to spare. Do any of us?

So flashback a week ago, when I found myself browsing (again) and I found Marvel Champions - unless you’ve been under a rock, superheroes are a big deal these days. They are now mainstream entertainment - with a different superhero movie coming out in cinemas at least three times a year, Netflix have the rights to at least 3 different Marvel superheroes so now they’re taking over the small screen too.
And now they have reached an even smaller screen (although many a joke have been made that my phone screen is not actually that small..), Marvel Champions is a fighting game featuring various characters of many levels of fame; from Wolverine to Black Panther, Captain America to Black Bolt - there’s many a hero to suit the different degree of superhero knowledge around today.

The concept of the game is to go on quests to compete against Kang; the challenger. You then win crystals, gold and other components needed to level up your heroes and uncover higher lvel ones. It’s a fun to play game, that involves planning and strategy, using your heroes wisely on these quests. You can join an Alliance with other players and go on Alliance quests. This game is a good way to kill time - and kill your battery (just a warning). Once you get the hang of it, it doesn’t seem as complicated as it might at first. The actual fighting concept of the game is also easy to grasp - swipe right to attack, hold right to strong attack and hold left to block. You can then read your opponents and know when is best to do all of these - and for someone who's mobile gaming catalogue stretches as far as Head's Up and Ninjump, I picked this up surprisingly quickly. 

For a free app that doesn't acquire (well, as far I've gotten, Level 8!!) any in app purchases, I highly recommend this app. If you have any fun mobile games that you'd recommend please let me know, I love to try new ones out! 

P.s. As a side note for those of you who do read this blog, it is mainly going to be me (Katy) posting for the next week or so, due to Billie and Steph having a whole load on in their personal lives, just a heads up! Expect lots of ranting reviews and inconsistent weekly's! I try, I fail, what can I say?