Learn Spanish - App Review
Learning any language can be tricky. It requires a lot of time and patience and to an extent, a reasonable amount of interactivity. One could spend a lifetime reading the Spanish language, but without ever applying it, it would be hard to asses comprehension. After all, we choose the words we speak. Learn Spanish by Mindsnacks provides an interactive environment in which to learn the language. Other apps by Mindsnacks include Chinese, Portuguese, English, French, German and even one for SAT vocab.
Learn Spanish combines gaming and learning into one very entertaining and effective app. The app is organized by six different games that challenge you in various ways. For example, one game times you as you use letters to spell out the number that's displayed.
Another one displays an English word and you have to choose the Spanish equivalent. Oh, and you're being timed on this one, too.
The app is mainly geared towards beginner and intermediate learners.
The graphics and text are well organized. It's clear from the sign-up screen that this app is easy to use, and designed for someone who has very limited experience with games. At any time, you can pause the game you're in and go back to the Main Menu. There, you have the option of reviewing numbers, for example.
The content in the review section will change depending on which level you're on. I think the review section is actually very smart. The app is designed as sort of a "one-stop shop" for learning Spanish. The games are only testing you on the material that is in the review section so at no point do you have to use some other resource. Also, the graphics in the review section are bright, colorful and creative which, as far as "multimedia" goes, I think helps learners visualize better and make stronger connections.
The games are definitely designed so that you can learn. For example, in the spelling the numbers game, you're given a few of the same numbers purposely so you develop more of a fluency with them. Then, there will be a few numbers that are thrown in just to see how much you know. If you don't answer correctly, the numbers will cycle back through the most familiar ones again. At the end of the game, you'll see a chart of the numbers that you answered and a rough average of how many times you got them correct. You'll be able to see which numbers you know very well and which ones you need to work on more. The app is very aware of the level at which you're working. Once you accumulate enough points, you'll graduate to the next one. I actually paid $4.99 to get 50 levels and I intend to, at some point, get my $4.99 dollar's worth.
As far as UDL goes, I do think that this app does an adequate job of meeting basic UDL principles. I wonder if there will ever be a committee, like the MPAA, that assigns a stamp of approval for apps that are "UDL-Approved." I have yet to Google this so there may already be something like this currently available. In terms of basic representation, expression and engagement, Learn Spanish does provide simulations that incorporate those principles. The games are designed to make you think (quickly, mind you - you're being timed!), but most of all, participate in an engaging way. "Active learning" comes to mind with this app because it actually keeps you in constant motion, so to speak. There's hardly any down time with the exception of after you finish around and have to wait for the scores. But even with scores, as was mentioned earlier, you're shown the words, numbers, etc. that you know well and the ones that you need to know a little better. Thus, you're constantly learning new things, testing those new things and assessing your own skill level. This kind of formula would be perfect for Math apps and I'm sure there must be several that work in this way. The way I learn best is to constantly be tested on something repeatedly until it's engrained in my memory. I remember my mom testing me with spelling words, back in the day, and eventually that's how I would test myself when I studied on my own. This app works similarly in that it's giving you new information and making sure that it's sticking. I actually love how you have to spell out the numbers because it works! Having not read Spanish in a while, my spelling was a little rusty. But after playing the game, I quickly remebered that twenty is spelled veinte. (I guess I was used to ordering "venti's" from Starbucks and continuing to confuse myself with Spanish and Italian. I took a year of Italian, too, and the languages are incredibly similar.)
Learn Spanish is a great example of the situated congnition theory. This is an app that makes you "do." It provides an effective and engaging experience (also an aesthetically pleasing one) that will teach you basic and intermediate levels of Spanish. A lot depends on your retention abilities, but the game is designed to advance you to the next level only when you're truly ready. So while there might be some repetition to get there, in the end, you will be more competent overall. I think that this a great app that I plan to use myself. I would be curious to know what data, if any, indicates the median at which people advance levels and complete the game. Did I mention the game is fun, too? Yes, it's fun playing and learning Spanish! And while I was only at the beginning levels, I would love to see a section devoted to sentence structure and grammar. I feel like those are always such key elements in any language and are often the most challenging. Overall, I found out very quickly that this would be an app that I could learn from. I can certainly see this app being used in schools and having homework assignments derived from levels.