Dynamic English Lessons - Phrasal Verbs Helps English Language Learners
Dynamic English Lessons - Phrasal Verbs ($0.99) by Dynamic English Lessons is a tool for learning the nuances of idioms in the English language.
It’s been said that English is actually the hardest language to learn because it constantly breaks the rules with irregularities. With phrases such as “hanging out,” it’s no wonder there is so much confusion.
The above is an example of a phrasal verb, or a verb combined with a preposition or adjective to change the verb’s meaning. For example, to “hang out” is not meant to be literally dangling around. In fact, it’s this ambiguity that becomes a stumbling block for those learning the English language.
Enter this app, developed by Nadia Bentoua, a veteran ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. Through her years of teaching, she noticed how language textbooks never taught the vernacular vocabulary. This app is an interactive extension of her book, Dynamic English Lessons.
The app features six categories, with all of them relating to everyday life. Each category has 10 questions to test how well you know your phrasal verbs. A sentence appears with two clouds covering the place where the phrasal verb would fit. Two dials sit below the sentence, one for the verb and the other for the preposition. Match the correct two words to complete the phrase.
The “X Rated” category provides motivation to complete the other categories. Who wouldn’t want to learn curse words in another language?
The quiz questions are all meant to reflect daily life, and even I had some difficulty trying to determine the correct match. For every correct answer, the phrase is added to the dictionary for future reference. Look up the definition, an example of it used in a sentence, and hear a reading of it.
One bug I encountered was when I returned to the dictionary list of words from a definition, the search field activated. The keyboard displayed like a hood popping up on a moving car. Other than that, the app works just as it should.
Whether you are an English language learner, or trying to pick up the colloquialisms of the language, this app is for you.
