iAutism

Learn To Talk facilitates language development using audio “flash cards”. The application displays “cards” with an image above its written description. The student can see a phrase’s image, see how to write it, hear how to pronounce it, and even hear how to spell it. This functionality, though simple, helps to practice the language.

The application includes about 160 cards of basic vocabulary divided in six categories: high impact words, objects and labels, actors, one word actions (verbs), two word actions (action + subject or verb + name) and directions.

The student can view cards from one or more categories, alphabetially or in random order. Moving the screen image left or right (as in the Apple’s Photos application) moves between cards, and you can also find cards by their initial letter. A new card’s pronunciation sound may optionally play immediately when it appears, or only when the student touches the screen, and there’s a similar option for pronouncing the spelling.

Specific?

Is Learn to Talk only for people with ASD or other special needs?

No, any child might find it useful as an aid to learning their mother tongue or a second language. In fact, since English is not my native language, I learned one word and how to pronounce several more just testing the application.

The documentation recommends Learn to Talk for one- to three year-old children or those with specific language impairments (ASD, neurological disorders, hearing difficulties, etc.). These people must spend many hours learning language, so make good use of any technological supports. The graphical interface, the font size, and other features make Learn To Talk an intuitive and barrier-free application for learning language.

Try it

Learn To Talk is a simple and well-designed application; it does only one thing, but does it well. I’d love to be able to add new cards by choosing an image, type the word or words associated, and record how to pronounce them, but this application is very inexpensive (€ 1.59 or $ 1.99). The developer, Wikiela, intends to support other languages.

Learn To Talk is intended for an iPhone / iPod touch, but it works very well in a iPad –also graphically– with the 2x magnification mode.

In any case, you can try before you buy: the Learn To Talk Sampler version is free and has the same functionality, but includes only 25 cards.

-Francesc Sistach

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Learn To Talk 2.0

Developer: Wikiela LLC

Web: www.ilearn2talk.com

Languages: English

Functions: Teaches language using audio “flash cards” with images and their associated label and pronunciation

iPhone / iPod touch version: Yes

iPad version: No

Price: 1,59 € / 1,99 $

Free demo version: Learn To Talk Sampler

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This post is also available in: Spanish