Duolingo

Ever fancied learning a foreign language? Duolingo can help. The app offers you the chance to learn Italian, German, Portuguese, French or Spanish in a fun way that encourages you to keep going. It turns it into a challenge of sorts: try to answer as many questions as possible correctly. For each incorrect answer you lose a life; lose all your lives and you have to go back to the lesson's beginning. You can hear the pronunciations, see translations and learn how to construct sentences with your new vocabulary. The lessons cover everything from the basic and useful (questions, food) to advanced sessions on politics, business and even spiritual matters. You have to "pass" the basics to progress, but if you feel you are more advanced, you can skip some lessons through a shortcuts buttons. Everything is presented in an easy-on-the-eye visual manner, and the mobile app links in with the full website. Last chance to learn some Portuguese before the World Cup kicks off next month . . .