Over the past decades, the world has become more interconnected as technologies become more advanced, businesses become more global, and international travel becomes more affordable. There are many social and economic advantages of being able to speak multiple languages.
More people nowadays have internet access, even those living in developing countries, and smartphones have transcended luxury to become a necessity. With that in mind, many apps have been made to help people learn foreign languages by using only their phones.
I've tried a few language-learning apps in the past, and I've come to the conclusion that self-learning is not enough to learn a language, but having real conversations with people would help a lot. In this article, I'll discuss the Ramee app, which is a social networking app that lets you meet people from other countries and learn their language.
What Is a Foreign Language?
Before going into foreign language learning and the Ramee app, it is important to understand the concept of foreign language first.
The term "foreign language" refers to a language that is not widely spoken in the speaker's country. It can also mean a language that is not spoken in the person's home country.
If you are living in a different country than the one you grew up in, the language there might also be a foreign language to you. The term foreign language can also mean a language you are learning in addition to your mother tongue.
For example, Spanish, German, French, and Italian are a few of the most popular foreign languages spoken in the US.
Foreign Language Vs. Second Language
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, a foreign language is not the same as a second language. A second language usually refers to any language learned by a person after his or her native language that is deemed necessary for survival.
English is considered a second language instead of a foreign language in countries like Nigeria, India, Singapore, and the Philippines because it fulfills many essential functions there. Learning is necessary to succeed in that context.
This means that a foreign language is a language that isn't the native language, isn't used in schools, and isn't used by the government, the media, or other institutions as a way to communicate.
Also read:Â Learn the Right Way to Use Apps to Learn Languages
Why Should You Learn a Foreign Language?
As I said before, because of globalization and advancements in technology, people across the world are more connected than ever before. Learning how to write or speak another language will give you an advantage in this environment.
Nowadays, the biggest companies are multinational companies, which means that working for them and doing business with them will require people to communicate in foreign languages to a certain degree.
If you know a foreign language well, you can also work in diplomatic service, immigration, or as a translator, among other things. It has also been shown that learning another language improves your mental capacity to learn new things. Lastly, it helps people from different cultures get to know each other.
Studies on Foreign Language Learning
The Michel Thomas Language Centre in the UK published a report in 2004, which showed that speaking a foreign language increases an employee’s wage by £3,000 a year on average. The report also found out that nine out of ten British businesses believed that better language skills would help their company tremendously.
Another study by University College London researchers has shown that people who could speak more than one language had denser grey matter, an area in the brain where information is processed most efficiently.
Other studies have also shown that learning a second language as a child makes it easier to think in different ways, which helps with language tasks and other subjects like math.
Learning a Foreign Language Through Social Media
As the number of people who use the internet and smartphones grows, so does the number of people who use social media apps. A study by Uswitch found that the average American spent 1,300 hours on social media last year. Further, some people definitely spend even more time than that.
Since you’re already using social media that much, it makes sense to use it for foreign language learning, right? The term "Social Media Language Learning" refers to a way of learning that focuses on using social media to connect people who want to learn a language.
It is based on studies that show that learning a language is a social and interactive process, so social media is a great way to help people learn.
How Social Media Helps in Language Learning
People spend time on social media not just to read stuff and browse through other people’s profiles but also to interact with other people, especially those far away from them. Interactivity is critical to the language learning equation.
People also feel like learning a foreign language on social media isn't work or school because of how casual it is. This makes it easier for learners to express themselves than with traditional ways of learning a foreign language.
Since social media is used by people from all over the world, language learners can connect with other language learners and even native speakers without leaving their homes. There are many tools in social media apps that can help you do this, such as videoconferencing, newscasts, and group conversations.
Also read: LingoDeer – Learn New Languages with This App
About the Ramee Mobile App
We've already talked about why it's beneficial to learn a foreign language and how social media can help you do it. Now, it's time to come up with a mobile app that will help you do this better.
The Ramee app, developed by Crazy Brant, is a platform that helps you connect with foreigners across the world and allows you to video chat with them, giving you an avenue to conduct foreign language learning.
This app is made to help you meet foreigners online, unlike Facebook, where you can connect with family and friends. You don't have to worry about your privacy, either, because all profiles on the app are secure and private.
How to Use the Ramee App
You can log into the app in a variety of ways. You can sign in directly with either your Facebook or Google account. You can also sign up through the app to get a User ID that you can use to log in.
You'll need to fill out a basic profile on the Ramee app, that covers items like a self-introduction, photos, and your interests. You can add other users you’ve interacted with as friends.
There’s also a random match mode that you can use to try your luck at talking to a stranger. You can interact on the Ramee app via either video calls or messaging.
Also read: Beelinguapp – Study New Languages with this App
How to Download and Install the Ramee App
The main downside of the Ramee app is that only Android users are able to download the app. As someone who owns and uses iOS devices, it would have been better if it was available on both platforms.
To search for the app, open your Google Play Store, and you will find it under the Entertainment category. The app has an impressive rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from nearly 1,000 different user reviews.
The app is free to download and use. However, users can also opt for in-app purchases ranging from $0.99 to $399.99 per item. To download the app, tap on the Install button and wait for it to complete downloading all necessary files. It will automatically install the app once the download is completed.
Check Your Device’s Compatibility With Ramee
Make sure that your Android device meets the app's standard requirements before you install it. The Ramee app has a file size of 39 MB and requires your device to run on Android 5.0 and up.
It has a content rating of Mature 17+, meaning no users of the app should be under the age of 17.
Also read:Â See the Most Downloaded App to Learn New Languages
Conclusion
I think that learning a foreign language will be important in the future because the world is becoming more and more connected. Communication with people all over the world has become an important part of our daily lives.
With so many mobile apps and social media sites, there is no reason not to use these tools to help us learn new languages. The Ramee app is a great way to do this, and I think it can help you learn another language.
