The best English speaking practice app. As a language learner, have you ever found yourself in one of these all-too-familiar situations? For example: Situation 1: You come up with a phrase that sounds super exciting, but then you start second-guessing yourself: “Do native speakers actually say that? Would it sound natural if I used it?”
Situation 2: You wish you had a place where you could go and ask native speakers for help, like when you were applying to American universities and needed someone to proofread your personal statements.
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then you’re not alone. As a non-native English speaker, I’ve experienced all of these challenges and more in my journey to improve my speaking and writing skills.
Introducing HiNative: Your Personal Language Coach
But the good news is, there’s an app that can help you overcome these hurdles and take your English to the next level. It’s called HiNative, and it’s a platform where language learners and native speakers can connect and help each other.
HiNative is a unique app that allows you to ask native speakers all sorts of questions about the language you’re learning, whether it’s English or one of the 113 other languages supported on the platform.
Some of the key features of HiNative include:
- Asking for feedback on your writing: You can submit a sentence, paragraph, or even a longer piece of writing and get feedback from native speakers on whether it sounds natural and idiomatic.
- Improving your pronunciation: You can record yourself saying a phrase or sentence and get feedback on your pronunciation from native speakers.
- Learning new vocabulary and expressions: You can ask native speakers about the meaning and usage of specific words or phrases, and get real-world examples of how they’re used in conversation.
- Clarifying confusing language concepts: If you’re struggling to understand something you’ve learned in your English classes, you can ask native speakers to explain it in a way that makes more sense.
The best part is, HiNative is available on both iOS and Android, as well as on the web, so you can access it anytime, anywhere. [english speaking practice app] And the platform is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, so you can start getting the help you need right away.
How to Use HiNative to Improve Your English
Ready to start using HiNative to take your English skills to the next level? Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started:
1. Download the App and Create an Account
You can download the HiNative app from the Google Play Store or the App Store, or you can access the platform through the HiNative website. Once you’ve downloaded the app or navigated to the website, you can create an account using your email, Google, Twitter, or Facebook credentials.
2. Set Up Your Profile
After you’ve created your account, you’ll need to set up your profile. This includes selecting your native language and the language you want to learn (in this case, English), as well as your current level of proficiency.
You can also choose to receive newsletters from HiNative, which can be a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest features and updates.
3. Start Asking Questions
Once your profile is set up, you can start asking questions on the HiNative platform. You can choose from a variety of question types, including:
- How do you say this? – Ask native speakers how to say a specific word or phrase.
- Does this sound natural? – Get feedback on whether a sentence or expression you’ve written sounds natural and idiomatic.
- What does this mean? – Ask for the meaning and usage of a specific word or phrase.
- Please show me example sentences with…? – Get examples of how a word or phrase is used in real-world conversations.
You can also prioritize your questions if you need a faster response, and you can even upgrade to a premium account to access additional features like the ability to record audio and get feedback on your pronunciation.
4. Engage with the Community
One of the best things about HiNative is the active and supportive community of language learners and native speakers. As you start asking and answering questions, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with this community and learn from their experiences.
You can also follow other users, comment on their posts, and even start your own “foreign language diary” to track your progress and get feedback from the community.
How HiNative Can Help You Improve Your Speaking and Writing
Now that you know how to use HiNative, let’s take a closer look at how it can help you improve your English speaking and writing skills.
Improving Your Speaking
One of the biggest challenges for non-native English speakers is mastering the pronunciation and intonation of the language. Even if you know the grammar and vocabulary, the way native speakers actually pronounce words and phrases can be completely different from what you’ve learned in the classroom.
With HiNative, you can record yourself saying a phrase or sentence and get feedback from native speakers on your pronunciation. [english speaking practice app] They can point out any areas where you’re struggling and provide tips and suggestions for improvement.
You can also use HiNative to learn new vocabulary and expressions that are commonly used by native speakers, but may not be covered in your textbooks. This can help you sound more natural and idiomatic when you’re speaking English.
Improving Your Writing
Writing in a foreign language can be just as challenging as speaking it, especially when it comes to things like word choice, sentence structure, and overall flow and style.
With HiNative, you can submit a piece of writing and get feedback from native speakers on whether it sounds natural and idiomatic. They can point out any areas where your writing could be improved, and provide suggestions for more natural-sounding alternatives.
You can also use HiNative to learn new vocabulary and expressions that are commonly used in written English, which can help you expand your writing skills and sound more like a native speaker.
Also Read: 10 Best Free Websites to Learn English
Real-World Examples of How HiNative Can Help
To give you a better idea of how HiNative can help you improve your English, let’s take a look at some real-world examples from the app:
Example 1: Asking About the Difference Between “Okay” and “Okie Dokie”
In the video, the user asked about the difference between the words “okay” and “okie dokie.” Here’s the response they received from a native speaker:
“Okey dokey is very, very informal and one would only be used casually. For example, you would never reply ‘okie dokie’ to a work email or to your professor. You could use it when replying to a friend over text instead of using ‘okay.'”
This response provides valuable insight into the nuances of these two common English expressions, which can be difficult for non-native speakers to fully grasp.
Example 2: Getting Feedback on a Sentence
The user also asked about the sentence “I am fond of film videos,” and whether it sounded natural. Here’s the feedback they received:
“It sounds a little unnatural. A more natural way to say it would be ‘I am fond of seeing films/movies/videos.'”
This feedback helps the user understand that the original sentence, while grammatically correct, doesn’t quite sound natural to a native speaker. The suggested alternative phrasing is much more idiomatic and natural-sounding.
Example 3: Improving Pronunciation
In the video, the user also demonstrated how they could use HiNative to get feedback on their pronunciation. They recorded themselves saying the phrase “beautiful computer” and asked for feedback on how they sounded.
This type of feedback can be invaluable for non-native speakers who are trying to improve their pronunciation and sound more like a native speaker.
Conclusion
If you’re a non-native English speaker who’s struggling to sound natural and idiomatic, HiNative is the app you need to take your skills to the next level [english speaking practice app].
With its user-friendly interface, active community of language learners and native speakers, and wide range of features, HiNative can help you improve your speaking, writing, and overall fluency in English.
Also Read:
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