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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

iPhone apps are becoming our new teachers

A full Rosetta Stone French Set is $499. The Spanish Version, $20 a month for a year. Basic drawing lessons at the Drawing Workshop in Chicago, $285 for 10 weeks. A math tutor, $25 to $65 an hour. And learning to play a musical instrument? Thirty dollars a lesson.

Learning all of the above from an app on your smartphone — priceless. Literally.

Imagine a world where you can learn how to do just about anything by none other than your cellphone. That is our world – and yes, our moms will probably tell us we’ll need glasses from staring at our screens so much.

Anyone with a smartphone probably has a screen shot filled with numerous games to kill time while on the “L” or in a snooze-worthy class. Perhaps it’s time to swap some of those games out for something you can actually benefit from.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to do neat origami, so you can create some swans and flowers to give to your sweetie?

Well, guess what? There’s an app for that. Technically, there are a few apps for that.

With the free Origami Instructions app by ArtelPlus, you can learn how to make tulips, whales, steamships, butterflies, water bombs, pigeons, windmills, hearts and much more with a piece of paper in one hand and a cellphone in the other (or more likely on the table).

Always wanted to learn a language? You guessed it —there’s an app for that, too. You may not have the same learning experience you would get in the classroom, but you also wouldn’t have to pay the classroom price tag.

MindSnacks is an educational app that offers free language lessons (designed by Ivy League instructors) through games designed to build essentials in vocabulary, reading, writing, listening and conversational skills in languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese, Portuguese and more.

Apps are one way to become a well rounded adult. Or at least learn a pickup line in another language. How impressive … maybe.

Now you know another language, so you’re feeling extra smart, but if you need help in math or vocab, there’s a free tutor in your phone. You can find math lessons and step-by-step instructions on how to solve equations. Not the best speller? Vocabology (no it’s not a real word) is an easy-to-use app that helps you build up your vocabulary, so you can once again feel extra smart.

Tap into your creative side and teach yourself how to draw or play an instrument through an app. Learn how to draw faces, scenes and flowers, how to shade, create cartoon characters and draw with perspective. Discover your musical talents and learn how to play the piano, guitar, accordion and even the banjo.

Of course, you shouldn’t expect to master a language, be the world’s greatest origami maker or become a famous composer, but it’s still all in good fun. And you’ll at least learn a little something new. Plus, it’s free, and there’s no better deal than free.

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