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Best language program for kids


11 Best Language Learning Apps and Websites for Kids

You might have heard that childhood is the best time to learn a new language, and it's absolutely true. 

Young children can learn foreign languages faster than teenagers and adults, and, often, they can learn to speak without an accent. If you want your child to be bilingual, then early childhood is the place to start.

But young children learn languages differently. Most don't have the patience or the interest to memorize grammar tables or lists of vocabulary words. For kids, language 

Editor's Note: This article contains sponsored content. 

How Early Can a Child Start Learning?

It's never too early to learn a language. After all, babies start learning their native language the moment they hear their parents speak. And if they're exposed to more than one language, their minds can tell the difference and keep them separate!

At the same time, not all language learning systems work for all kids. Children of different ages learn differently, and even within age groups, individuals may respond better to different types of activities.

Babies and Toddlers

Did you know that a child can start learning a language before they know how to speak? 

Programs for babies and toddlers should provide the opportunity to hear the language spoken by native speakers. Toddlers will also enjoy repeating back the names of familiar objects and putting words together into simple constructions.

Short videos work well for toddlers, especially if there's a simple story that they can follow.

Preschoolers

Immersive learning can be a great way to go for preschoolers. 

Interactive stories and videos can teach children how words fit together, and how to use them to communicate. By listening and participating, preschool-aged children can learn naturally, using their innate curiosity and creativity.

Remember, though, that at this age, many children have an attention span of minutes. Moreover, many experts recommend that screen time be kept to a minimum. So choose programs that respect these guidelines.

Elementary Aged Kids

For kids aged six and above, it's all about the games.

Gamified exercises can teach kids about vocabulary, grammar, and usage. At the same time, feedback and rewards systems can keep them engaged in the process. Bite-sized, themed lessons keep things fresh.

Some elementary-aged kids are also able to benefit from structured learning techniques like formal grammar study and flash cards.

Tweens and Teens

Tweens and teens like games, too, but their learning style is often closer to that of adults. Language learning systems for older kids should focus on real-life situations and conversations that they can use.

Many tweens and teens can also benefit from formal grammar and analytical skills.

And, when it comes to young adults, social is everything. Look for apps that allow them to engage with other language learners, earn prizes, and compete with their peers.

The Best Apps and Websites to Help You Get Started 

Language learning apps, websites, and online programs can be a great way to start your child on the road to learning a new language. 

We've chosen a selection of programs for children of different ages that can help your child start learning a new language today.

1. LingoAce

Chinese Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world with over 1.2 billion speakers! Mandarin has often been dubbed the “language of the future,” and is an incredible skill for your child to have as they go through school and eventually begin a career.  

LingoAce makes Mandarin Chinese engaging and immersive through a comprehensive language learning program. LingoAce is not just an app. By signing up for the LingoAce platform, each child gets to work with a team of four professionals (a teacher, course consultant, learning advisor, and technical support professional) in a course that's created specifically for the child.

With LingoAce’s tailor-made learning programs, children not only learn to understand and speak Chinese Mandarin, but they’ll also discover how to read and write important Chinese characters! 

Studies have shown that there is actually a scientific link between learning Mandarin and improved mathematical ability. Since Chinese Mandarin uses visual characters and drawings rather than the English alphabet, it helps children use different parts of their brains. This leads to improved problem-solving abilities and artistic communication. 

Who it's For:

LingoAce is for children between the ages of six and 15 who:

  • Enjoy fun and educational online programs
  • Want to learn new skills
  • Are interested in Chinese culture and language

How it Works:

After an initial consultation and free trial lesson, LingoAce will develop a personalized curriculum for your child. In addition, the LingoAce professionals will tailor the program to fit your child's individual educational and scheduling needs. Younger children can be delighted by LingoAce’s gamified approach to learning and storytelling. They’ll be brought along on an adventure with Nana and Qiqui – solving puzzles and completing interactive games and challenges along the way.  

LingoAce has over 4,000 teachers around the world. Graduates from the top 100 language universities, their team has the depth of expertise and diversity of experience to bring Chinese learning to life for every young learner.

Their passionate professionals have additional training that allows them to design curricula to suit the needs of every student, regardless of level or learning style.

How to Begin: 

LingoAce is running a special promotion for you! If you purchase a package of lessons, you can receive up to 16 free lessons! Book your free trial lesson at the LingoAce website.

2. Duolingo

The Duolingo app doesn't need a lot of introduction. It's one of the most popular free language learning apps today. DuoLingo uses a gamified, conversational approach to teach a variety of languages, including:

  • Spanish
  • French
  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • ​English
  • German
  • ​Hebrew
  • Irish
  • Hindi
  • ​Japanese
  • ​Korean
  • ​Polish
  • Swedish
  • ​Turkish
  • Welsh 

And more. You can even become bilingual in languages from your favorite franchises, like High Valyrian from Game of Thrones and Klingon from Star Trek! 

Who it's For:

This one is fun enough for elementary-aged children, but popular with teens and adults, too. 

In addition, Duolingo's AI-driven learning will adapt lessons to every learner's level and pace.

How it Works:

Duolingo is a free app that you can download from your app store. It works on Android, as well as on iPad and iPhone.

The app breaks language learning down into fun games and bite-sized mini-lessons that teach speaking, reading, and listening skills.

Forget textbooks and flashcards. DuoLingo emphasizes real-world communication with basic words and everyday expressions. Lessons focus on real-life goals and language skills that you will use in actual communication.

It's social, too. You can link up with friends using the app, challenge yourself and others to maintain a streak, and more.

How to Begin: 

Download the DuoLingo app from their website and get cracking!

​3. Little Pim

Little Pim is a subscription-based online language learning program that teaches primarily through short videos voiced by native speakers.

Students can choose from 12 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, German, French, Hebrew, Russian, and others.

Who it's For:

Little Pim is for infants, toddlers, and young children under six.

How it Works:

Research has shown that between birth and age six, children have a unique window for language learning. Little Pim is aimed at this window.

The program operates on the principle of immersion. The program was developed by neuroscientists, language teachers, and parents.

Each lesson is a five-minute video focussing on a child-friendly vocabulary set. 

You can play Little Pim videos on your computer, tablet, and on your TV through Chromecast and Roku.

How to Begin:

Go to the Little Pim website to start your free trial.

​4. Rosetta Stone

​Rosetta Stone is another heavy hitter in the world of educational apps, and it's easy to see why. This is a subscription-based program that allows you to choose from up to 24 of the world's most popular languages.

Rosetta Stone's language courses have been used by businesses for more than 25 years, and has become a trusted way for adults and children alike to learn a second language (or a third, or a fourth...)

Who it's For:

The app is for language learners of all ages. Rosetta Stone also has a special program for homeschoolers.

How it Works:

Rosetta Stone primarily works through immersion. Lessons are themed, for example, "greetings and introductions," and "work and school." Their patented speech recognition engine helps users to self-correct and perfect their pronunciation.

Additional coaching services from native speakers are available, too.

Rosetta Stone works online and off, through your mobile device. Subscribers can also download lessons onto their devices.

How to Begin:

Go to Rosetta Stone's website and start your free trial.

5. Babbel

Babbel is a subscription-based service. Language learners can choose from among 13 different languages and two different programs: app-based self-study and live online language classes with native speakers.

Who It's For: 

Babel recommends the app for kids ages 14 and up, as some content and exercises may contain phrases that are less appropriate for younger children. 

How it Works: 

The Babel system was developed with the input of over 150 language experts.

There are two different lesson styles: a self-study app that involves interactive games and activities that focus on conversational skills, and online lessons with a live native speaker coach.

Both methods take a holistic approach, incorporating useful phrases, new words, and common constructions with grammar tips and language recognition to help you to perfect your pronunciation.

How to Begin: 

You can get started now at Babbel's website.

​6. Mondly

Mondly is an app that can teach you up to 41 different languages, including variants, such as British and American English, and the Portuguese spoken in either Portugal or Brazil. 

It may not be as well known as DuoLingo, but many consider Mondly to be one of the best language learning apps on the market.

Who it's For: 

Mondly is unique in that it doesn't just aim its lessons at English speakers. Speakers of many other languages can also use the app to learn a variety of other languages.

The gamified, short lesson approach makes Mondly a good choice for older children, teens, and adults. There's also a special program for younger kids.

People who prefer a structured approach will appreciate Mondly's grammar tables and vocabulary builders.

How it Works: 

Each of Mondly's short, interactive lessons center on a theme, such as greetings or weather.

In addition, learners can use tools such as the chatbot to practice and reinforce learning.

Mondly Kids includes a variety of interactive games, exercises, and high-quality audio to make language learning fun.

How to Begin: 

Download the Mondly app on Google Play or your favorite app store and get started.

7. Gus on the Go

​Gus on the Go is an app-based learning system. Learners can choose between 30 languages, including vulnerable languages like Ingush.

Who it's For: 

Gus on the Go is aimed at young children, from preschool through elementary age.  

How it Works: 

The Gus on the Go system utilizes short lessons, interactive games, stories, and videos to teach a broad variety of languages. 

Lessons center on useful topics such as food, clothes, parts of the body, and so forth, and are voiced by native speakers.

How to Begin: 

Download the Gus on the Go app from your favorite app store or from Amazon, and start your child's language learning adventure.

8. Fluent U

Fluent U is a subscription-based immersion language learning system that teaches through videos.

Who it's For: 

Fluent U is aimed at older children, teens, and adults. 

How it Works: 

Language teachers often recommend that their students watch TV or movies in the target language, to understand how the language sounds and is used in real life. 

Fluent U provides videos that you can stop and start as needed. In addition, videos have captions in the target language, and you can hover your cursor over each word for translation and usage suggestions.

You can also see specific words and phrases used in other videos to give a clearer idea of context.

You can watch Fluent U's videos online or download them to your device to watch at your leisure.

How to Begin: 

Hop on over to the Fluent U website to start your free trial.

9. Muzzy

Muzzy is a subscription-based immersion system for language learning. The program itself was developed more than 30 years ago, and has recently been adapted into a combination website and app.

Who it's For: 

Muzzy is aimed at children from preschool age to tweens. There are also special programs for homeschoolers, libraries, and schools.

