- Many languages covered
- Large number of vocabulary
- Gamification
- Ads are excessive
- Assumes you have a basic understanding of the target language
- Lacks important context for vocabulary
Tobo's 'Learn Vocabulary' apps are decent for increasing vocabulary with an engaging and simple interface, but they're almost ruined by excessive in-app advertising unless you pay.
Tobo’s Learn Vocabulary apps are a simple way to learn vocabulary.
I found it an engaging learning platform that not only introduced me to new words, but also helped me improve my pronunciation of the words.
Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android, it’s available in free or paid subscription at 1, 3 or 12 month durations.
The following languages are available:
- German
- French
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Italian
- English
- Czech
- Turkish
- Romanian
- Polish
- Swedish
- Greek
- Danish
- Dutch
- Ukranian
- Chinese
- Croatian
- Arabic
- Norwegian
- Hungarian
- Indonesian
- Finnish
- Korean
- Slovak
- Japanese
- Afrikaans
- Hindi
- EU Portuguese
- Vietnamese
- Icelandic
- Thai
- Hebrew
- Filipino
- Bulgarian
The free version of the app has (excessive) advertisements and limited functionality. You’re then able to open up bonus hints by watching more advertisements. The ads at the bottom of the screen are very distracting.
The paid subscription removes all these ads.
Tobo’s Learn Vocabulary apps are simple but engaging.
It uses a familiar but rudimentary flash card method to teach you new words (with native speaker audio).
I liked the format of the flash cards and the ability to keep words in the lineup that I felt I had not mastered. I found the games fun, engaging and helpful to reinforce words that I had learnt.
Some of the things that I didn’t like were that it assumed you have an understanding of foreign alphabets (in my case Greek).
I also found the games difficult to understand at first. Even after reading the instructions a few times, it was not 100% clear as to how they worked. It also lacks context for words (e.g. sample dialogues).
Lack of context can make it difficult to acquire vocabulary properly.
After using it, I think the app is very functional and helpful in adding new words to your vocabulary but the ads in the free version are a nuisance.
Rather than pay for a Tobo app, I’d say you’re better spending it on something like Babbel or Mondly.
For other alternatives for learning vocabulary, see the Essential Language Resources page.
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