iPad English

English Grammar in Use: Activities HD

DESCRIPTION
English Grammar in Use: Activities HD offers a big  library of fun grammar activities written specially for intermediate learners of English. Imagery, sound and extra support across all key topics make studying simple and enjoyable. Based on the world’s best-selling grammar book by Raymond Murphy.

FEATURES
• 306 activities  2,800+ questions, structured into 16 grammar areas
• 145 units, to help shape your learning.
• Study methodically, or shake it up with randomised questions from your chosen focus areas.
• Audio & Recording Hear phrases spoken aloud.
• Record your own voice and compare.
• Progress Tracking Beautiful bar charts visualise your statistics, to keep you informed as you improve.
• Review and retry exercises you’ve worked on, and email your results in a tap.
• Glossary Tap a word for its definition.

VERDICT
As one would expect from a major ELT publisher, the EGIU app has a very slick and professional design. However, Cambridge's description of app as 'the ultimate grammar study tool' is extremely misleading since there are no explanations given as to why the answers to activities are wrong or right, and no reference section either. They should have made it clear that the app is really a complement to the EGIU book and designed to test not teach. £5.99 ($9.99) is a lot to pay for an app that only does half the job.

ALSO SEE
• Review of English Grammar in Use Activities App (Eduworlds Knowledge)

Conversation English HD

DESCRIPTION
Conversation English ($2.99) is one of a series of language learning apps from Red River Press, and allows you to practise and improve your English conversation skills with 20 complete Conversation English Lessons. You will learn over 200 common English Idioms and Expressions, improve your Listening Skills, and develop your Speaking Skills.

 Each English lesson has tasks in 5 important skills – Conversation Listening, Conversation Reading, Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Sentence Completion. An Idiom Dictionary with Audio Pronunciation is also included.

VERDICT
Although this app doesn't do anything particularly original, it does have a good range of activities and is very professionally produced. The conversations are fairly basic but do contain a lot of idioms, so even more advanced learners would probably learn something new. And translations of all 200+ idioms are provided in several languages, which is a useful feature.  There's enough material for several hours of study, so $2.99 seems like pretty good value compared to some other English-learning app courses available (although, to be honest, there aren't that many!).

ALSO SEE
• English App Review—Conversation English (English with Jo)

The Grammar App

DESCRIPTION
The Grammar App (free for limited period) takes the form of an interactive book which helps you improve your knowledge of basic English grammar, punctuation rules, and writing rules. The app also includes a quick check while taking a tutorial to test your understanding of what you just read.

FEATURES
✔ 200+ Tutorials, Video Tutorials and Practice Exercises.
✔ 1000+ exercises and questions for revision and to test your understanding.
✔ Grammar Games for mastering concepts.

VERDICT
Don't be put off by the child-friendly design—older learners of English from elementary to intermediate level should find plenty of useful material in the Grammar App. All the basic parts of speech and grammar points are covered in the tutorials and tests, and the ebook format makes it a delight to use. Download now while it's free!

The interactive Grammar of English (iGE)

The Internet Grammar of English (iGE) is a free online course in English grammar written by a team of linguists at University College London. Although primarily aimed at university undergraduates, the iGE will be useful to everyone who is interested in the English language and does not assume any prior knowledge of grammar.

The Internet Grammar of English has been thoroughly revised and updated, and is now available as an app for Apple hand-held devices (iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad).

DESCRIPTION
iGE is a complete grammar of the English Language, specifically designed for mobile devices. iGE comes in two versions: iGE Lite is free. It has a complete glossary, and three units of course material covering word classes, nouns and determiners. The complete iGE is on sale for £4.99 ($6.99 or €5.49).

FEATURES
• An extensive glossary which helps you make sense of grammatical terms.
• A guided course taking you through different concepts in turn.
• Interactive exercises and puzzles aim to reinforce learning and make it fun. 

VERDICT
There's a real dearth of decent grammar apps for the iPad, so the iGE is an essential purchase for iPad-owning English teachers. In the absence of any comparable grammar reference work (when will CUP get round to doing an EGIU app?), more advanced EFL/ESL students should also find it useful, even if it's not specifically aimed at them. My advice would be to download the free 'lite' version and see what you think. You can always buy the complete app after.

ALSO SEE
• iGE iPhone app review (Emphasis)
• Essential Apps for English Learners: Grammar (The English Blog)