How it Works: 

Muzzy works on the principles of "see, say, learn." Children learn through animated stories in the target language featuring Muzzy and friends. 

Using a variety of multisensory techniques, Muzzy is designed for a variety of learning styles. Each lesson builds on the previous one, and provides practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Muzzy is a combination website and app that includes videos and more than 400 interactive learning games. There are also vocabulary builders, printables, sing-a-longs, and full-length movies.

How to Begin: 

Select the subscription plan that's right for you, and start learning!

10. DinoLingo

If you have a dinosaur-loving kid, DinoLingo could be the language learning app you're looking for. DinoLingo is a child-safe subscription-based service accessible through devices, computers, and your smart TV.

Who it's For:

DinoLingo is for kids aged two through ten.

How it Works: 

DinoLingo helps children to learn any of 50 different languages. The system uses a multisensory, gamified approach, with short lessons and reward systems to encourage children to keep learning.

DinoLingo's library of more than 30,000 activities includes:

  • Videos
  • Games
  • Songs
  • Books
  • Worksheets
  • Flashcards

And more.

You can choose an individual account or a family subscription for up to four family members.

How to Begin: 

Learn more at the DinoLingo website.

11.  Mango Languages

Mango Languages is an award-winning app-based system developed by linguists. Users can choose between an incredible 70 languages.

Who it's For: 

Language learners aged six to adult. Mango Languages is also one of the top-rated language learning apps for homeschoolers and distance learning.

How it Works: 

Mango Languages focuses on speech and auditory comprehension. Learners listen to conversations between native speakers, which teach vocabulary, listening comprehension, grammar, pronunciation, and culture.

Users can use speech recognition and analysis technology to perfect their pronunciation.

Users can access Mango Languages online or off. There are also placement tests and progress tracking. In addition, each account can host up to five different learners.

How to Begin: 

Hop on over to the Mango Languages website to start your free two-week trial.

Whatever your child's age, experience, or learning style, there's a language learning system for them. Get started today! 

The 13 Best Online Language Learning Resources for Kids

By Sheena Dizon and Stevie D. Last updated:

Looking for the best online language learning programs for your kid(s)?

Whether you’re a language learner yourself or just an awesome parent/caretaker, giving children access to the joys and endless benefits of acquiring a new language is one of the best things you can do for them.

Let’s look at the best in online language learning for kids.

Contents

  • When Is the Best Time to Start Learning a New Language?
  • 3 Characteristics of a Kid-friendly Language Learning Program
    • Interactivity
    • Creativity
    • Variety
  • 13 Online Language Learning Resources for Kids and Kids at Heart
    • Little Pim
    • FluentU
    • MUZZY
    • Duolingo
    • Dino Lingo
    • PetraLingua
    • Mango Languages
    • Languagenut
    • PBS Learning Media
    • Unuhi: Bilingual Books
    • Studycat
    • Gus on the Go
    • Mondly Kids

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

When Is the Best Time to Start Learning a New Language?

It’s no secret that it takes significantly less effort for a child to learn a new language compared to an adult. It’s even easier for babies to learn two languages at the same time, considering that they’re a blank slate, whereas adults have to make a conscious effort to not apply grammar and pronunciation in their mother tongue to their target language.

This begs the question of when the optimal age is for learning a language to fluency. Is it during infancy? Does the probability of reaching native-level proficiency significantly decrease if a kid only starts learning a second language as a teen?

For a while, most people believed that kids must start learning in early childhood in order to become bilingual. However, an MIT study from 2018 indicates that it’s highly likely for children to become fluent in another language if they start before the age of 10. In addition, after the age of 18, learning grammar concepts in a new language become increasingly more difficult.

To be honest, the results of this study aren’t all that surprising. And while the research states a cutoff age or a critical period for foreign language acquisition, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t become bilingual, trilingual or even multilingual as an adult. It mostly depends on the learning strategy.

Think about it. Kids will easily learn their mother tongue or parents’ native language because they’re constantly surrounded by the language either at home, school or both. They pick up languages quickly through this immersive environment and they don’t spend as much time analyzing grammar structures.

Although immersion is definitely a learning method that adults can benefit from, maturity also comes with the ability to do better with explicit rules and explanations of language concepts.

So when is the best time, you ask?

The earlier you or your kids start, the better. Starting before age 10 is recommended.

But at the same time, know that it’s never too late to learn a new language!

3 Characteristics of a Kid-friendly Language Learning Program

Before I list the resources that you’re looking for, I’m going to give you the three most impoerant characteristics of a kid-friendly program. Think of them as the three equally supportive legs of a stool.

Interactivity

A language learning program tailored for kids is highly interactive. It engages the senses and imagination and makes the kids an important part of the learning process.

When dealing with children, a straight-up passive lecture isn’t effective. They barely can sit still, much less keep their eyes on the lesson. You’re dealing with short attention spans and so you need to use activity after activity to keep them engaged in the lesson.

A kid-friendly program gives children something to do—with their hands, their eyes, their imaginations. It doesn’t expect them to get through the whole thing without a fuss.

So an online resource full of boring text won’t be a hit. It’ll barely register. If a language learning program is full of paragraphs, then move on.

