Duolingo for Learning Languages—Free

Duolingo is a free language-learning app for Apple and Android devices. It teaches the basics of Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian and can also be used for English language learning for those who are native speakers of these languages. According to the Duolingo site, making this product free is possible because people or companies upload Webpages they want translated into other languages. Those using the program translate the page during their language learning practice. “When the document is fully translated, Duolingo returns it to the original content owner who . . . pays for the translation.” In fact, Duolingo, using its “language incubator”, plans to add more languages by having volunteers develop courses.

The program received PC Magazine Editors’ Choice award for Language Learning and the Wall Street Journal called it the best free language learning app. Lessons are short and are designed to fit each different language. The program gets high marks from those who use it.

Splash into Schmoop SAT II Spanish

Shmoop, the company that offers a fast and fun way to flex mental muscles, now offers SAT II Spanish and SAT II Spanish with Listening Test Prep. According to Shmoop, it’s fiesta, not siesta time as the programs helps students “ninja kick” every section of the exam and become a grammar guru as well. If you haven’t experienced any of Shmoop’s unique offerings and your students are planning to take SAT II Spanish, take a look at this test prep option. Chances are—your students will learn from it and enjoy it, too. After all, what other SAT prep lets them build their own Frankenstein and capture King Kong?