Five Fun Tools for Language Learning

Languages are an important part of 21^st-century education. Some lazy language students prefer leisure to studying.

These five tools make studying languages easier and more entertaining for even the most shiftless students!

The following selection of tools includes both free and paid digital options, but also a card game and a resource you can make yourself! Learning a language doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be enjoyable. Try these tools or recommend them to students. Language learning has never been so much fun!

1. Student gamers will love the Influent Language Learning Game™. Originally funded through a successful Kickstarter™ campaign, this amazing language platform currently supports 16 different languages, with 23 more planned. The idea of the game is a quest, where players move explore a colorful, 3-dimensional environment. There are hundreds, and possibly thousands of clickable items in this game, and players create their list of mastered vocabulary. Although designed for younger players, any game-loving student will find this a refreshing and useful tool.
2. Taboo ™, released by Hasbro in 1989, is a vocabulary boosting card game that is perfect for advanced English learners. This simple game asks players to explain word meanings without using synonyms. It is inexpensive, and wonderful fun for groups of students to play together.
3. Looking for a quick start to learning a new language? Busuu™ is a wonderfully easy and straightforward app to sign up for and use. This app sorts vocabulary into sensible themes, like greetings, holidays, and foods. It also enables users to chat with native speakers!  Users can sign up and start practicing in less than five minutes. It’s a perfect choice for students with little patience for complicated programs.
4. Feeling lazy? Students can just sit back and listen to their target language on tunein™. This amazing site carries radio stations from 6 continents and includes 628 live radio programs on language learning, also to countless other subjects and genres. The scope of this content is enough to keep the most indifferent language student interested.
5. DIYers can create their language learning tools for writing by using magazines, postcards, or drawings to make story prompts.  Students look at the photo or illustration and write as much (or little!) as they are able about the topic or theme. This is a cheap, creative, and amusing pastime for any language student.