Download chat to chat with a friend. Programs for communication in games. More likely to find your friends

You and I know well that progress in mastering a new language comes when there is practice: you read, speak, listen, write in it.

Here are some handy programs on your mobile phone through which you can communicate with foreigners every day in conversation, writing and voice messages, getting feedback!

Bookmark this article so you don't lose the list!

• Before deciding which application to use, I suggest reading the descriptions below and getting to know their functions.
• Download one service most suitable for you on your phone, register and understand the main functions.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the application, test it every day for a week.
• In principle, the applications overlap in function and are similar in many ways. But we are all different, so everyone will choose the right one for themselves.

By the way, in my blog there are already several reviews on applications and sites. Take a look at them to quickly get used to the chosen program.

1 italki

My favorite service, which I never tire of recommending, because I myself use it without interruption and quite successfully. Although the main tool through which you can communicate with native speakers is Skype, on italki you will find the right teacher and interlocutor for this. Believe me, nothing can be easier than calling for half an hour and chatting. And the speaking skill will be strengthened.

1. Here you can find a teacher for full-fledged lessons with homework and regular meetings online.
2. There is an option for speaking classes with a native speaker and a teacher to practice speaking and listening.
3. Convenient schedule and lesson reminders by email and through the application on the phone.
4. There is the option of your own diary with comments, the ability to ask questions and receive corrections from native speakers of the language being studied, as well as help other people with this.

2 HelloTalk

The application can be used even without knowledge of languages, just to chat with different people around the world. The service offers special transliteration and translation functions for this.

1. You can record voice messages in Russian, and the application system will translate the phrase into the native language of the interlocutor. Same thing in reverse.
2. There is a text chat with the possibility of mutual adjustment.
3. The function of checking and translating a message before sending it to the interlocutor.
4. All messages sent by a native speaker can be translated into Russian automatically.
5. Individual phrases from the chat can be saved and listened to.
6. For more practice, open discussion threads to chat with native speakers in the comments.

3 Tandem

Available on GooglePlay and AppStore.

An app that I recently discovered. I plan to review in the future. With the help of the service, you can learn a language through a language exchange: you learn a foreign language, and in return you help someone who learns your native language.

Available on GooglePlay and AppStore.

Through the application, you can communicate through text and audio chats, as well as calls.

1. There are built-in translators and phrase books by topic, which makes communication easier.
2. You can select ready-made phrases for chatting and replace individual words in them.
3. There is voiceover of phrases: you can listen and repeat correctly.
4. Phrase games make it easier to memorize new expressions.

5 Speaky

Available on GooglePlay and AppStore.

Another opportunity to make multilingual friends around the world. More than 100(!) languages ​​are represented on the service, there is where to turn around. I'm just starting to test. First impression: a simple interface and few functions (which I personally like, it's immediately clear what and how).

1. Search for ideal interlocutors and like-minded people by interests.
2. Communication options in text chat, via audio or video calls (optional).
3. It is advisable to immediately check the settings, otherwise after registration you will instantly begin to receive an endless stream of messages from a variety of people.

6 Hi Native

Available on GooglePlay and AppStore.

It is always interesting to find out how and how people of other nationalities live, what traditions they follow, how their way of life differs. Through this application, you can ask almost any question that interests you and quickly get an answer directly from foreigners.

1. The application has built-in templates for formulating questions.
2. You can use the upload your audio recording feature so that native speakers can check your pronunciation and send corrections.
3. Among the questions: in what situations to use this or that word, how to put punctuation marks correctly, urgent translation of phrases.

What service do I use?

When I have language learning or translation questions, I open the HiNative app. As for the rest of the services... In my opinion, HelloTalk, Hello Pal and Tandem are similar in function and purpose. At the moment I do not use them, because I do not like classes without a goal and "stretched out over time."

It is more convenient for me to assign a specific time and duration of the lesson for italki. You take a lesson on a chosen topic and get a clear result, and not just texting "about nothing". And here you can not only take ordinary lessons, but also just conversational practice with a native speaker. By the way, there is an option to do this even without prior agreement.

