NativePal for absolute beginners
Starting a language with nothing is mostly a question of where to begin and what to ignore for now. Here is how the app handles the first weeks, and which parts to leave until you can form a sentence.
Starting a language with nothing is mostly a question of where to begin and what to ignore for now. Here is how the app handles the first weeks, and which parts to leave until you can form a sentence.
Short answer
Yes, from zero. Alphabet lessons teach the letters and how they sound, a few at a time, each explained in your own language with audio, example words and a short quiz, in all 57 languages. Learning Scenarios are guided beginner chats in which a character then teaches greetings, numbers, introductions and everyday basics step by step, with no prior knowledge assumed. Reading can be set to A1, vocabulary lessons come in five-word sets, and the app interface, explanations and feedback are available in your own language. Leave Speaking Practice and the Daily Challenge for a few weeks: they assume you can already form sentences.
Most apps either drop you into open conversation, which is useless before you have any words, or into a course that spends the first month on things you will not need. Beginners need a small, guided start: a few phrases, said aloud and corrected, then a few more.
A new script makes it harder still. Many apps never teach the letters at all, so in Japanese, Korean, Arabic or Russian you are tapping shapes you cannot read and guessing how they sound.
The other beginner problem is the explanation language. If the app explains Japanese grammar in English and English is your second language, you are learning two things at once.
A guided start from the very first letter, and the rest of the app set to the lowest level.
Speaking Practice and the Daily Challenge assume you can already produce sentences. Try them after a few weeks of scenarios and reading, not on day one, or the feedback will be discouraging rather than useful.
There is no placement test, so set your level yourself (A1 to start). And alphabet lessons teach letters, not Japanese kanji or Chinese characters: the Japanese course covers hiragana and katakana, the Chinese course covers pinyin and tones, and characters come later, word by word, in reading lessons.
Ten to fifteen minutes a day, all inside the free allowances.
No. Alphabet lessons start from zero in all 57 languages: the letters a few at a time, each sound explained in your own language with audio and example words, then a short quiz. For a new script such as Japanese kana, Korean Hangul, Arabic or Thai, start there. For Latin-script languages they cover how the letters sound in that language, with its accents and spelling rules.
All 57, with alphabet lessons, Learning Scenarios and A1 reading available in each. The interface can be set to any of the 57 languages as well, so you can learn from your own language.
Speaking Practice and the Daily Challenge are, at first, because they ask you to produce sentences. Alphabet lessons, Learning Scenarios, A1 reading and five-word vocabulary lessons are not. Start there and add the speaking features after a few weeks.
Free to start and free to keep using. Every alphabet lesson is free, and everything else has a daily allowance: one alphabet quiz, one reading lesson, one vocabulary lesson, one new scenario or chat with five messages, and unlimited flashcard review, among others. No account is needed.
Duolingo is the better habit-builder and a fine first month. NativePal gives you alphabet lessons in your own language, guided scenarios, reading at your level and, later, scored speaking. Many beginners use both; the comparison page explains the trade-offs.
Alphabet lessons, guided scenarios, A1 reading and five-word lessons, in your own language.
Free to start. No account needed.