Practicing the English language can sometimes be challenging.
Non-native speakers might be expected to learn and use English regularly in various aspects of their lives. These can include professional fields, social interactions, online learning experiences, and other situations.
The population of non-native English speakers, those who use English as a second language, is 1,456 million. This is a huge number, not because English is easy to learn or is a beautiful language, but because it has become an international business language of communication across seas. So the question “Why English” is cleared; now let’s get to the “How” aspect. As a learner, you have all the chances to learn the language in the shortest possible time if you know the right tools, like browser extensions.
To enhance your understanding of the topic, let’s define extensions. The latter are small software programs that can be added to your browser and facilitate productivity. In addition, extensions provide users with additional functionalities and services within the browser. Extensions can be effective tools for non-native English speakers who want to improve their language proficiency without going back and forth to different pages.
You can install Google Chrome extensions by clicking on the menu icon (in the upper right corner of the page). Then, click on “Settings” > “Extensions” > “Open Chrome Web Store.” Afterward, you will need to select the desired extension in the Chrome Web Store and click on “Add to Chrome.”
If you are not sure what extensions fit your needs best, I suggest looking at the top 10 extensions for non-native English speakers that can help enhance the efficiency of the learning experience.
Saima
Learning English can be as easy and engaging as ever with Saima. This is the world’s first AI-based video assistant. Thanks to Saima’s extension, learners improve their understanding and retention of English lessons in less time. The statistics showcase that Saima significantly enhances comprehension and reduces video-watching time, doubling concentration levels.
Key Features
Saima improves the learning experience by tailoring it to the individual’s listening pace. It automatically slows down or speeds up the video to maximize the learner’s comprehension. You can now make the most of this chance to boost your English skills by installing Saima’s extension.
Rating: 4.8/5
Users: 10,000+
Languages: English
Readlang Web Reader
Readlang is a Chrome extension designed to help language learners enhance their reading skills and vocabulary in a foreign language. After installing the extension, the tool with appear on any web content in any language and provide a practical and immersive learning experience. You can simply browse websites, click on words or phrases you don't understand, and instantly see translations in your native language. This direct interaction with authentic material is an effective way to improve language comprehension and retention.
Key features
The Readlang Web Reader extension offers instant translations for both individual words and phrases directly within web texts, facilitating context-based language learning. It automatically generates personalized vocabulary lists from user interactions, which can be turned into flashcards for spaced repetition learning, enhancing vocabulary retention. Additionally, the extension allows for synchronization across multiple devices, ensuring seamless learning experiences regardless of the device used.
Rating: 4.4/5
Users: 100,000+
Languages: English plus 45 languages
Rememberry
Rememberry is a highly useful Chrome extension that improves users’ reading comprehension by providing translations and vocabulary flashcards directly on the web. Thanks to Rememberry’s extension, non-native speakers can easily memorize new and unfamiliar words.
Key Features
This extension successfully translates texts on any website. After translating the text, you can click on unfamiliar words to learn their English translations, pronunciations, and synonyms. Users have the opportunity to add these words to flashcards and categorize them. They can review flashcards, practice spelling, or listen to the pronunciation of unfamiliar words. In addition, Rememberry can notify you if it has been a long time since the user logged in and used flashcards.
Rating: 4.6/5
Users: 100,000+
Language: English
Reverso
Imagine a scenario where you can translate your favorite movies, books, and news sites while improving your learning experience. Is there anything better than that? Reverso’s extension is here to help you translate and learn from your favorite movies or documents.
Key Features
With Reverso, you just need to click on any word or expression on a document, website, or movie subtitle, and the translation will appear on your screen. Users also have the chance to save new words in their vocabulary lists and access them in the mobile application as well.
Rating: 4.6/5
Users: 200,000+
Language: English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian
Toucan
Toucan’s extension is a free web browser tool that enables learning new languages without long lessons, tests, or flashcards. With this extension, users can translate web pages and access translations of unfamiliar words while improving the learning process and their skills.
Key Features
The small blue bird, the toucan, gets to know users’ learning styles better and assists by translating significant words and phrases. It can also read those words and expressions out loud, if necessary. After some time, it gradually introduces more complicated terms to advance the level of the language. To test the knowledge, Toucan’s extension also suggests min-games for effective self-assessment.
Rating: 4.7/5
Users: 300,000
Languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Korean
Language Reactor
Language Reactor is one of the most common Google Chrome extensions. It is especially useful for those non-native speakers who enjoy watching movies, TV series, and videos.
Key Features
This extension works well with Netflix and YouTube and suggests having double subtitles. This means that you can have two subtitles in different languages simultaneously. For example, if you watch the popular Emily in Paris TV series, and want to understand some French lines, you can install Language Reactor’s extension and have subtitles in both the original language and in your preferred language.
Rating: 4.3/5
Users: 2,000,000+
Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, etc.
Fluent
Fluent is a Google Chrome extension aiming to help those trying to learn English with minimum effort. This extension is quite similar to Toucan, described above.
Key Features
Just like Toucan, Fluent’s main goal is to improve the learning process. Moreover, you can choose words and replace them in your desired language while browsing. In addition, Fluent’s extension offers a wide range of words and languages. In contrast to Toucan, Fluent does not offer premium features, leading to a loss of some functionalities.
Rating: 4.6/5
Users: 10,000+
Languages: English
Speechify
Speechify’s extension is another popular tool among non-native English speakers. The tool assists in listening to physical or digital texts, offering a wide range of other features that are particularly beneficial for non-native speakers of English.
Key Features
Speechify suggests text-to-speech features for a variety of content formats, whether it is a Google Doc, PDF, webpage, or even an image. Moreover, this tool offers natural-sounding voices in more than 30 languages with 130 voices. Speechify also provides features of highlighting and speed control.
Rating: 4.5/5
Users: 1,000,000+
Languages: English
Google Dictionary
Google Dictionary’s extension can be a valuable resource for non-native English speakers, offering easy access to synonyms, translations, definitions, and pronunciations. The tool is perfect to get instant translations and improve vocabulary.
Key Features
Google Dictionary provides translations of words highlighted by users. It supports 53 languages, including Japanese, Russian, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and much more. The good news is that it also stores the user’s search history for future reference.
Rating: 4.4/5
Users: 4,000,000+
Languages: 53 languages
Duolingo
Duolingo’s Chrome extension is beneficial, especially for those who want to improve their English vocabulary. Once registration is done, you can choose the target language and define weekly goals. In addition, Duolingo also offers 100+ courses in 38 languages, divided into modules for improving specific skills.
Key Features
You can access Duolingo from your Chrome browser. Once installed, you can log in to your account and monitor your improvement in learning. Duolingo offers features such as an activity dashboard, blended learning, course management and tracking, gamification, and much more.
Rating: 4.7/5
Users: 1,000,000+
Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Turkish, Portuguese, and more
Conclusion
The key point is to enjoy learning English, as it's your choice to make it enjoyable or boring. Online tools can enhance your learning experience, especially for non-native speakers, by supporting grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. So, let’s enjoy the process of learning and make the most of what technology offers us today.