If you have a goal for which you need to learn English, but there is no system for studying and practicing it, follow my author's step-by-step 30-day program. Every day you will do exercises to practice every aspect of the language (from speaking to reading) and learn how to apply English in life.

What applications for language practice with foreigners have you already tested? What did you like and what not?

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Messenger (from English Messenger is translated as "messenger", "messenger") is a program for instant messaging. Modern “sharing rooms” have much more functionality with the ability to make calls, share multimedia, video conferencing and other useful options.

Some utilities provide their services for free, while others charge extra for additional features. Some messengers allow you to exchange hundreds of colorful emoticons, add more than 200 members to groups, while others, limited to modest functionality, guarantee encryption of all transmitted information. Our selection will help you get acquainted with the features of the best free messengers and choose the one that best suits your requirements.

Programs	Russian language	License	Advertising	Rating	Chat	Phone calls
	Yes	Free	Yes	9	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	Yes	10	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	Yes	10	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	Yes	8	Yes	Yes
	Not	Free	Yes	7	Yes	Not
	Yes	Free	Yes	6	Yes	Yes
	Not	Free	Yes	8	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	Yes	7	Not	Not
	Yes	Free	Not	6	Yes	Not
	Yes	Free	Yes	5	Yes	Not
	Yes	Free	Yes	5	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	Not	8	Yes	Not
	Yes	Free	Not	7	Yes	Not
	Yes	Free	Not	8	Yes	Not

It is the most popular instant messenger with which users from all over the world can call mobile, landline numbers, send messages and files, and communicate via video call for free. Using the software, you can make calls from a browser, use a variety of emoticons for bright communication, share your screen, arrange video conferences with several contacts and synchronize with all devices.

An equally popular messenger with a user coverage of 800 million. With it, you can send free messages, call any country, exchange multimedia data and establish contact with landline and mobile numbers. Communication quality, user-friendly interface, HD video communication, compatibility with almost all popular platforms have brought Viber to the forefront. In the latest versions, the developers have added entertainment additions: public accounts, games, emoticons and stickers store. In addition to photos, you can send videos, camera snaps, GIFs, links to content from popular resources, and Wikipedia articles to another contact. Various settings allow you to change the background, notification settings and your actions, show hidden chats and blocked contacts. Work in the utility begins with registering an account through a mobile number, after which you can already start communicating on a PC.

Messenger on a cross-platform system with a guarantee of the maximum data cipher. Works on portable and desktop computers, as well as mobile systems that are synchronized with each other. The user can set up automatic deletion of messages after a certain period and storage of multimedia in the "cloud". You can send objects up to 1.5 GB, create personal integrated modules, use emoticons when chatting, change backgrounds, and select connection types.

A popular utility for voice communication, correspondence in group and individual chats, the exchange of multimedia content and calls. The messenger works even on outdated mobile devices, allows you to combine up to 256 contacts into one group, publish and change your status, create mailing lists and highlight messages to favorites. All communication in the program is carefully encrypted, and the user can change the wallpaper of the chat wall, archive messages and apply individual notification sounds.

Being an improved refinement of Quip 2010, the messenger we are considering allows you to combine contacts from various social networks and services into a single database for quick communication. The work of external modules allows you to conduct video and audio communication with users of different protocols and social networks in different countries. To protect against spam, you can configure message filtering, and the ability to listen to the radio and view content on popular services from the Quip 2012 window will impress the demanding user.

High-quality messenger for text and voice communication, calls, online games and exchange of multimedia files. It integrates with social networks, notifies you of new messages, and sends SMS to mobile Mail.ru. The program works with ICQ's instant manager and notifies about her news, protects against spam mailings. In the application, the user can play games with a friend, call home and mobile, and send a message instantly.

