Coming to a different country where you don’t speak the language is always scary. I know when I first arrived, I was nervous because I had never heard anything like this language before. I didn’t even realize that people in Gyumri spoke differently than people in Yerevan! So, how am I supposed to come volunteer in a place where I can’t read street signs or ask where the bathroom is? Well, have no fear, AYOlingo is here! Learning Armenian has never been easier than with this new Armenian language app! Now, I know what you’re thinking. What does this app have that others don’t? AYOlingo stands out from various language applications because it’s the easiest app for learning Eastern Armenian. No monthly subscription, no ads, and best of all, AYOlingo is completely free. With 30 modules and 30 more coming soon, and over 70 lessons, what more could you ask for?
The app is straightforward. Once you’ve signed up, it takes you to the ‘Modules’ page. Here, you can maneuver through Modules starting with ‘Basics.’ Each Module contains at least two lessons. It tests your knowledge through sentence completion, word matching, and fill-in-the-blanks. As you’re working, AYOlingo will track your progress, see what words you’re having trouble with, and tailor the rest of the exercise with those challenging words. Once you finish the basics, you move on to learning things like conversational words, numbers, and stuff around the home. Some lessons have pictures as well as translations for those like me that need a little bit more help. This gives the user a multi-sensory approach to learning with audio and visual.
Who doesn’t love some friendly competition? I know I do! The ‘Leaderboard’ section of the app allows users to add friends also using AYOlingo and compete! Once you’ve become more acquainted with all the volunteers, you can challenge each other’s’ knowledge! By pushing one another to complete certain modules and lessons, we’re all working harder while learning more Armenian!
There is also the option to ‘Test Out’ of a module. If you feel like you’re understanding a particular practice well enough, you can skip the lessons and AYOlingo will create a test for you. If you pass, then you’re finished with the module! For those who want to challenge themselves, there is a ‘Master Review.’ This takes the lessons in all of the modules and combines them with everything you’ve learned. Think of it like an Armenian language final exam.
If while working on the Master Review you come across a word you can’t remember, AYOlingo offers a ‘Vocabulary’ page. This is a dictionary of every word in AYOlingo the user has learned so far. Users can see words in Armenian with Armenian and English letters, its definition and the way it’s pronounced. Another great tool AYOlingo has is the ‘Pronunciation Practice.’ With this, the user hears how a word sounds and can practice saying words, too. In our busy day to day lives, it’s hard to sit down and learn a language. With AYOlingo, the language teacher comes to you right on your phone. You can work on your lessons en route to your jobsite, while eating, before bed or whenever convenient because you’re learning on your own time!
As someone who came to Armenia with no previous knowledge of the language, I love AYOlingo. I wish I had known about this app before I came to volunteer because I could have practiced before I arrived! The app is so easy to use and I have found myself reaching for it in my day to day speech. When I needed to tell a taxi driver my address, ask how much something cost or even let my host family know that my dinner was “shad lav!” AYOlingo helped me navigate Armenian better than I ever thought I would. If you’re someone who wants to learn Eastern Armenian, AYOlingo is the Armenian language app you’ve been searching for!