Starting a Language App: English Vocabulary, Phrases and Dialogue

Key words and phrases

language appa mobile application designed to teach a new languageHe downloaded a popular language app that evening.

daily streaka count of consecutive days someone has practiced without missing a dayHe was proud of his ten-day daily streak.

vocabulary drilla repetitive exercise used to memorize new wordsThe vocabulary drills felt slow at first.

pronunciation practiceexercises focused on correctly saying words out loudThe pronunciation practice made him feel a bit silly at first.

beginner levelthe introductory stage of learning something newHe started right from the beginner level.

fall out of the habitto stop doing something regularly that one used to do consistentlyHe was worried he'd fall out of the habit after a busy week.

set a reminderto schedule an alert to prompt a taskHe set a reminder to practice every evening at eight.

gamified learninga learning method that uses game-like features to keep users engagedThe gamified learning kept him motivated with points and levels.

mother tonguethe first language a person learns as a childIt felt strange thinking in a language other than his mother tongue.

phrasebooka collection of common expressions used for quick referenceHe kept a small phrasebook for the trip too.

practice sessiona set period of time dedicated to learning or rehearsingHis practice session lasted about fifteen minutes a day.

get the hang of itto become comfortable and skilled at doing somethingAfter a week, he started to get the hang of it.

motivation dipsmoments when enthusiasm for a task decreases temporarilyMotivation dips are normal in the second week.

build a new habitto establish a regular practice through repetitionHe was determined to build a new habit this time.

notification fatiguetiredness caused by too many app alerts and remindersHe started ignoring the app due to notification fatigue.

Useful sentences

Ask Why did you suddenly start learning Spanish?
Answer We have a trip coming up, and I wanted to learn some basics.
Ask How long is your daily practice session?
Answer Just fifteen minutes, but I try not to skip it.
Ask Are the vocabulary drills getting easier?
Answer A little, I'm slowly getting the hang of it.
Ask How long is your daily streak now?
Answer Ten days, I don't want to break it.
Ask Do you find the pronunciation practice awkward?
Answer A bit, talking to my phone still feels silly.
Ask Are you worried about falling out of the habit?
Answer Yes, that's why I set a reminder every evening.
Ask Does the gamified learning actually help you stay motivated?
Answer Surprisingly, yes, the points keep me coming back.
Ask Do you still think in your mother tongue while learning?
Answer Mostly, but occasionally a Spanish word just comes to mind first.

Dialogue

PriyaWhat's this new app on your phone? Duolingo?

RahulYes, I started learning Spanish for our trip. It's harder than I expected.

PriyaHow's your daily streak going?

RahulTen days so far. I set a reminder so I don't fall out of the habit.

PriyaAre the vocabulary drills useful?

RahulVery, though the pronunciation practice makes me feel a bit silly.

PriyaThat's normal at the beginner level. Do you enjoy the gamified learning?

RahulActually, yes. The points and streaks keep me motivated.

PriyaJust watch out for notification fatigue, it gets a lot of alerts.

RahulTrue, but I'm determined to build a new habit this time.

Common mistakes

Saying "do the app" instead of "use the app" or "practice on the app."
Saying "streak of ten day" instead of "a ten-day streak."
Saying "fall out habit" without "of the," better as "fall out of the habit."
Saying "set reminder" without an article, better as "set a reminder."
Saying "get hang of it" without "the," better as "get the hang of it."
Saying "my mother tongue is" as "is my mother tongue" — keep natural word order.

Quick quiz

1. What is a "daily streak"?

2. What does "fall out of the habit" mean?

3. What is "gamified learning"?

4. What does "mother tongue" mean?

5. What does "get the hang of it" mean?

6. What does "notification fatigue" mean?

Practise speaking and listening

The free Day to Day English app turns every lesson into practice with audio, a story you follow and more than 1680 words to learn.

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