It is a free analogue of Skype with the same wide functionality. Allows you to video chat, chat, exchange files and short messages, record conversations, make calls to PCs, landlines and mobiles. Up to 12 users can be added to the chat, and a video message can be recorded for 60 seconds. Contacts import, correspondence history and work on various platforms are configured.

It is a walkie-talkie application that guarantees protection from wiretapping and perfect sound quality. It has a large audience coverage and communication in an open communication channel or its own radio channel. Channels have their own theme and regional affiliation. It is possible to send an off-line voice message to the user, view the history, configure options through a web browser and work with voice mail.

A utility for quick correspondence, listening to the radio, chatting in VK and working with Gmail. With the help of plug-ins, you can significantly expand Miranda's functionality, namely: changing the appearance of the interface, adding translation from various languages, viewing statistics, setting up secure communication and turning on notifications. Passwords and database protection is carried out using cryptographic algorithms.

A simple and functional utility that has a built-in messaging function and elements of social networks. It has about 400 million users and covers most of the well-known desktop and mobile operating systems. The application allows you to determine the geolocation of contacts, send content, voice and video messages. Thanks to the interface similar to social networks, in the LINE menu you can view the news feed of your favorite idols or contacts, chat with several users at the same time, apply stickers during correspondence and send files of various formats.

Lightweight and compact messenger that integrates with various social networks and other programs for communication. In addition to the standard functions for sending multimedia and messages, with ICQ you can call landline / mobile numbers, block the interlocutor, change skins, support microblogging, open the message history and simultaneously communicate in other social networks.

The most popular instant messenger in the world from ex-Yahoo! employees, with over 450 million user base, and the main enemy of cellular operators, because of which all reasonable phone and smartphone owners will soon completely forget about SMS. Since 2009, it has been successfully helping its users send text messages, as well as videos, pictures, and audio. At the same time, WhatsApp developers, unlike competitors, focused specifically on messages, refusing to support audio and video calls, which gave them the opportunity to bring their functionality almost to the ideal. However, after the recent purchase of WhatsApp by Zuckerberg, it became known that voice calls may appear in the application.

iPhone owners can think about iMessage as much as they want, which allows you to send messages and any files no less painlessly for the budget, but everyone has enough friends using Android and other platforms.

Free basic features

Synchronization
with phone book

Stickers

PROS

MINUSES

The app is free for the first year only, after which you will have to pay $0.99. Although those who bought the app a long time ago for $0.99 were the first to buy the app, they now have a lifetime subscription.

iPad not supported.

WhatsApp cannot make calls over the Internet - all calls are made exclusively through your mobile operator.

facebook messenger

Facebook recently bought WhatsApp for $19 billion, but Zuckerberg continues to slowly develop his messenger. By getting rid of an annoying competitor that easily pocketed Eastern and South American audiences in just a few years, he bought time to further improve his application. But, in our opinion, Facebook Messenger is already pretty good, and its only drawback is that it focuses exclusively on Facebook users. Until Zuckerberg resolves this issue, the road to the big world of instant messengers is closed to the application.

FREE MAIN FEATURES

NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

SYNCHRONIZATION
WITH PHONEBOOK

HIGH PROBABILITY TO FIND YOUR FRIENDS

POSSIBILITY TO SEND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILES

STICKERS

PROS

Well synchronized with Facebook - when you receive a message, you go to Messenger, but you can also move back to the Facebook feed. But if all this was combined in one application, it would be much more convenient.

The stickers here are extremely diverse. Actually, just sharing these funny emoji can be done endlessly.

Minimalist functionality is just a messenger, nothing more.

MINUSES

The main disadvantage of the messenger is that it is available only to Facebook users. In fact, this is a plus, but this automatically removes it from the list of universal messengers available to absolutely everyone.

line

A Japanese messenger with a standard set of functions for sending messages and files, which is both a gaming platform and a mini-social network. In addition to, in fact, the basic functionality of a regular messenger, Line allows users to share their statuses and comment on others - in general, do the same as in other social networks. A long time ago, the main difference of this application was funny stickers with funny cartoons, which became one of the founders of the emoji fashion, but now you will not surprise anyone with this.

