Lingvano is an American Sign Language learning app that offers a structured and interactive approach to mastering ASL. Another ASL Duolingo. The app is designed with short, practical lessons that introduce users to everyday vocabulary and phrases. Lingvano integrates real-life dialogue scenarios, allowing learners to see how ASL is used in conversations. Each lesson is accompanied by interactive exercises, quizzes, and a review feature that reinforces learning. Additionally, the app includes a dictionary for quick reference and a video-based feature that allows users to practice their signing skills by mirroring the tutor.
Personal Experience
This app is the app that my ASL teacher had recommended me to use. My experience with Lingvano was both enjoyable and informative. The app stands out for its conversational focus, helping learners see how individual signs come together in real-life situations. The lessons are concise, making it easy to fit learning into a busy schedule. The app also offers a handy review feature that keeps track of your progress and suggests signs to revisit, which is particularly useful for reinforcing retention. One of the standout features is the ability to practice signing along with the tutor in real-time, which helps in refining accuracy and fluency.
Pros
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Conversational Focus: The app excels in teaching ASL within the context of real-life dialogues, making it easier to transition from learning individual signs to actual communication.
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Interactive Learning: The lessons are interactive, with exercises and quizzes that reinforce what you've learned, which enhances retention and engagement.
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User-Friendly Interface: The app is well-designed with an intuitive layout, making it easy to navigate through lessons, exercises, and the dictionary.
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Practice Feature: The video-based practice feature is highly beneficial for improving signing accuracy and confidence.
Cons
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Limited Free Content: While the app is highly effective, much of the content is behind a paywall, which might be a drawback for users looking for free resources.
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Lack of Advanced Content: The app is great for beginners and intermediate learners, but more advanced users might find the content limited as they progress.
Ratings
Content Quality
9/10
The lessons are well-structured and focused on practical, real-life conversations, making it easy to learn and apply ASL.
Ease of Use
9/10
Lingvano is very user-friendly, with a straightforward interface and easy-to-follow lessons.
Engagement
9/10
The interactive features and real-time practice opportunities keep users engaged, although the content could be more varied for long-term use.
Overall Rating
9/10
Lingvano is a highly effective app for those starting out in ASL or looking to strengthen their conversational skills. It's easy to use and offers practical, interactive lessons, though more advanced learners might seek additional resources.
ASL Bloom is like the ASL version of Duolingo, designed to help users learn ASL through interactive lessons and quizzes. The app offers a wide range of vocabulary, categorized into various themes such as everyday phrases, food, animals, and more. It features video demonstrations by native ASL users, ensuring that learners see accurate handshapes, movements, and facial expressions. The app also includes a quiz feature that tests users on their knowledge and retention of signs, making it suitable for both beginners and intermediate learners.
Personal Experience
Using ASL Bloom was an engaging and educational experience. The user interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate between lessons. I particularly appreciated the quality of the video demonstrations—each sign is shown clearly and slowly enough for beginners to follow along. The app also emphasizes facial expressions and body language, which are crucial components of ASL communication. However, I noticed that while the vocabulary lessons are extensive, there is less emphasis on conversational practice or context-based learning, which might limit the ability to use signs fluidly in real-life scenarios.
Pros
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High-Quality Video Demonstrations: The app provides clear, high-definition videos of native ASL users demonstrating signs, which helps learners understand the correct handshapes, movements, and facial expressions.
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Extensive Vocabulary Coverage: ASL Bloom offers a wide range of vocabulary across various categories, making it a comprehensive tool for building a strong foundation in ASL.
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Quiz Feature: The app includes quizzes to test users' knowledge and retention of signs, which helps reinforce learning and track progress
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Emphasis on Facial Expressions: The app emphasizes the importance of facial expressions in ASL, which is a crucial aspect of effective communication in the language.
Cons
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Limited Contextual Learning: While the app covers a broad vocabulary, it lacks extensive context-based learning or conversational practice, which could limit the ability to use signs fluidly in real-life situations.
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Repetitive Quiz Format: The quiz feature, although useful, could benefit from more variety in question types and interactive elements to keep users more engaged.
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Limited Offline Access: Some users may find it inconvenient that the app requires an internet connection to access all its features and content.
Ratings
Content Quality
8/10
The app provides a vast amount of vocabulary with high-quality video demonstrations. However, incorporating more context-based learning and conversational practice can make it more useful for learners.
Ease of Use
9/10
The interface is user-friendly, and the lessons are well-organized. The app is accessible to beginners and easy to navigate.
Engagement
7/10
While the app is informative, it could be more interactive. Adding features such as live practice sessions, community interactions, or gamified elements could enhance engagement.
Overall Rating
8/10
ASL Bloom is a solid choice for anyone looking to build a strong foundation in ASL vocabulary. It excels in delivering clear and accurate signs.
Signing Savvy is a comprehensive American Sign Language dictionary app designed to serve as a valuable reference tool for both beginners and advanced users of ASL. The app offers an extensive library of ASL signs, complete with high-quality video demonstrations by native ASL users. Each sign entry includes detailed information such as definitions, examples of usage, and related signs, making it a thorough resource for anyone looking to expand their ASL vocabulary. Additionally, the app features a search function that allows users to quickly find specific signs, as well as a favorite list to save commonly used signs for easy access.
Personal Experience
This is what I use when I’m looking for some ASL vocabs. Using Signing Savvy feels like having a robust ASL dictionary at your fingertips. The app is particularly useful for quick lookups, whether you're in a classroom setting, practicing on your own, or in need of a refresher on a specific sign. The video quality is excellent, and each sign is demonstrated clearly, making it easy to learn and replicate. One feature I found particularly helpful is the ability to see related signs and variations, which provides a deeper understanding of ASL's nuances. However, since the app is primarily a dictionary, it doesn't offer structured lessons or interactive learning features, so it works best as a supplementary tool rather than a standalone learning platform.
Pros
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Extensive Sign Library: Offers a vast collection of ASL signs with detailed video demonstrations, making it a reliable reference tool.
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High-Quality Videos: Clear, high-definition videos ensure that users can easily follow and learn each sign accurately.
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Detailed Information: Each entry provides not just the sign, but also definitions, examples of usage, and related signs, which enhances understanding.
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Search and Favorites: The search function is efficient, and the ability to save favorite signs is convenient for quick access to frequently used signs.
Cons
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Limited Learning Features: As a dictionary, it lacks structured lessons or interactive exercises, which means it should be used in conjunction with other learning resources.
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Subscription Requirement: Some features and content are only accessible through a paid subscription, which might be a limitation for users seeking free resources.
Ratings
Overall Rating
9/10
Signing Savvy is an excellent ASL dictionary app, ideal for those who need a reliable and detailed reference tool. It excels in providing clear and comprehensive sign information, making it a valuable resource for learners at any level, though it is best used alongside other learning platforms for a more holistic ASL education.