5 apps that can help you learn something new every day
Posted onWant to learn something new but can’t seem to find the time to dedicate to it? Using an app on your phone is the perfect way to pick up small chunks of knowledge when it suits you. From listening during a commute to watching a quick video during lunch, it’s an excellent way to make learning something new every day easy.
Here are five of our favourite apps for learning something new to download and try.
1. Trivia Crack
Trivia Crack is packed with interesting facts and trivia. Just five minutes a day and you’ll learn interesting things and oddities from a whole range of areas. From biology to cultural norms, there’s always something to find on this app. It’s set up as a colourful and fun trivia game that you can play alone or challenge friends. If you’re a fan of general knowledge and pub quizzes, it could be just what you need to expand your horizons.
There are six different categories, from art to geography, and hundreds of thousands of questions that could come up. It’s similar to the classic Trivial Pursuit game, with the objective of collecting a character that represents each of the categories. If you know what the largest bone in the human body is or how many times we blink on average every minute, you could be on your way to the top spot while learning something new.
2. Duolingo
Have you been thinking about learning a language? Classes can be time-consuming and difficult to fit into your schedule. Luckily, you can use Duolingo. The well-known app has made learning a language simple and easy to do every day even if you have just a few minutes spare. It’s interactive, friendly and simple to use, in fact, many schools now use the app to support in-class learning too.
The app alone might not be enough to make you fluent in a language but it’s a great place to start and can help you converse with others. Whether you want to pick up the basics before visiting somewhere new or your goal is to be fluent, it’s an excellent app. Each lesson is quick to work through and it’ll keep track of where you are, perfect for slotting into your usual routine. Most of the features are free and there are more than 30 languages to choose from.
3. Dictionary.com
Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting that you spend ten minutes every day reading the dictionary. Though that’s an option if you want!
Dictionary.com can help you improve your vocabulary and boasts lots of other things besides a list of what words mean. The word of the day is a great way to improve communication and learn more about language. It’ll take just seconds to read, and you could pick up a new word that helps you sharpen communication and express ideas. Plus, you never know when it might come in useful – definition of butyraceous anyone?
The app lets you delve into the history of certain words, play word games to get your brain working and take part in quizzes.
4. TED
TED Talks have long been used and celebrated for delivering quality videos on a huge selection of topics. Download the app and you’ll have the whole database just a few taps away. There are thousands of different videos to explore and you’re bound to find something that captures your interest. It puts you just minutes away from interesting ideas to think about, whether you want to learn more about education or art.
If you’re not sure where to start, there is a playlist featuring the most popular 25 talks of all time which include: How great leaders inspire action, how to spot a liar and strange answers to the psychopath test. Videos vary in length, but most are under 20 minutes, ideal for watching when you’re having a break or commuting.
Once you create a playlist or start watching videos, the app will begin generating recommendations based on your interests.
5. Blinkist
Books can be a great source of knowledge but getting through them can be somewhat challenging. This is where Blinkist comes in. If you have a huge stack of non-fiction books on your ‘to read’ list this app is a must-download.
The app provides 15-minute bite-size insights into the key bits of more than 4,000 titles. You can choose to read or listen to the book snapshot to get a basic understanding of the ideas within the book. Books are split into a range of categories from philosophy to politics. Some of the most popular titles the app covers are: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, and The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham.
The app also offers original content to provide different perspectives through podcasts and offers recommendations based on what you’re interested in.
It’s a tool that can help you identify which books are worth investing your time in. The app is subscription-based but you can try it for free for seven days to see if it fits into your lifestyle and goals.
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