Language-learning apps for children with Nicole and Tommy

by Top Best Apps for Kids · 6. October 2013

✔ iPad + iPhone ✔ Android | kids apps for ages 5-8+ years

If you may have wondered why we mainly introduced fun-games or creative apps lately instead of educational learning-apps, it’s because there are still way too little recommendable learning-apps for children, especially for learning languages. This is why we are excited to be introducing you to the brand new Nicole & Tommy vocabulary apps, with which children can practice and learn English, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin.

Bargain tip: the French and Spanish version is free for a short time only! (time of review 05.10.2013)

Learning each language individually – including multilingual instructions

First, the reference to the language versions,
as one has criticized on the App Store ratings, that it would not be possible to learn all languages with one app. The apps are all monolingual apart from the definitions of tasks, which means the vocabs are also not translated, but only in the corresponding foreign language. We must say, we would have preferred it the other way too, but with the help of the illustrations, the translation is not necessary, as you will see later. If you choose the German audio response in the settings for example, then this one will be confined to a short learning-game instruction.

At the moment, there are 5 different language-learning apps available: German, English, Spanish, French and Mandarin.

The amount of vocabulary which includes 100 words with illustrations grouped into 10 thematic categories (e.g. toys, family, colors etc), activities, as well as extra learning tools is alright. The 100 vocabulary will be repeated in all versions until they’ve been learned perfectly.

Various vocabulary learning-games

At first, you get introduced to individual vocabs of one category, which are also read by native speakers. Afterwards, six different association games start to the according category.
Individual games can be skipped or repeated. Here are some learning-game varieties:

1. Matching – Kids can listen to the vocabs via loudspeaker and will have to find the matching illustrated cards. An interesting feature is the way the pairs are marked, which is via connection strings (see screenshot).

2. What else matches? – This time, kids will need to find the correct vocabulary of 4 different possible answers.

3. Find the differences – Which objects have been slightly altered on the picture cards? The childish speakers will answer in full sentences by the way.

4. Right or wrong – the given assignments are judged with a red or green light. Does the audible word match the picture next to it?

Extras: Numbers, letters, dictionary and tests

Kids cannot only learn the 100 vocabulary in the foreign languages, but also numbers and letters. Those suitable learning-games can be found in a separate “extras” section of the app. You’ll also find a dictionary and a test function there.

Children will be taught the numbers and letters via video – how this procedure and the whole app in action looks and works, can be checked out on our You Tube trailer here, where we picked out the Spanish version as an example: