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Parents' Guide to

Ling: English & 11 languages

By Ana Beltran, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Appealing interface and fun games support language learning.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad Free to try Education
Ling: English & 11 languages Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Ling: English & 11 languages: Screenshot #1
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Privacy Rating Warning

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
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What’s It About?

LING: ENGLISH & 11 LANGUAGES is a platform where kids can learn words in a new language and practice through play. Upon launching the app, kids choose their native language and the language they want to learn. Directions, prompts, and translations will appear in the native language. The lessons include visual, audio, and translation components. Through spelling and other word games, the app reinforces vocabulary. The words that appear in lessons are determined by kids' topics of interest including colors, animals, sports, and food. It also includes more specific or job-related topics, such as environmental protection, law, tools and construction, and IT. Kids will see a picture associated with the word, see the word written in their native language, see the word spelled out in the new language, and hear the word pronounced when they tap on the speaker button. They can either add the word to the lesson or skip it to see more options. The lesson prompts kids to read and listen to words and tap on the correct translation. Games that reinforce vocabulary include making words with an assortment of letter and listening to words and spelling them out. Enabling push notifications activates daily reminders to learn and play. The dashboard highlights daily progress, the number of words kids are currently learning, and the words they have mastered.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Kids will enjoy learning a new language through this simple, yet engaging platform; however, it's not a comprehensive language tool since the emphasis is on vocabulary. The app's interface is clean, appealing, and user friendly. It's easy to navigate, with written prompts guiding kids through each stage of the game. The pronunciation of each word is clear and slows down if users tap on the sound button more than twice, adapting to ensure kids are hearing all sounds that make up each word. The word games used to reinforce and practice vocabulary are repetitive, which guarantees that the focus is on learning the words rather than figuring out a new game each round. Ling: English & 11 languages also empowers kids by giving them ownership over what they'll learn. Kids can choose topics and can also determine the number of words that appear in each lesson. The app suggests that kids focus on five words per day, which makes the app manageable enough to be part of a daily learning routine. It also gives users the flexibility to reduce or increase the number of words that appear in each lesson, which allows kids to learn at their own pace. Kids even have ownership of the words that appear in each lesson, since they get to preview a collection before approving the ones they want to focus on.

The platform offers a significant number of topics that will appeal to different interests or needs. The range of topics represents simple, everyday words, such as colors and words used in daily routines, as well as vocabulary that is more complex and situational. Although the job-related vocabulary may be more useful for grownups, there are plenty of other topics that will appeal to kids. Ling: English & 11 languages is a fun tool to explore new languages and learn new words, especially since the app allows users to switch target languages at any time. Since the emphasis is on vocabulary and words in isolation, it isn't a tool for comprehensive language learning. Kids will learn how to say and spell words, but not necessarily how to use those words in context or express complete ideas in another language. Considering that it's not an immersive experience, the subscription price is pretty steep, but the free trial will help you know if it's worth it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Since Ling: English & 11 languages emphasizes vocabulary in isolation, families can balance the learning by watching TV, listening to music, or accessing audio-books in the new language so that kids can hear words in context and begin to explore how the vocabulary words they are learning can be used to express complete ideas.

  • Encourage kids to apply the vocabulary they are learning. Ask them to name objects they encounter on a regular basis. For example, how do you say breakfast in Portuguese? How do you say socks? How do you say coffee? Although kids are learning and practicing vocabulary, the app doesn't include opportunities for kids to speak and hear their own pronunciation. Naming things around the house or when out on a family trip can get kids excited to continue building their vocabulary.

App Details

  • Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
  • Subjects: Language & Reading : letter or word recognition, naming, speaking, spelling, vocabulary
  • Skills: Thinking & Reasoning : memorization, Communication : listening, speaking
  • Pricing structure: Free to try (three-day trial, then subscriptions ranging from $5.49 - $39.99)
  • Release date: October 11, 2019
  • Category: Education
  • Publisher: GENERATION Z INC.
  • Version: 1.8.2
  • Minimum software requirements: iOS 9.0 or later
  • Last updated: October 20, 2020

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