Modern technology has made learning a second language easier than ever before, and the prevalence of smartphones and tablets has only increased this accessibility. If you’re a budding student of a foreign language and you’re looking to squeeze in a little study time wherever your schedule affords, you definitely want to take advantage of the mobile apps on offer. While there’s certainly no shortage of one-word translation apps of dubious quality, if you hunt around a bit you’ll find several quality programs that are meant to be used as study aids instead of virtual guide books. The next time you’re looking to kill 20 minutes, here are 4 language apps that will make you feel more productive than a few rounds of Candy Crush:

Rosetta Course

Possibly the most famous foreign language software in the world, Rosetta Stone has become synonymous with home-based studying, and its mobile addition maintains that same reputation of quality. While this app is primarily meant for those who have already purchased the (not exactly cheap) home courses, you can sign-up for a demo account and give the mobile version a spin without buying the PC version first. And if you do decide to get the full package, you can save your progress from PC to mobile device, letting you resume your lessons on the go from your last starting point.

Babbel “Learn”

With an impressive library of offerings, Babbel’s “Learn” app gives you access to over 3,000 vocabulary words per language, with sentence examples and interactive pronunciation aides. These kinds of apps definitely won’t teach you the language if you aren’t combining it with other resources, but for students who have already learned the basics of grammar and verb conjugation, Babbel provides an incredibly useful platform for expanding your vocabulary—and it’s completely free.

YouTube TV

If you’re really trying to gain intermediate fluency in a new tongue, there’s no better way than to listen to native speakers in a modern environment. If you don’t have the money and job leniency to spend a year in your country of choice, YouTube TV is a great way to get exposed to the culture without leaving your daily routine. With hundreds of television shows , news segments, and free-source movies on offer per language (along with closed caption and subtitle options), YouTube TV’s mobile app lets you spend a few minutes completely immersed in your secondary language, all without the price of a plane ticket—or any price really, as it’s another free offering.

movin’App Dictionary

With a variety of language-to-language dictionaries available, movin’App gives you access to over 85,000 words and expressions. This is another app that won’t do you much good without a proper foundation in your secondary language—verb conjugation, understanding the masculine and feminine definite and indefinite articles, and the basic rules of grammar. But once you have those lessons under your belt, movin’App gives you an incredible resource for expanding your vocabulary. It doesn’t have the structured, student-friendly format of the Babbel app—it truly is a dictionary, not a lesson plan—but it’s ease of use and handy reference make it an invaluable tool for finding the right word as needed.

Aside from the Rosetta app, these mobile offerings are free of charge, efficient, and provide resources for the aspiring language student, not just rough translations that a tourist would use when looking for directions. It takes several years to develop an entry-level fluency in a secondary language, and most people give up before that point due to time constraints. By using these resources on the go, you can help keep your motivation alive and slowly increase your language skills.

Author bio:

John is a blogger who has been on the same Spanish lessons for years. He writes for protectyourbubble.com, an Internet insurer that can help protect your phone, tablet, and any other device that you’re learning a new language on.