Kids don’t think of language learning as a linguistic goal made up of words and phrases. They think of it as an activity—a game, a dance, a song or an audiovisual experience. They engage in the experience and forget that they’re already learning about the language.

So it’s like you’re layering the lessons behind some fun activities.

This is unlike the adult programs where the language lessons are so explicit and in your face. It’s not like kids are going to say to themselves, “Okay, today I’m gonna memorize 10 vocabulary words about food.”

Creativity

I’m sure you’ve had the experience of asking your little one to do something she doesn’t want to do. You’re feeding her, for example, and she stops opening her mouth, resisting you at every turn. So you start getting creative. You turn that tiny spoon into an airplane, doing backflips and somersaults in the air. Sometimes it’s a train “choo-choo-choo-ing” into her mouth.

Eating is an activity, but your way is more fun and creative.

Memorizing a list of words from a sheet of paper is also an activity. But it’s hardly creative. When dealing with kids, a program has to rise to their level of creativity and imagination. I’m talking about bright colors, moving objects, talking animals, cartoon characters, changing scenery, storylines, rescue missions, interplanetary drama, etc.

Suddenly, your kid isn’t just learning about numbers, he’s counting gold coins in Czech so he can buy the flying pony he’ll use to rescue the princess. And when he’s done saving her, he gets to meet her family—the king, some rowdy uncles—and along the way, learn about family vocabulary. That’s an activity, and a creative one!

Variety

They say that variety is the spice of life. If the same thing is done over and over, the novelty soon wears off. It’s not a challenge anymore. It becomes a chore.

Kids will only engage with material if it still interests them. If there’s something new, something unexpected.

They don’t care if they learn the language lessons you want them to or not. They don’t look far into the future and think, “Being bilingual will raise my value at work.” They’re in the present, thinking, “What’s in it for me right now?”

And if it’s the same thing over and over, they’ll want nothing to do with it.

A good online language learning program for kids knows this. That’s why the creators throw in plenty of different activities. They try to teach the same lesson in different ways. For example, a lesson about numbers can be taught in a song. It can also be taught in a story, or a game, so the kids don’t get sick of the same lesson. Because hey, it’s not really the same lesson. (Wink!)

Resources can also test for the same vocabulary set in different ways, even involving different skills. They can test for pronunciation by asking the children to speak into a microphone, they can do word pairs and they can make the activity more interactive by asking the kids to type in the answer. They can also tap into that competitive spirit and facilitate language contests with other students online.

A good rule of thumb is that a really good online resource for kids will have at least five different types of creative activities.

With all that being said, I’m now going to show you some of the best online resources for kids today.

13 Online Language Learning Resources for Kids and Kids at Heart

Some of these programs are specifically made for kids, while others are all-ages programs that just happen to have features that are great for kids.

Both types of programs have their advantages. With programs designed for kids, you can rest assured that your children are being catered to by experts, whereas with general programs, you may be more inclined to join in on the fun!

Little Pim

Recommended age: 1-6

Available languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, German, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and English/ESL with English or Spanish.

Adults might run for dear life at the sight of a bear, but kids think they’re cute and cuddly.

Little Pim, that lovable panda, can be your children’s video guide to learning any or all of the 12 languages on offer. What used to be recorded on multiple DVDs can now be video streamed or digitally downloaded, but you still get that Little Pim cuteness and goofy goodness that won the program over 25 awards.

Their learning system, the Entertainment Immersion Method, was developed by top language teachers and neuroscientists. It employs repetition, play and child-friendly themes to tap into toddlers’ natural love for learning. The videos are a combination of animations and live-action clips that introduce topics like colors and numbers. They run for only five minutes to accommodate a young audience.

The program has a single subscription for all the languages, which also includes offline activities and printable, as well as more resources and learning tips. A subscription will set you back $9.99 per month, or $69.99 for the whole year. You can also access the companion guides to each lesson for free for a visual representation of the language taught in the program.

FluentU

Android | iOS

Recommended age: all ages

Available languages: Chinese, Spanish, French, English, German, Japanese, Italian, Korean, Russian, Portuguese in development.

FluentU is your best bet for using authentic language learning videos and audio clips to teach languages the whole family will enjoy. While other programs often only have a handful of videos, FluentU has a wide variety of video clips that cover all language levels—from absolute beginners to advanced learners—as well as all ages.

FluentU takes real online videos and turns them into lessons that are personalized and digestible. You won’t have to struggle to get your kids away from the TV to do their language practice, because they’ll be able to watch the same sort of stuff they’d be entranced by on TV, anyway—but in the target language.

Videos range from content made specifically to appeal to children—like cartoons, music videos and movie trailers—to content you may enjoy yourself—such as politics, news and TED talks. This means you may want to help select content that’s appropriate for your child’s age, level and interests, but this is a great opportunity for you to get involved in the language learning process and for you and your kids to learn both individually and together as a family.

Each video comes with interactive subtitles that allow you to get an instant translation of unknown words as well as dictionary entries for each word. You can also practice these new words with personalized quizzes that allow for written and voice input.

MUZZY

Android | iOS

Recommended age: all ages

Available languages: Online: Spanish (Latin America or Catalonian), French, English (British or American), German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Korean. On DVD: Spanish, French, English, German, Italian and Mandarin Chinese.

