When’s the first time you visited a country that spoke a foreign language? My first experience was in 2010 during an exchange program in Sweden. One of the first preparations I made for the trip was to practice Swedish via Rosetta Stone. Unfortunately, I was overcome by boredomwithin a few hours – a fact that wouldn’t go down well with most users due to the software’s price tag. For travellers who aren’t prepared to purchase an expensive software, mobile apps are the best solution. Thankfully, there are a plethora of options available to users in languages as diverse as Spanish, German, Mandarin, Korean, Swahili and Turkish.

If you’re like most travellers, you’re main goal is not to become fluent in a language. You’re most likely interested in learning important phrases since fluency usually requires several years of extensive study. Language apps like Memrise teach common phrases and offer comprehensive tools which enable users to memorise what they learn. Apps like WordLens and Google Translate are also useful since they translate signs and text, offering real-time solutionswhich to those who traverse foreign cities.

Memrise

Memrise is a free language learning toolwhich relies on the collaboration of a community of users to provide courses that enhance your memory. The app provides an interactive learning experience through the incorporation of mnemonics, flash cards and a game-based interface.

At the center of the appis a gardening theme which is used to enhance your ability to learn new words. Whether your focus is on Spanish or Japanese, you’ll be able to choose from a host of courses that provide opportunities to “plant” or learn new words and “water” or revise what you learn as you go along. I found this gardening approach far more engaging than language learning alternatives like Rosetta Stone and best of all, it’s free.

Another great aspect of the app is the fact that it integrates social media. Thus, you can sign up for the app via your Facebook account. This results in an app that is more accessible to users like myself who aren’t very eager to go through a tedious sign-up process.

However, note that theMemrise app is far from perfect. Since many of the courses are provided by members of the community, i.e. Memrise users, some courses contain errors or limited content. For this reason, browse several courses in the language of your choice before making a decision. Also use other resources or apps as well since this course focuses on the memorisation of vocabulary instead of providing in-depth explanations on matters related to grammar or pronunciation.

Word Lens

This app is revolutionary in its approach as a language tool since it translates text in real time via your smartphonecamera. By offering real time translation, the app enables users to read signs, menus and a host of items with ease. This is a must-have app for travellers since it removes language barriers instantly and functions without an Internet connection.

The app scans signs and displays the translation via optical character recognition (OCR), a technology which has recently been featured in apps such as Google Translate. Not surprisingly, Word Lens was recently purchased by Google in a bid to develop the tech giant’s translation services.

Take advantage of Word Lens if you’re planning a trip this summer, especially since it will be free for a limited time due to its recent purchase by Google. Its unique OCR capabilities will help you read signs while you explore unique cities across the globe.

Google Translate

One of the best aspects of Google Translate is its extensive language compatibility which enables users to access translation features in more 60 languages. The mobile translation app has also improved significantly over the past few years, resulting in more diverseand versatilecapabilities. For instance, users can accesstranslation when they type, write, speak or capture an image. Since the app supports such an extensive input, users will be able to access far more opportunities to remove language barriers with their mobile device.

Like Word Lens, the app is also available in offline mode. This app will be useful since an Internet connection while globetrotting is not often guaranteed. To access features offline, be sure to download language packs for thelanguage you want to translate.

However, ensure that your mobile device is equipped with enough storage capabilities to accommodate these language packs. After all, some packs can gobble up as much as 300MB. Also note that though offline translation is available in about 50 languages, it is oftenmore limited than the online features which Google Translate provides. Thus, offline mode is most suited for those who require basic language translation.

Vocre

While apps like Memrise improve vocabulary and Word Lens reads signs, Vocre stands in a class of its own due to its ability to speak on behalf of its users. This app is ideal for those who want to improve their ability to have meaningful conversation in a foreign language. Once you choose the desired language, the app interprets your speech and reproduces thoseutterances in the language of your choice.

This app acts as a personal translator and is very useful since it is runs on your smartphone – a device which has become a personal companion for many modern gadget owners.With Vocre, users can carry their translator in their pockets and never have to miss out on an opportunity to communicate like a native speaker.

Once you download this app, you’ll be able to communicate in more than a dozen languages including Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese and German. Since it speaks on your behalf, you’ll also have little need to worry about pronunciation.

The app also enables users to type their translation request instead of speaking. This is ideal for those who may have speech impediments such as severe stuttering. You can keep track of the conversation as well since the app displays both your original utterances and the translation on the screen.

CatAcademy

CatAcademy, a product of the Memrise team, teaches Spanish by employing cute cat images. Apparently, research indicates that cute images, particularly those of cats can significantly increase our ability to retain information. The CatAcademy app displays images and associates them with text, thus offering a unique flash card system that through mnemonic capabilities enables even the most reluctant or disillusioned learner to acquire newfound language skills.

The visual mnemonics help users memorise up to 1,000 phrases (2,000-3000 words in total) and are especially useful for those who intent to travel but lack the time to become engaged in more intensive and expensive programs. The app has been praised by critics and tech media experts like TechCrunch due to its engaging nature and impressive results.

The world of language acquisition due to dramatic development in the past few years has placed travellers and language students at an advantage. The availability of user-friendly apps such as Google Translate, Memrise and CatAcademy enables users to access comprehensive tools which provide real-time translation and vocabulary development which is as engaging as it is useful. Though these apps are not perfect they offer an alternative to hefty textbooks and flashcards which in the past would strain our suitcases.