Editor’s App Choice: busuu, Learn French for Free

First things first: this language-learning app, busuu, is free to download and use, and so its merits and failings should be assessed from a viewpoint of cost-efficiency.

The concept of matching photos with words as you improve your Gallic vocabulary is hardly world-changing, but the sound clips of spoken French lend a friendly touch, while the neat little letter-rearrangement games are fun.

To complete a section you need to perform tasks up to a certain level of aptitude, meaning that progress depends upon concentration. The rewards system of ‘busuu-berries’ is a little daft but will appeal to younger users.

A nice little app for beginners, one with the option of paying to upgrade to access ‘premium content’, which provides corrections to your writing exercises and what are tantalisingly called ‘grammar units’.

busuu is free from the Appstore

Reviewed in France Today magazine