The Ultimate Top Tools for Language Learning from 2016-2020

If you’re a regular listener of the Fluent Show podcast, you know that we regularly recommend our favourite new tools to help language learners. We’ve been doing this for 4 years (40 recommendations below!

For our first 2020 edition, we felt that it was time to revisit every single one of these recommendations to sort out which ones we have LOVED for years now. The results are in, so roll out the red carpet and let’s see who’s in the…

You can listen to our deliberations and discussions of every single top tool and its merits at:

Top Tools Hall of Fame

The best tools for EVERY language learner:

ALL of these top tools have web and app based versions and lots of languages available for you to pick from.

The Beginners Badge for people who want good beginner materials goes to 50 Languages.

The Minority Medal for a tool that is best if you are interested in learning a minority language goes to the LiveLingua Project.

The Goblet of Recognition for a tool that we brought back again and again goes to VOCAB NOTEBOOKS like these. In America, Gregg or Pitman ruled notebooks might do this job for you.

Top Tools Nominees

Here is the FULL list of nominees, including links to every podcast episode and blog article so you can follow our discussions and read more about the tools you like.

Autumn/Winter 2016

Podcast: https://www.fluent.show/57

Blog: https://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/blog/the-best-language-learning-tools-of-autumnwinter-2016

  • Lyricstraining.com
  • Gus on The Go
  • TuneIn Radio
  • Tiny Cards (by Duolingo)
  • Eggbun

Spring/Summer 2017

Podcast: https://www.fluent.show/61

Blog: https://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/blog/top-tools-summer-2017

  • Clozemaster
  • Live Lingua Project
  • YouTube in your Target Language
  • Subasub
  • Charity Shops and Library Sales

Autumn/Winter 2017/2018

Podcast: https://www.fluent.show/71

Blog: https://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/blog/language-tools-winter

  • Leaflets from tourist attractions and reviews on TripAdvisor
  • Libby
  • Léa Knows
  • Flowlingo
  • Lingq

Spring/Summer 2018

Podcast: https://www.fluent.show/89

Blog: https://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/blog/podcast-episode-89-language-tools

  • FutureLearn
  • Babadum
  • r/languagelearning on Reddit
  • Lingodeer
  • Text Inspector

Autumn/Winter 2018

Podcast: https://www.fluent.show/109

Blog: https://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/blog/language-top-tools-autumn-winter-2018

  • Writing Prompts
  • 50languages.com
  • Omniglot
  • Yask
  • Calligraphy Sets

Spring/Summer 2019

Podcast: https://www.fluent.show/137

Blog: https://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/blog/toptools-springsummer-2019

  • Evertype
  • Music Planet Roadtrip
  • Insight Timer
  • Genius
  • Pleco
  • Teach Yourself Library

Autumn/Winter 2019

Podcast: https://www.fluent.show/160

Blog: https://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/blog/toptools-autumnwinter-2019

  • FlipWord
  • The Indo-European Cognate Dictionary
  • Quizklip
  • Master Any Language

Enjoy a browse through all these recommendations and let us know which ones you enjoyed the most!

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9 of the Best Podcasts for Learning German

German is a great language for learning by podcast. There is a big selection, so I've gone and selected 9 of the best shows for you to discover.

In this article, you'll find

  1. German Podcast Courses from Deutsche Welle
  2. Podcasts in Slow German
  3. German Video Shows
  4. Story-Based and German Culture Podcasts
  5. A tip on how to find podcasts produced by native German speakers
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