Speaking a foreign language can prove to be more difficult than we think. It’s one thing to learn grammars and be able to read and write but to speak fluently is a whole different ball game.
Here are 3 great apps that I have installed and tried for you this weekend:
1- Real English "How to speak English"
‘Real English’ app consists offers you 8 video lessons in 4 learning stages. In the 1st stage, you will learn how to ask someone about their job, hobbies and interests and how to talk about your job, hobbies and interests. The 2nd stage is about making friends. Learn how to socialize by asking correct questions fluently and expressing your feelings. The 3rd learning stage is designed for beginners and the 4th is for intermediate speakers.
When you’re done studying your new task, simply go to the next task and start practicing.
After you finish practicing through studying every task and repeating it until you ace it; go to ‘Testing’ and test your skills.
The app also offers a different way of testing yourself through its ‘Workbook Test’ feature where you should complete the sentence that appears on your screen. The Modern English Studio will show you a score based on your answers.
The application also provides study guides to assist you in your lessons. You can also start by taking a level test to determine your true conversational level. In addition to all of that, you should try the ‘Conjugation System’ feature which will help you use any verb, whether present, past, future or action in various meaningful ways.
2- English Idioms Illustrated
The Chinese proverb says “one picture is worth ten thousand words”. In the app, a set of comic strips are used to illustrate for you what the English idiom means and what’s the story behind it. The first idioms are free, and there is a free idiom that changes daily. If you want more idioms, you can purchase bundles from the home page.
For the curious of you, today’s idiom is Achillies’ heel. It is one of my favorite mythologies.
3- SpeakingPalPlus
SpeakingPalPlus gives you a free license to use the app for a whole year.
See how well your sentences are pronounced by reading text displayed by the app as part of a meaningful dialogue.
Select a dialogue from the provided list: Changing a Hotel Room, Cruise, Passport, Interview 1 or purchase more dialogues and practice pronunciation.
SpeakingPalPlus has a high-quality voice recognition tool that will tell you when you’re not saying the sentence right, and offer you a video correction to practice pronouncing that particular sentence.
Other app features are the TOEIC speaking and listening exercises.
Are you trying to learn English using other applications? Please share them with us.
3 Apps that can improve your English conversational skills
3 Apps that can improve your English conversational skills
Apple to update EU browser options, make more apps deletable
- iPhone maker came under pressure from regulators to make changes after the EU’s sweeping Digital Markets Act took effect on March 7
- Apple users will be able to select a default browser directly from the choice screen after going through a mandatory list of options
STOCKHOLM: Apple will change how users choose browser options in the European Union, add a dedicated section for changing default apps, and make more apps deletable, the company said on Thursday.
The iPhone maker came under pressure from regulators to make changes after the EU’s sweeping Digital Markets Act took effect on March 7, forcing big tech companies to offer mobile users the ability to select from a list of available web browsers on a “choice screen.”
The new rules require mobile software makers to show the choice screen where users can select a browser, search engine and virtual assistant as they set up their phones, which earlier came with preferred options from Apple and Google.
In an update later this year, Apple users will be able to select a default browser directly from the choice screen after going through a mandatory list of options.
A randomly ordered list of 12 browsers per EU country will be shown to the user with short descriptions, and the chosen one will be automatically downloaded, Apple said. The choice screen will also be available on iPads through an update later this year.
Apple released a previous update in response to the new rules in March, but browser companies criticized the design of its choice screen, and the Commission opened an investigation on March 25 saying it suspected that the measures fell short of effective compliance.
The company said it has been in dialogue with the European Commission and believes the new changes will address regulators’ concerns.
It also plans to introduce a dedicated area for default apps where a user will be able to set defaults for messaging, phone calls, spam filters, password managers and keyboards.
Users will also be able to delete certain Apple-made apps such as App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos and Safari. Only Settings and Phone apps would not be deletable.
