commonsensemedia

Published 23.09.2019 10:59

0 | 0

---

Beelinguapp: Language Learning

A lot or a little?

Parents need to know that Beelinguapp: Language Learning reads text out loud in the language of your choice while you follow along in your native language. Reading choices include short stories, well-known folk tales, instructional texts, simple conversation, and news articles. The texts are not made specifically for kids, and some may have more mature content such as stories about people going to war or articles about drug busts and using guns in common public spaces. There's also a small collection of songs, though at the time of this review, songs were only in English or Spanish. Because the format of Beelinguapp: Language Learning relies on users reading in their native language, kids need to be fairly strong readers. When first opening the app, it asks kids to sign in with a Facebook or Google account; though it's not obvious that you can do so, it is possible to skip this step and proceed without signing in. Kids can choose from 14 languages, each of which can be set to "language to learn" or native language. The free download includes limited content and capabilities; unlock everything with a premium subscription at costs that range from $3.99/month to $17.99/year. Upon first opening the app, there is a 30-minute free trial during which time there are some pushy ads encouraging users to subscribe immediately at a supposedly discounted price. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.