Language-Learning Dictionary You Should Try Out: Reverso Context

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to my blog! I wanted to start off by apologizing for not having posted for a while. As many of you already know, I am currently abroad and have not had the opportunity to blog as much as I originally wanted to do, however, am hoping to post more consistently for the remainder of the semester from now on. For the first post of the academic semester, I thought that I would post about an application that I found out about a few months ago through a YouTuber polyglot, Lina Vasquez, called Reverso Context. 

In Lina's video (watch it down below), I remember her talking about a few other language-learning apps that she has recently been loving, but she particularly liked this one, as it is better than simply using Google Translate, or another online dictionary. I started using it, because I also find it very practical and easy to use. Instead of just typing in a word and the search engine coming up with 15 different results, you not knowing how to use the word, or you not knowing which definition is the correct one as a non-native speaker, this app helps you narrow down your results. What I like about the free phone version is that you can translate words from English into 12 other languages. The majority of the languages that you and I are learning are on there, but I hope that they continue adding more in the future.

You can change the language that you are translating from and translating into at any given moment in time. I use it for over 3 languages on a daily-basis, so I do not have to worry about only being able to use it for a language at a time. All you have to do is type in a word, a phrase, or a full sentence that you would like to translate into your target language and if whatever you type in is available in the database of the website, then it will automatically come up with a whole bunch of sample sentences and will bold the word(s) that you typed in for a quick reference. In this way, you can easily know for what you are looking in your target language. As far as I know, these sentences are written by and written for native speakers, so they are not literal translations when they should not be. It is also great for learning new idiomatic expressions and more complicated constructions that you may not know or unsure about.

I have been consistently using this app since this past June when I was studying abroad in France and it has been a lifesaver ever since. So far, I have mainly been using it for my essays when I do not have access to native speakers who can help me edit them, but have also found it helpful when I am trying to immerse myself in another language. Since I like writing emotively, I find it very difficult to fully convey my thoughts in another language without having a reliable resource such as this one. Whenever I have been in doubt, it has helped me create more native-sounding structures and sentences. I personally love scrolling through all of the sample sentences and seeing whether or not they convey the same context of which I am thinking. After all, that is why it is called Reverso Context!

Since it puts words and thoughts into perspective, it is more visual than most other dictionaries you will find, as you are not just seeing a word without knowing how to use it. Instead, you get to see how words function in a sentence and learn their various meanings, which makes learning a new language more fun! As someone who has to write and talk in over 4 languages on a daily basis, it can get confusing and frustrating to remember all of the words that I would like to use in all of them, but this app has worked miracles to help fix that problem. 

Aside from these reasons and more, I recommend using it for learners who want to use it for more than just one language at once to avoid having dozens of applications for each individual language on your phone. I believe that there is also a premium version of this app, but do not currently own it since I have been satisfied with its free version (feel free to check out the premium version if you are looking for even more language-learning resources). This app is also a great tool for college students who are taking language courses who need to write more elaborately than usual. All in all, if you are on the lookout for a new resource that gives you meaning and context behind what you want to look up, you may want to give this app a try!

Review of Duolingo (Application)

One of the most practical ways of learning a foreign language is through the use of technology, specifically by regularly using applications. I decided to start off by reviewing Duolingo, a free language-learning application that is available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Turkish, Esperanto, Norwegian, Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish. I will be giving you my honest opinions about this application, so that you can decide whether or not you want to download it onto one of your devices.

Pros:

 1. It is free

Many language-learning applications, and software programs that are often well marketed can end up being very expensive, and oftentimes are not worth the investment. Although you cannot become fluent in a language by only using this application, it is a great supplement to other language-learning materials, websites, and other applications  Given that it is free, it teaches you basic, intermediate, and advanced vocabulary. 

 2. This application can be used for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners

If you have had some experience, and or study with your target language prior to downloading Duolingo, you can take a placement test, which will test you out of topics, and levels that you most likely have already mastered. If for some reason you think that you are not as advanced as it says that you are, you can redo lessons that you supposedly tested out of. This is great for review, and for anyone who wants to review a specific topic (ex: animals, or food vocabulary that you might be rusty on). If you have never studied your target language, you can start from the first lesson, and work your way through the topics until you are satisfied with your progress.

3. It helps you expand your vocabulary

In my opinion, Duolingo’s biggest strength is that it helps you learn through repetition. Vocabulary is often recycled, and is repeated often, which means that, even if you do not try to reinforce the vocabulary that it teaches you by doing something else, you will most likely remember the majority of the words. One of its best features is the ability to click on a button that can replay the voices’ recordings. You can click it as many times as you want, which is great for auditory learners, and to hear how the words being pronounced. 

4. You only have to use this application for 5-10 minutes a day in order to make significant progress

I have found that you do not have to spend hours trying to cram information in your head when using Duolingo. Oftentimes, less is more, and quality is more important that quantity. Another strength about this application is that it is very organized. You start off by learning words that help you learn your target language’s alphabet, and eventually learn how to translate official documents from English to your target language, and vice versa. This application helps you practice your listening, reading, and pronunciation skills, expand your vocabulary, spelling, and writing. You learn how to spell words through repetition, and by hearing the voices’ recordings. 

Cons:

1. It does not directly teach you grammar

If you are someone who has not had a lot of experience learning languages, this may be frustrating. The application was not designed to teach you formal grammar lessons. Instead, each lesson will focus on a particular vocabulary topic, and will make you translate, write, record, and listen to words about that topic. For example, if you are on the food topic, you will learn words such as fork, spoon, plate, and cup. However, if you have studied several languages, or have a good grasp on another language’s grammar, you can pick up patterns, and can indirectly learn grammar. For example, if you have studied the accusative case of German in school, and get to that topic, you will practice examples using the accusative case, but will not be taught what the accusative is, and why it is used.

2. You cannot practice your conversational skills

Although you can record your voice reading sentences out loud once you reach a certain level, you cannot practice speaking with anyone else. If you want to improve your conversational skills, you will have to supplement this application with language learning communities online, with native speakers, with your friends, or with your family.

3. The voice recordings are not always clear

I have found that the speakers’ voices have not always been pleasing to the ear. They sometimes sound robotic, or what Google Translate’s speakers sound like. That being said, if you find value in the positive aspects of the application, you get used to their voices, and tune out parts that do not sound pleasing.

4. It can be overwhelming

If you do not practice your target language using this application every day, or several times a week, you can easily become frustrated, and will feel that you have not made any progress. What I would recommend is trying to use it as many days of the week as you can, and use it for no more than 10 minutes a day. If you are a visual learner, or like to write down what you hear, you can designate a notebook specifically for what you learn using Duolingo, and write out the sentences, and new vocabulary that it teaches you.

As you can see, there are pros, and cons of this application, but the pros far outweigh the cons. I wanted to give you an equal amount of pros, and cons, so that I could give you my honest opinion of what the application does well, and which flaws it has. I hope that you found this post helpful. Feel free to let me know what you think of it in the comments down below.