MUZZY is the BBC’s answer to language learning for all ages. This immersion program, described as “The World’s #1 Language Course for Children,” is centered around animated characters and stories in video “episodes.” The episodes are designed to naturally build on one another, enabling your child to learn through an engaging, interactive method, rather than traditional “teaching.”

You can get started with the online program for $14.66 per month, or save by going with a semi-annual or annual plan. You also have the option of a DVD set with a risk-free trial period and payment plan. You can watch the videos wherever is convenient, whether that’s on the website or the apps, or through an on-demand service like Roku, FireTV or Chromecast.

The program will introduce your child to 600+ vocabulary words and cover everyday topics like telling time, talking about food, transportation, occupations, basic tenses (past, present and future), asking questions and more.

Since Muzzy BBC is effective for all types of learners and is meant to let your child learn the language naturally, it’s a great low-pressure way to expose kids to a second language at any age.

Duolingo

Android | iOS

Recommended age: all ages

Available languages: 37 languages (some in beta), including some unique options like Navajo and Scottish Gaelic, as well as fantasy languages like High Valerian and Klingon.

Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning programs online. It’s so successful because it’s (mostly) free, and it gives adults permission to learn like little kids!

The app divides lessons into bite-sized game-like experiences. It uses repetition and different interactive activities to embed vocabulary into your mind and keep it fresh. Learners are given little tasks. The idea is, the more of these teenie tiny tasks they do, the better they’ll remember the target language.

Duolingo also uses audio prompts and pictures, as well as animal cartoon characters to keep things fun.

This combination of fun and learning makes Duolingo an excellent option for kids as well as adults, so you can easily participate in it with your child. You can guide him and give instant feedback, making for some great joint language learning!

Duolingo may look simple and straightforward, but there’s actually a lot going on under the hood. Learners may be asked to choose the translation of a word from the given choices. Sometimes, the actual translation needs to be typed. Sometimes, the task goes the other way and learners are given the English translation and are asked to supply the target language equivalent.

Duolingo repeats the tasks, goes back and forth between languages, mixes and matches previously learned words and keeps learners on their toes. It also does a good job of remembering the words learners have difficulty with so they can be offered for review.

Duolingo is free, but a premium subscription is available for $12.99 per month (or less if you commit to more time), and includes perks like no ads, offline access and unlimited use of the app.

Dino Lingo

Android | iOS

Recommended age: 2-12

Available languages: 51 languages including popular languages like Chinese, Spanish and German, and less popular choices like Danish, Pubjabi and Hawaiian.

Dino Lingo is an award-winning language program for kids, named so for the cute dinosaurs who introduce your kids to their target languages. The program gets children learning new languages through games, songs, videos, worksheets and more. Languages come with a wide range of excellent resources created with kids in mind, like audiobooks and storybooks, flashcards and games such as memory games and word wheels (for vocab acquisition).

The program covers everyday topics like household items, family, body parts, clothes, nature and actions. It does so in a colorful and fun way that’ll have your kids happily repeating these lessons over and over.

Dino Lingo offers a subscription for $19.99 per month, or $119 for a full year. You can also stream videos on your Smart TV

Parents can also print some easily downloadable worksheets and activity books, so you can not only work closely with your little one, but also get a window into the things that they’re learning. This way, you can gauge a child’s progress and give them a helping hand.

PetraLingua

Recommended age: 3-10

Available languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, German and French.

PetraLingua is a multimedia vocabulary builder. Each course has 21 lessons that teach a range of vocabulary, from colors and clothing to fruits and vegetables. You can actually check the full list of topics covered before committing.

All told, each course features around 500 basic words, 80 animated language-learning videos, 11 songs, 140 interactive online games, a talking picture dictionary and a downloadable activity book.

Each lesson opens with an introductory video that identifies the vocabulary set that can be learned in that lesson. This is then followed by a parade of reinforcing activities, exercises and games that’ll help kids learn the new words. These include listen-and-repeat, listen-and-click and word-matching tasks that allow the kids to deal with the words in different contexts.

All told, each course features around 500 basic words, 80 language learning videos, 11 language learning songs, 140 interactive online games and a talking picture dictionary. For as low as $7.99 a month, or $47.99 if you commit to a year, you have yourself a great deal.

You can now purchase physical learning sets for each language for $89.99. These sets come with DVDs, CDs, books, songs and games, and include a year’s access to the PetraLingua online program.

Mango Languages

Android | iOS

Recommended age: 6 and up

Available languages: 70+ languages, from popular options to lesser-known options.

Your kids are going to need headphones for this one. The uniqueness of the program lies in its focus on conversational skills. If you want your kids to study in the morning and try out their newly learned phrases on the whole family in the afternoon, go with Mango Languages. It has that effect on children.

Each lesson starts by listening to a few lines of basic dialogue or conversation. The audio is accompanied by clear text of the whole exchange, and everything is color-coded so you can easily see which words correspond to their translations.

In the remainder of the lesson, the whole dialogue is deconstructed and broken down into lines, phrases and words. There’s a “Play” icon on every line so learners can self-pace and repeat the lines as often as needed. The learner is guided line-by-line and hears how each word is correctly spoken. If you hover the mouse on a particular line, up goes a translation of it.

