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Ever dreamed of visiting the beautiful Latvia? I don’t blame you. The Baltic country has much to offer from historic and vibrant cities like Riga to stunning beaches like Jūrmala and Saulkrasti.
And if there’s one thing that can take your trip to the next level, it would be knowing how to speak Latvian. If you’ve decided to learn Latvian, whether for travel or something else, you’ll need a good app to help you get started.
Many language learners start with reputable apps like Rosetta Stone but in Latvian’s case, that’s not possible. While a Rosetta Stone Latvian course sounds awesome, it’s not available.
However, there are several Rosetta Stone alternatives for Latvian learners. Keep reading and you’ll soon find the best fit for you!
What is Rosetta Stone?
But first, what’s Rosetta Stone and why is it so popular among language learners?
Rosetta Stone was launched as a CD-ROM program for Windows and Macintosh in 1992, one of the first to offer language learning programs in digital format. It’s one of the reasons why this program is so well-known. But longevity aside, its teaching method is also remarkable.
Rosetta Stone takes pride in its Dynamic Immersion approach, a natural method of learning languages. In a nutshell, the app lets you learn your target language through as much exposure as possible and without using translation or phonetic spellings.
I know that sounds a bit intimidating but it helps that the lessons are bite-sized, presented with visual cues, and supported by lots of speaking drills. And if you keep at it, you’ll soon expand your vocab and develop conversational skills.
Unfortunately, Rosetta Stone is available in only 25 languages. It’s too bad it misses out on many Slavic languages.
The best Rosetta Stone alternatives
There’s no Latvian on Rosetta Stone but fret not, there are several Latvian learning apps you can explore. You can start with these three:
1. Mondly
Just like Rosetta Stone, Duolingo also doesn’t cover Latvian. But there’s no shortage of gamified apps that you can play with (pun intended).
One app I can recommend for those who love to learn while playing is Mondly. This app teaches essential Latvian vocabulary that goes beyond common greetings through immersive games and exercises. Its conversation drills also use recordings of a native speaker to give you a taste of authentic Latvian pronunciation.
Mondly lessons can be completed in about five minutes per day at no expense. But if you want complete access to the app’s huge content library (and I tell you, it’s worth it), you can opt for the premium version. Check out the latest Mondly promo here.
Key features:
- Short and fun lessons for beginners, intermediates, and advanced-level students
- Exercises that teach vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
- Audio recordings featuring native speakers
2. Ling App
The US Foreign Service Institute categorizes Latvian as a category III language, meaning it has significant linguistic and/or cultural differences from English. That said, a playful app like Ling can help you navigate this language more enjoyably.
Ling does this through fun quizzes, stimulating puzzles, and other engaging exercises that will make you feel as if you’re playing instead of studying. But the lessons aren’t dumbed down — far from it. Ling makes sure you’re learning vocabulary that Latvian speakers actually use.
The best feature of Ling is its chatbot. By starting a conversation with the interactive chatbot, you can improve your pronunciation and accent in no time!
Key features:
- Playful exercises that target all core language skills
- AI chatbot to practice conversations with
- Courses for beginners and beyond
3. Clozemaster
While intermediate and advanced learners can also use Mondly and Ling for boosting their knowledge (or maybe as refresher courses), these apps best suit beginners. If you’re looking for something more challenging, check out Clozemaster.
With Clozemaster, your main goal is to answer cloze tests, those fill-in-the-blank language tests meant to assess your comprehension skills. Supply the missing words, learn in context, and you’ll soon build a solid Latvian vocabulary arsenal.
Clozemaster is the ideal next step for learners who have a firm grasp of the basics and want to become fluent faster. Competitive learners will also enjoy its game-like interface.
Key features:
- Gamified interface with challenging fill-in-the-blanks tests
- Ideal for learners past the beginner stage
- Useful for expanding Latvian vocabulary
Other great resources to learn Latvian
A good mix of resources is important if you want to achieve fluency in the quickest time possible. Aside from Mondly, Ling, and Clozemaster, I recommend other apps, Latvian learning books, websites, and educational YouTube channels.
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Italki: Quickly boost your Latvian skills with a native-speaking tutor on italki. Choose from professional teachers or community tutors, book a session that fits your schedule and budget, and off you go! You can also check out Preply for more tutor options.
Cudoo: Learn new Latvian words and how to pronounce them, get a better grasp of Latvian grammatical structures, and build confidence in speaking with Cudoo’s Latvian courses. Choose from three levels, a Business Latvian course, or get the whole bundle!
Complete Latvian (Teach Yourself): Designed for beginners and intermediate learners, this comprehensive book focuses on everyday language. With ample examples, exercises, and an audio companion, this book will place you at CEFR level B2.
Latvian Dictionary & Phrasebook: This dictionary/phrasebook contains over 4,500 entries with definitions, grammatical explanations, pronunciation guides, and cultural information. A must-have not just for travelers but also for learners.
LingoHut: Another awesome resource, LingoHut has 125 free lessons that don’t even require you to make an account. It covers essential expressions, grammar, and more advanced phrases — all recorded by native speakers. Comes with a voice recording feature too!
Tandem: For those who thrive in social environments, the language exchange app Tandem is worth checking out. There are over 300 users in Riga alone so you won’t have any problem finding a Latvian speaker who can teach you the language and the culture.
Glossika: An audio-based program, Glossika focuses on helping you absorb Latvian patterns so you can speak naturally and without memorization. Instead of feeding you random words and phrases, you’ll learn vocabulary and grammar through complete sentences!
Latvian with Anete: There are a few Latvian learning YouTube channels but if you have to choose only one, I recommend Germane Anete’s Latvian lessons. While some of the videos are more culture- or current events-focused, she has conveniently collated all language videos in one playlist.
Conclusion
No Latvian on Rosetta Stone? No worries!
You can start your Latvian learning journey with the apps and tools listed above. The first step is often the hardest, they say. But as someone who’s been there, I can tell you that keeping the momentum is just as hard. You’ll have to remain motivated to make progress.
So, take that necessary first step and stay focused. Izbaudi!