There’s a lot of value to be had in learning a new language, whether it be for travel, conversation, or just self-improvement. That doesn’t mean that the process is by any means easy, however.
Learning a new language is one of the most difficult things you can do. There are plenty of tricks and shortcuts to help speed up your language acquisition, but most of them aren’t readily available for everyone.
Luckily, there are plenty of browser extensions which can help you to pick up a new language while you browse. Here are five of the best.
1. Rememberry
First on this list comes Rememberry. Rememberry is a free browser extension for Chrome which allows you to translate any text you see while browsing.
The options here are impressively diverse, allowing you to translate text by selecting it with your mouse, using a context menu, or even by setting up configurable hotkeys. This makes translating what you’re reading quick and easy.
There are options for machine automated pronunciation, language direction and changes, as well as a variety of synonyms and definitions. This works for over 100 different languages.
Translating text with Rememberry is just the beginning, however. Where Rememberry really helps you to solidify your understanding of a language is with its learning features.
As you translate with Rememberry, you'll see the option to select appropriate translations of the word or phrase that you’ve just looked up. Once selected, these words and phrases will enter into Rememberry’s vocabulary.
This vocabulary is the set that Rememberry uses to test you on. You can even divide it further up into smaller sets that Rememberry calls decks, if you so wish.
From there, Rememberry has a variety of different learning modes, such as writing and listening formats. You can adjust these different learning modes through a number of different settings.
If you find yourself forgetting to study, don’t worry about that either. Rememberry also has the option to send you reminders if you haven’t studied in a while.
2. Toucan
Supposedly, one of the best methods for language learning is immersion. By surrounding yourself with a language, you’re more likely to pick up and retain it than if you studied traditionally. Toucan is a browser extension which strives to emulate this type of learning.
Toucan does this by selecting words and phrases that pop up as you browse. It then automatically translates them to whatever language you set the extension to.
In essence, this forces you to keep the language on your mind whenever you’re online.
You can adjust the way Toucan does this to your liking. You can set just how frequently it sets words to be in a different language, and can pause it if you need to focus.
If you work on your computer, for example, you can even set Toucan to turn off every day while you’re working. This means that when you browse for leisure, you can brush up on your efforts without needing to sacrifice your productivity.
Toucan also features a variety of mini-games which you can use to practice words that you’ve found difficult. The complexity of what Toucan shows you changes as you browse, as do these mini-games.
3. Language Reactor
Next on this list comes Language Reactor, a language learning extension which allows you to learn languages while you watch Netflix.
Language Reactor’s premise is simple. All you need to do is watch shows or movies on Netflix that have support for the language that you’re trying to learn. What Language Reactor provides is a powerful toolbox to help you understand what you’re watching.
For example, if you were to watch a show on Netflix, you would only have the option for one set of subtitles. Language Reactor allows you to display two at once, one in your native language, and another in the language that you’re watching in.
Language Reactor also expands the functionality beyond what regular subtitles might give. With Language Reactor, you can hover over any word that you don’t know, and the extension will automatically display a translation for you on the spot.
If you find yourself relying too much on subtitles but still needing them for the occasional missed word, then Language Reactor provides hidden subtitles. These subtitles are blacked out until you hover over them, which reveals their meaning.
You can map all of these features and more to various button presses, such as skipping to the previous line of dialogue or revealing a hidden subtitle. With the right configuration, this can let you browse quickly and effectively.
4. Language Learning with YouTube
From the same creators as Language Reactor comes Language Learning with YouTube. This extension allows you to watch organic content on YouTube in any language that you like, and helps to improve the way that you experience it.
All the features that Language Reactor provides are also available in Language Learning with YouTube. The multiple subtitles feature again, as well as the in-built dictionary and extensive hotkey options.
You can listen to the subtitles one at a time, if you so wish, as well, and set the playback speed to whatever you need in order to understand.
What’s most interesting about Language Learning with YouTube, however, is that it shares information between itself and Language Reactor.
Both extensions have the option to save words for later review, and the words that you save on one extension are shared with the other. This provides a pretty seamless experience when using the two extensions together.
5. Fluent
Finally, we have Fluent. If you’re looking for something a little simpler that you can drop into your browser and then largely forget, then Fluent might just be for you.
Fluent takes a very similar approach to Toucan in how it attempts to improve your language learning. It takes words and replaces them with the language of your choice as you browse.
Like Toucan, Fluent has a considerable variety of words and languages to choose from. There are also an impressive variety of tests you can take to check on your learning progress.
Where Fluent differs from Toucan is that it is a pared back experience and incredibly simple to use. There are no premium features like with Toucan, though you lose some functionality as a result.
Your Browser Is Only Part of the Story
Hopefully, with one or two of these extensions now loaded into your browser, you’ll notice a marked improvement in your language learning efforts. That being said, learning a language can’t happen entirely from your browser, no matter how good the extensions.
Luckily, there’s a wide variety of other tools you could be using, such as apps and programs. Finding the right ones can be difficult, however, if you don’t know where to look.