You can even try using your microphone to compare your pronunciation to the native version you just heard!

Parents will appreciate the tracking tools, which let you see how your child is doing in their learning, and gives gentle reminders when it’s time to study some more.

For $17.99 a month, you and as many as five kids can start learning practically any language in the world. You can also choose to focus on just one language at $6.67 per month, instead.

Languagenut

iOS

Recommended age: 5-14

Available languages: Elementary school learners: 23 modern foreign languages, including English, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin. High school learners: Spanish, French and German.

Languagenut is the perfect vocabulary builder, pronunciation partner and spelling teacher. The program amply covers all bases and touches on all four key linguistic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The program has specific games that address each.

It’s widely used in schools in 32 countries around the world as a supplemental language teaching tool. But the program can be equally valuable for homeschooling families.

Languagenut may tackle the same topics (numbers, colors, greetings) as many other language programs, but it has some of the most graphically compelling interfaces on this side of language learning.

The elementary school program will teach your kids 440 words and phrases through 23 units. Target words are taught through 13 speaking, listening, reading and writing games. You’ll also find verb conjugation exercises, stories, songs and more.

There’s also specific content created for high schoolers who are learning Spanish, German or French. These programs take into account the learners’ age and provide engaging games, exercises and activities.

Plus, each program across their entire selection comes with 31 support languages—that means you can learn your target language from the comfort of your native language.

Pricing is available on request, and you can book a demo before committing.

PBS Learning Media

Recommended age: 2 and up

Available languages: Spanish, Japanese, French, German and Chinese.

Although this program doesn’t offer as many languages as the others on this list, PBS Learning Media does well in tackling all the different language skills in their audio and video lessons.

The clips are divided by grade levels: PreK-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. There are only 16 videos available across all the languages in the PreK-K section, but the rest of the levels have a substantial amount of content with around 200 videos.

The section for grades 3-5 contains almost 400 videos, so PBS Learning Media would be particularly useful for elementary-aged kids. This level is also great for adults who want to learn like kids but find the early childhood content too simple.

Other than language and level, you can filter your search further by audio, video, interactive or themed collection.

The audio clips tend to be short, mainly focusing on listening and speaking skills, while the videos are a mix of songs, conversations and standard lessons. The standard video lessons are quite handy since they also come with supporting materials for teachers, such as the lesson plan, video transcript, flashcards, assessments and more.

There are also interactive video lessons which are normally part of a series. These interactive lessons allow you to learn new vocabulary through cute adventure games where you can explore with the arrow keys and select correct terms with the mouse.

All the videos and activities are free to use, but you’ll get additional resources if you sign up as a teacher.

Unuhi: Bilingual Books

Android | iOS

Recommended age: 2-10

Available languages: English, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin (Simplified), Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Thai. Audio narration: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Mandarin Chinese.

Meaning “translate” in Hawaiian, Unuhi is a remarkable app for teaching a foreign language to children. Not only does it allow your kids to learn in their native tongue, but it also does it through the art of storytelling. Reading is crucial for cognitive development, and letting the little ones read bilingual stories in early childhood will also form their ability to think in the second language.

To help them read out loud, audio narration by native speakers is available for some languages, with more options currently underway.

The stories are short, with each page containing only one sentence in dual languages, accompanied by beautiful illustrations to let the kids visually connect with new vocabulary words. To reinforce these new words, Unuhi has numerous sets of flashcards that you and the kids can practice with.

Once you open up the app, you’ll be asked to select your two languages, but you also have the option to remove the second one if you want to focus on one language at a time.

The app is completely free to download and it gives you access to one e-book. You can either purchase moe e-books individually or select a bundle. Once you’ve purchased them, you can download them directly onto your device so you can access each story without an internet connection.

Studycat

Android | iOS

Recommended age: 3-10

Available languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French and German.

Created by a language teacher, artist and game designer in 2000, Studycat was a small classroom program that became a hit among the students. Because it was so popular with the kids, the founders turned it into a digital curriculum that they could share with fellow language teachers, schools and parents. Then, in 2011, the app was born to reach learners across the globe.

Studycat is the virtual teacher and learning buddy that’ll guide kids through phonics and more than 500 vocabulary terms and grammar points which align with the Cambridge Young Learners Starters program.

But instead of Studycat taking over the lesson, kids learn through fun and play—specifically interactive games, original songs and relatable cartoon characters with different voices so learners can listen to the language in different accents.

And the best part of it is that you can use the apps offline, with no pop-up ads or external links for distraction-free learning.

There’s also the Studycat Club, which grants you access to a wide selection of resources, great for family and classroom learning, students and teachers alike. These additional resources help to balance screen time and inspire teachers to create their lesson plans and diversify their teaching methods.

Pricing is available upon request. You can also sign up for a free trial.

Gus on the Go

iOS

Recommended age: 3-7

Available languages: 30 languages, from popular options like Portuguese to vulnerable tongues like Ingush.

Gus is a friendly owl that helps children explore the languages of the world through interactive exercises and adorable animations. Each language has its own app, so feel free to download as many languages as you want.

After every lesson, there’s a lesson review composed of fun exercises. Completing the review will unlock a cute game and trophies, which is very helpful in keeping the little ones motivated to learn more vocabulary words. The words taught in these lessons are very basic, themed around animals, food and colors, among others, making this a very good starting point for complete beginners.

Some of the languages also have free printables, such as flashcards and crafts, to supplement what you’re learning from the apps.

And once you or your kids are ready to move past the basic vocabulary, you can go on to their latest innovation known as Stories by Gus on the Go. As you can guess, this app lets you learn your target language through classic stories, brought to life with the introduction of new characters and audio narration so you can read and listen to the story.

So far, Stories by Gus on the Go is only available in four languages: French, Greek, Hebrew and Spanish.

Mondly Kids

Android | iOS

Recommended age: 5-12

Available languages: 33 languages, from popular choices like Korean and Spanish to less common options like Farsi and Afrikaans.

Known for its innovation in language education technology, Mondly now offers gamified lessons for kids. In addition to the regular Mondly features (quick daily lessons and audio by professional native speakers), the Mondly Kids app has really kid-friendly illustrations and cool sound effects to keep them engaged with new vocab words.

And unlike the original app that includes a leaderboard, the statistics on the kids’ app are exhibited on a brain map. It’s a smart move to remove the competitive element of the original Mondly app, as having the little ones participate in this kind of competition might add unnecessary stress and pressure to a program that’s meant to be fun.

The Mondly app for kids is quite impressive in terms of the topics they cover. Other than the standard food, animals, colors, numbers and parts of the body, they also have categories such as buildings, leisure and professions.

On top of the free daily lessons, there are 77 premium lessons, with a total of 400 words and 75 new phrases to learn. There are also weekly quizzes that still follow that gamified format.

The app is ad-free so that you and your kids can simply focus on language learning.

Pricing information can be found on their website.

 

Check out these 13 programs and test them for yourself.

Each program has its strengths and specialties, so choose whatever fits your situation.

And if you really want to make the best of it, learn a language with your kid. Two birds, one stone.

Good luck!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

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Top 5 Language Schools with Family Program

In addition to traveling to a traditional summer camp, in Malta you can organize a joint vacation with training for parents and children. Such tours are rare in other countries, and these tours end the fastest.

Do you want to go to English courses with your child, and still have time for the beach, excursions, shopping, walks around the towns of Malta and neighboring islands - in a word, get all the best that the island offers both children and adults? Family programs are designed for those who plan to do everything and a little more on vacation (but, let's tell a secret, they are also perfect for those who would like to just lie on the beach with a cocktail and a book). It is also important that, in comparison with other countries, a joint holiday with education in Malta will cost quite inexpensively.

Attention! When booking a trip with Edutravel, check if AirMalta regular flights are available at special prices.

Malta English language tours for kids and parents

Malta Bravo Kids Summer Camp Parent + Child

Children and parents take separate English programs at the INLINGUA language school, and live together in a hotel in the resort town of Sliema, surrounded by many attractions. During the day and in the evening, the guys relax on the best beaches of the island, have fun and go on excursions with Russian-speaking counselors. Parents spend their free time as they see fit.

Features: price includes parent education.

Age: 6-12 years old
Dates: June 7-21, 2020
Cost with accommodation: from 1870 euros for the whole shift; adults who do not plan to learn English receive a discount.

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EC Summer English Parent + Child

EC Summer English Parent + Child >

At the EC camp near St. Paul's Bay, you can add a program of excursions and activities to your child's English lessons, or you can refuse it - it all depends on how much time you plan to spend together.

Features: lessons (mandatory) + excursions for children (optional), accommodation and training for an adult is not included in the program.

For parents who want to learn English during their holidays, we recommend language programs at the EC-Malta School for Adults.

Ages: 7-13 and 13-17 years old
Dates: from June 20 to August 30, 2020
Cost without accommodation: from 335 euros (study only), from 440 euros (study and entertainment)

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IELS Summer Parent + Child

Children who come to Malta with their parents can attend all classes, excursions and activities at the IELS camp. Parents who plan to study English during their holidays can choose a language program at the IELS adult school.

Special features: accommodation and meals outside the camp for children and adults are organized by the family on their own.

Age: 8-12 years old
Dates: from June 27 to August 23, 2020
Cost without accommodation: from 417 euros / from 765 euros

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Morning English courses for children without accommodation and entertainment

In addition to language camps, adult language schools in Malta organize morning English courses for children from 5 years old, the program of which includes only lessons. This option is suitable for parents who would like to focus on their own learning and organize useful pastime for children during their classes.

Features: only lessons for children.

Among the language schools that offer such programs are BERLITZ (Kids Half Day program), inlingua (English Junior program). Meals and leisure activities are organized by the family.

Other language programs in Malta

We have made comparison reviews of English programs in Malta. They will help you choose, read on:

  • Overview of language schools in Malta with English for adults
  • An overview of English camps in Malta for children, teenagers and youth

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language schools and courses for children and teenagers

Only verified language schools

Children's camps in Malta have everything you need for a great vacation - new friends from all over the world, entertaining lessons in English, programming and robotics, medieval fortresses, stories about knights and pirates, pool parties, barbeques under the stars and Mediterranean beaches. At EduTravel, we compared the programs for children, teenagers and young adults run by the famous language schools on the island.

