Instagram (iPhone app) as a tool of revising your target languages | Resources for non-spoken aspects of the language | Forum

Hello there!

I guess iPhone users already have a lot of educational apps on their devices as well as me but I want to point out one very powerful app that may seem at a first glance like simple photo-sharing twitter-like thing. But I use it about a year so I know how it could be useful for learning a language.

Sorry Android users, this post is not useful for all of you.

So… We have millions of users in one tine free app which works a bit like a social network. You share your mobile photos (they have cute filters for them) and you follow others. Simple, isn't it?

But there is more. First, there are people. They shoot every moment in life and describe it down in your target language – you can read or join the dialog to practice.

Second, there are #hashtags. You know them from twitter. They are hyperlinks to bunches of photos on the particular topic. For example: #russia, #london for destinations. #vespa, #books for objects. #igersmadrid, #igersparis for communities. #fromwhereistand, #iseerobots for fun. And many more.

I started to follow some spanish-speaking users when started learning Spanish. It works! You make friends, you talk to them in target language, you need to be active to achieve more followers.

Some people post stories about their life or their country. I love telling stories about Russia and the life around. People seem to like reading it. And I practice my writing skills. And one more thing: as I share pictures of my life, I do remember more about what I did and where I went. And also I can re-read my posts to check mistakes and work on them.

So download the app and start sharing

(I am @forgetenot)

P.S. Nice article on Instagram written half a year ago: http://thenextweb.com/apps/2010/12/21/instagram-passes-its-million-user-milestone/

NKellyEmerald, technically it's similar, yep  

But you do not have the 140-symbols limit. And others can like your post. Second is very encouraging. I know people who load this app to see how many likes they had at night and then they look so happy Simple pleasures help people to stick to their aim!