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Afrikaans, also known as Cape Dutch, is a West Germanic language that’s spoken mainly in South Africa and Namibia. To a lesser extent, it’s also spoken in Australia, Botswana, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe.
Although it draws over 90% of its vocabulary from its parent language, Dutch, it’s a language in its own right. With simpler verb conjugations and no grammatical gender, Afrikaans is a fairly easy language to learn. Not to mention fun, thanks to all the direct translations you’ll be encountering.
However, if you’re looking to get started by taking a Babbel Afrikaans course, you’ll have to consider another option. This language is not available on Babbel, at least not yet.
There are several good Babbel alternatives though, and some of them are solid platforms for learning Afrikaans. Let’s take a look at them, shall we?
What is Babbel?
But first, what is Babbel?
One of the most popular language learning apps to date, Babbel teaches languages through a variety of exercises such as flashcards, mock conversations, matching pictures to words, and more. The listening and speaking drills are some of the best out there — they’re voiced by native speakers and use real-life vocabulary.
As this Babbel review demonstrates, the app uses a holistic approach that trains learners’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. But it does have one weakness: it offers courses in only 14 languages.
Unfortunately, its roster doesn’t include Afrikaans. But like I said, you’re not left without options.
The best Babbel alternatives
While there’s no Afrikaans on Babbel, there are several apps to learn Afrikaans, with a few of them rivaling Babbel’s best features. Here are my favorites:
1. Mondly
Learning a new language can be daunting. That’s why you need an app that can teach you effectively but also make the journey fun for you. That’s Mondly in a nutshell.
Like Babbel, Mondly teaches languages through immersive exercises and lots of conversational practice. You won’t be merely learning new words but also learning how to use them through sample sentences.
Afrikaans is a phonetic language. While this means you can simply read out the words as they’re written, it can also be disorienting for English speakers. Mondly allows you to practice your pronunciation and enunciation with a chatbot so you can improve your listening and speaking skills. Pretty neat, huh?
Mondly offers short daily lessons for free but for hungry learners who want to unlock as many lessons and bonus content as possible, it’s worth signing up for the premium version.
Key features:
- Bite-sized and effective lessons that improve core skills
- Exercises that teach relevant vocabulary and grammar in context
- Plenty of conversation practice
2. Ling App
Learning Afrikaans in just 10 minutes a day is possible with Ling. And it’ll be an enjoyable time too, thanks to its well-designed and engaging app.
Ling’s Afrikaans course uses a mix of interactive exercises, engaging activities, and effective review methods that teach new vocabulary and relevant grammar tips. The lessons are gamified so it’s easy to get hooked!
A unique feature of Ling is its writing mode where you can finger-trace characters to familiarize yourself with Afrikaans script. This, plus flashcards, AI chatbots, audio from native speakers, and fun quizzes, help you gain a well-rounded understanding of the language.
Key features:
- Fun activities for learners of all levels
- Extensive grammar notes with practical examples
- Ample listening and speaking practice
3. Clozemaster
Learn Afrikaans on Clozemaster
Clozemaster is a gamified app that uses a fast-paced and competitive approach to teaching and testing your Afrikaans proficiency.
With Clozemaster, you’ll be presented with tons of sentences and you’re tasked to fill in the blanks with the right words based only on context. It’s challenging and designed to take you from intermediate to advanced proficiency.
Clozemaster is great for building your Afrikaans vocabulary. But it’s also an effective and natural way of learning grammar. Not to mention that its gamified, 8-bit interface is reminiscent of old video games.
Key features:
- Thousands of Afrikaans sentences to learn from
- Natural acquisition of vocabulary and grammar
- Gamified interface and fun visuals to motivate you
Other great resources to learn Afrikaans
Mondly, Ling, and Clozemaster are superb apps for learning Afrikaans. But here at Learning Languages From Home, we believe that mixing different types of resources is the way to mastery.
So, besides the three apps above, I recommend exploring other tools to learn Afrikaans, from books to online tutors and even educational YouTube videos!
Italki: If you want a clear (and quick) sense of your progress as well as personalized coaching, nothing beats having a private Afrikaans tutor. Italki connects you with professional teachers and community tutors who can customize lessons at manageable rates and flexible schedules. Alternatively, you can also check Preply tutors.
Colloquial Afrikaans: The Complete Course for Beginners: This aptly named book covers the essential skills you need for listening, speaking, reading, and writing Afrikaans. Perfect for self-learners and classroom setting alike, this well-structured and jargon-free book comes with challenging exercises and downloadable audio files.
Cudoo: Upgrade your Afrikaans skills with Cudoo’s video courses. Choose from three levels teaching vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, or learn business terms with the Business Afrikaans course. You earn a certificate for each completed course too!
Simply Learn Afrikaans: A handy app for learners and travelers, Simply Learn Afrikaans compiles over 1,000 phrases in 30+ categories. This phrasebook includes high-quality audio recordings of native speakers so you’ll be gaining listening and speaking skills too.
AfrikaansPod101: This app is packed with audio and video content teaching vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. With AfrikaansPod101, you get bite-sized but worthwhile lessons that’ll help you learn new phrases, grow your conversational skills, and gain cultural context. You can even access some of the content on YouTube and Spotify.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Teach Yourself Afrikaans: A Complete Course for Beginners: This newbie-friendly book takes you through Afrikaans grammar, syntax, and vocabulary step-by-step, with lots of examples and exercises to bolster your understanding. A detailed section on pronunciation is also included so you learn Afrikaans the way it’s spoken every day.
Learn Afrikaans by 50 Languages: From common expressions to grammar structures, this course by 50Languages is a great resource for beginners. With 100 lessons that come with MP3 recordings of native speakers, you’re set to expand your vocabulary in no time!
Teach Me Afrikaans: If you’ve ever wondered how to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in Afrikaans, how to tell time or the names of vegetables in Afrikaans, or how to make oats in Afrikaans, this YouTube channel is for you. A great add-on to whatever course you’re taking.
Conclusion
I won’t deny that a Babbel Afrikaans course sounds like an ideal way to learn this beautiful language. But its absence shouldn’t stop you from taking the first step.
With the above apps, plus other helpful resources that you can easily access online, you can get started and progress quickly. Commit some time to study and practice, and have fun while at it — that’s more or less the recipe for mastery!