Fast Track: Adolescents 13 to 20 and children 6 to 13

Parent + Child programs and day programs without accommodation are collected in a separate article.

Important! When booking a tour to Malta with EduTravel, check if there are tickets available for regular AirMalta flights at special prices.

What do all of the programs below have in common?

Summer camps in Malta for teenagers and youth aged 13-20

Sliema IELS camp, 13-17 years old
living with a Maltese family

IELS is part of the prestigious LAL Language Centres. The school has 30 years of experience, accreditation from the Ministry of Education of Malta, 150 teachers, 20 types of language programs and students from 40 countries.

Features: language lessons with games, learning English through songs, movies and stories, an interactive excursion to the Maltese quarries and a trip to the Mediterraneo park, the opportunity to live with a host family.

Age: 13-17 years old
Intensity: 20 English lessons per week
Dates: May 30 - September 6, 2020
Cost with accommodation: from 667 euros per week, discounts for bookings of 2 or more weeks

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EC St. Paul's Bay 13-17
with Academy of Programming and Robotics

EC - an international network of English language schools with offices in five countries on three continents; began her educational activities in Malta, in the city of St. Julians. EC uses an immersive communicative methodology and a digital platform developed by The Oxford University Press to tailor programs to the needs of each (!) student.

Children from the EC camp study at the College of St. Martin in the town of Mzida, but live in the vicinity of St. Paul's Bay.

Features: academy of scientific creativity, programming and robotics with the study of the Minecraft platform and Lego electric constructor, excursion to Lake Comino, EC festival. Accommodation options - hotel, club residence and host family.

Age: 13 to 17 years old
Intensity: 20 English lessons per week
Dates: June 20 - August 30, 2020
Cost with accommodation: from 640 euros per week, discounts for bookings of 2 or more weeks

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Camp "Malta-Bravo-Thins", Sliema, 12-17 years old
with Russian-speaking counselors

The program is run by the IELS language school. The camp for teenagers takes place in Sliema - one of the most prestigious areas of the northern coast of Malta, the main resort and commercial city of the island.

Features: Russian-speaking counselors, a trip to the Botanical Garden, the residence of the President of Malta, karting, a water park, discos, a Maltese SIM card for communicating with parents, accommodation in a 3 * residence in Sliema.

Age: 12 - 17 years old
Intensity: 20 English lessons per week
Dates: June 21 - August 30, 2020
Cost with accommodation: from 1350 euros for two weeks

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ESE Camp St. Julian's 17-20 years0025 with late trips to Mdina and Valletta and a traditional Maltese evening

The ESE Language School uses blended learning, which, in addition to classroom sessions with teachers, involves independent work on the school's online platform. The school is taught by native speakers from different English-speaking countries.

St. Julian's is home to the famous Paceville district, the main entertainment center of Malta.

Features: training in St. Julian's; accommodation or in a school residence - a 3 * hotel located near the school (Number11 Urban and The George Urban Boutique hotels) or in a host family, in rooms for 3 or 4 people; meals - breakfast and dinner; school transport delivers to the place of study and back; excursions on the Comino, late trip to Mdina and Valletta, evening in traditional Maltese style.

Age: 17-20 years old
Intensity: 20 English lessons per week
Dates: June 20 - September 6, 2020
Cost with accommodation: from 545 euros per week

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Summer camps for children 6-13 years old

IELS camp in Gzira, 8-12 years old
English in the form of games, planetarium, aquarium and Adventure Park

Gzira is a small town next to Sliema with a picturesque marina, many coves and sandy beaches, an abundance of educational centers, several secondary schools and one of the largest libraries in Malta.

Features: The guys who go to the IELS camp in Gzira will have important things to do. In addition to learning English in a playful way and excursions, they will compete in the construction of sand castles, find hidden treasures, learn the secrets of the starry sky in the planetarium, get acquainted with marine life in the aquarium and visit the Adventure Park.

Accommodation in a club residence, half an hour from the language school. A school bus delivers children to and from the place of study.

Age: 8-12 years old
Intensity: 20 English lessons per week
Dates: 27 June - 23 August 2020
Price with accommodation: 867 euros per week, discounts for bookings of 2 or more weeks

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Mzida EC Camp 7-13 years old
Living on the Maltese College campus

In the summer camp of the EC language school in the town of Mzida, the guys will not only plunge headlong into English and have fun during trips and excursions, but also get acquainted with the structure of the prestigious Maltese secondary school - the College of St. Martin, on the campus of which they will live, study and relax.

Features: camp takes place on the college grounds, emphasis on the development of spoken language, excursion to the Papaya Village pirate village, beach parties, disco.

Age: 7 - 13 years old
Intensity: 20 English lessons per week
Dates: June 20 - August 30, 2020
Cost of tours with accommodation: from 1590 euros for two weeks

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Summing up

When choosing a summer camp or courses in Malta, be guided by the age of the child, the content of the program, living conditions. Check out the parent + child format if you want to travel to Malta together.