Review: French 24/7 iPad app

French 24/7 is a free language-learning app from 24/7 Tutor, which makes similar apps for other languages. Users can buy add-ons to upgrade the free version. The app is easy to use and offers users different ways of testing their vocabularies.

However, I found that, overall, the app is somewhat simplistic and none of the exercises are especially challenging. The free version does not include some of the building blocks for language learning. As such, the app may leave first-time learners frustrated unless they buy the add-ons, while it may not be challenging enough for people who want to improve their French. I think first-time language users who want to get the most out of this app would probably be better off buying the add-ons.

Personally, I found the app useful. This is because I studied French at university and still know the basics, like verb conjugation and pronouns. What I am rusty on is vocabulary and phrases, which this app helped me brush up on. Because the app is free and I am becoming one of those people who like to keep all their gadgets at arm's length (at least during the week), I will probably use the app in the future. Users with some competency in French are likely to find the same value in the app.

The interface for French 24/7 is fairly plain and simple. Personally, I would have preferred a bit more colour.

I was also irritated when the icons in all four corners brought up exactly the same thing - a shortcut to download other language-learning apps from 24/7 Tutor. I think one shortcut would suffice. Also, I expect icons that look different to have different functionalities, otherwise I feel like I have been tricked (a French flag and a 24/7 logo are used in alternating corners).

However, the simple interface is well suited to a learning app and makes it easy for users to find their way around. There are very few menus and no gimmicky features, which probably helps users stay focussed.

The French 24/7 app organises vocabulary into five categories, namely home and family, town and country, opposites, basic phrases, and questions.

Inside each of these categories, users are able to test their skills using multiple-choice questions, puzzles, or write-in exercises. I found the multiple-choice exercise was useful and I quickly got my head around the phrases that came up - these do not change when users revisit the exercise, however.

The write-in exercise was probably the most challenging, because users are forced to type out the whole word or phrase that is being tested. The app instantly lets users know if they have made a mistake, but I found that writing out helped advance my learning.

The puzzle exercise was disappointing and made me think the designers threw it in for quantity rather than quality purposes. It is similar to the write-in exercise, but once users tap a letter, if the letter is in the word or phrase more than once, it appears in all the correct places. This makes the exercise too easy. It is also fairly pointless because it is so similar to the write-in exercise.

In each category, there is also a study list that provides English and French translations side by side, and users can also choose to learn via flash cards. The 'flash cards' are more like a click-through presentation. English words show up first and the user can tap to have the French version come up. Tapping once more brings the next set of English words. This is definitely a section where the designers could have been a bit more creative, but then, expecting fancy animations on a free app with no annoying advertising is probably asking a bit much.

At any point in the exercises or when using flash cards, users can tap the speaker icon to hear the French pronunciation of the words or phrases. I found this useful when I was stuck in the exercises, while coupling the audio with the flash cards makes for a great learning exercise.

Users can also opt to upgrade the French 24/7 app with 24/7's Vocab app and a Phrases app. The Vocab app is $3.99 and adds more categories to the standard ones already mentioned, including friends, travel, pronouns and colours. The Phrases app is also $3.99 and includes additional phrases, such as greetings and feelings.

Unfortunately, the app does not touch on verb conjugation, an essential part of French learning. It would have been great if the designers had included even one table explaining verb conjugation.

The free version also does not include pronouns, which is one of the basics for language learning. I think it would have been better to include verb conjugation and pronouns in the free versions, as opposed to one of the other categories. These would have been more useful to first-time learners than the town and country category, for example.

While 24/7 may think it has cleverly forced users to buy the add-on apps, users may be frustrated with the app and not use or upgrade it at all. I think it would have been better to make the basics free, so users would be better able to learn French, and in this way, be encouraged to buy upgrades.

The French 24/7 app is a constructive time-killer. Easy navigation lets users open the app and continue learning French, or brush up on their vocabularies, while waiting at any one of the many queues in SA - think doctors' rooms or government departments like Home Affairs.

The app is not sufficient enough to replace a formal French course. However, even the free version has some nice exercises that can supplement a beginner's French course. I also found the app useful to brush up on my vocabulary, which I have let slide since I left university.