FREE MAIN FEATURES

NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

SYNCHRONIZATION
WITH PHONEBOOK

HIGH PROBABILITY TO FIND YOUR FRIENDS

POSSIBILITY TO SEND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILES

STICKERS

PROS

The main difference of this application is funny stickers, reminiscent of emoticons from Facebook and, in fact, much inferior to them.

A large list of games that you can play together with a chat partner. But who really plays them is not clear.

Line maintains official celebrity accounts, although there are not very many of them so far - we managed to find only Katy Perry and Paul McCartney.

MINUSES

Even after syncing with your phone book, you will see a miserable list of three friends in the application.

Most of the stickers and other additional pleasures are paid separately - 66 rubles apiece.

Viber

The second most popular messenger after WhatsApp, differing from it only in the presence of audio calls, a smaller user base and less sophisticated design. In the end, if you like to communicate through instant messengers and are guided in their choice primarily by friends, then Viber should definitely appear on your phone: it is used by that part of your friends who ignored WhatsApp.

FREE MAIN FEATURES

NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

SYNCHRONIZATION
WITH PHONEBOOK

HIGH PROBABILITY TO FIND YOUR FRIENDS

POSSIBILITY TO SEND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILES

STICKERS

PROS

With Viber, you can call even those users who do not have it installed. This service is called Viber Out and costs money - prices can be found in Viber itself. Given the Internet charges, this will not cost you much less than regular calls.

MINUSES

Due to its Israeli origins, Viber is suspected by the Egyptian and Lebanese authorities of supporting Zionist spies. Therefore, before traveling to Lebanon, it is better to install another messenger for insurance.

Telegram

The youngest, but at the same time one of the most promising representatives of the messenger family, created in 2013 by Pavel Durov's company Digital Fortress. On the very first day of launch, the entire Internet accused the creators of 100% WhatsApp plagiarism (they even have similar dialog backgrounds!) And many other mistakes, and at the same time once again reminded Durov of the similarities between VKontakte and Facebook. Meanwhile, this messenger has a number of undeniable advantages, such as high download speed of everything, good information protection and other pleasant things. According to Durov, Telegram, as we see it now, is just an intermediate product that, after proper testing, can become completely different, and the visual similarity with its older brother is just a starting point. At the same time, the lack of a Russian interface, which all schoolchildren still complain about, quite clearly hints at grandiose plans to capture the world market.

FREE MAIN FEATURES

NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

SYNCHRONIZATION
WITH PHONEBOOK

HIGH PROBABILITY TO FIND YOUR FRIENDS

POSSIBILITY TO SEND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILES

STICKERS

PROS

Instead of the usual stickers for competitors, there is a search for pictures all over the Internet, that is, instead of a paid picture with a dancing walrus from a limited set of applications, you can attach a photo of absolutely any walrus from the Internet, or even a hippopotamus, to the message.

There is completely no integration with VKontakte, and this is a plus at least because even if VKontakte is closed or Durov himself leaves from there, the messenger will remain afloat.

To the delight of Android fans, Durov perceives this platform as the main one for this application.

MINUSES

Unfortunately for iOS fans, Durov is taking Android as the main platform for this app.

snapchat

Messenger of the future with self-destructing information and just the perfect communication app that erases all your messages after a maximum of ten seconds after reading. The most interesting thing is that each text must be accompanied by a photo or video taken in real time. With these unusual and uncomfortable rules, Snapchat most of all resembles the real interaction of people, and not the pre-prepared monologues that we are used to when texting on social networks and other instant messengers. After all, everything you say in a normal conversation is not recorded on the hard drive and after a while disappears forever. To experience these unprecedented sensations, you just need to register, take a picture, apply unpretentious text over it, set the destruction timer from one to ten seconds and send the resulting message to one of your friends.

FREE MAIN FEATURES