Becoming bilingual will open up new worlds of opportunity for your students. They’ll get a head start on life, and mastery of a second language can even help them command a higher rate in their future career. It’s impossible to deny the value of learning a second language, despite that it may seem impossible to teach one effectively. With a book and some lessons on the whiteboard, it can be hard to maintain your students’ attention. Using eLearning platforms can make for a fun experience that keeps your learners engaged.

1. DuoLingo
DuoLingo keeps things simple. With lessons that build in intensity as the user learns, and audio pronunciations of foreign words, it’s easy and fun to learn. Users are awarded points for their progress and advised of which sections they should repeat if they’re having a difficult time. DuoLingo can be used as either a website or an app, providing your students with more options for how, where, and when they learn.

2. Anki
Anki is easy to use. It works like a comprehensive flashcard system, with native pronunciations. Anki is a multipurpose tool that can be used for language learning, as well as any other form of study that typically involves flashcards – making it a great choice for your classroom. The program can handle decks of up to 100,000 cards at a time, and as each deck is completed, a new deck can be added.

3. Penyo Pal
This game is one of the cutest ways to learn French. It’s cute because of its fun, interactive, whimsical graphics. It’s a great place for beginners to embark on their voyage of learning to speak like a native Parisian, and the game incorporates audio of native speakers in order to help new learners speak the language properly. With 40 words in each level, users can learn at a reasonable pace. Despite the fun appearance of its graphics, older learners will find the game just as charming as younger learners will.

4. Pear Deck
Pear Deck is designed with teachers in mind. This unique platform was created for teachers to use in the classroom as an interactive learning tool. By placing assignments directly onto Pear Deck for either individuals or groups, teachers can monitor their students’ progress and shape their assignments with the program’s Google Drive capabilities. If you’re interested in teaching a language the old fashioned way, Pear Deck exists to provide you with the support you need to keep your learners immersed in the material.

5. Memrise
While Memrise is set up to help you teach a language, it also offers features that will extend the boundaries of teaching a language. You can create your own courses that graduate with intensity while supplementing the material with courses on the literature, art, geography, and history of the country associated with the language you’re teaching. This will give your students the bigger picture on what they’re learning, allowing them to feel closer to the subject matter.

Sometimes, how you teach something matters more than what you’re teaching. For a foreign language, this is especially the case. Your students have all learned to read and write in a single language, and they may not feel motivated to pick up a new one. Using eLearning tools and gamification can inspire them to learn more, as these methods make the educational process more interactive and rewarding.