In the not-too-distant past, you only had two options to immerse yourself in a foreign language: 1) move abroad, or 2) take expensive classes. Today, immersion awaits you right in your pocket!

Here are ten ways to transform your iOS device into a powerful language immersion tool, and start practicing any language, anywhere, anytime.

1. Change Your iPhone’s Language Settings

One of the most effective ways to immerse yourself in a language is changing the display language on your device. This might seem intimidating at first, but it forces you to interact with the language throughout your day as you go about other activities you'd do anyway.

Here’s what to do:

1. Go to Settings.

2. Tap General.

3. Select Language & Region.

4. Tap iPhone Language.

5. Choose your target language.

6. Restart your phone when prompted.

7. Once you restart your iPhone, all of the menus (and most apps) will now be in that language.

⚠️ If you are new to iOS (or have recently upgraded to the latest version of the operating system), I suggest using your iPhone in English first for a few weeks to get used to any new features or menu items.

💡 For step-by-step instructions to change back to English from Japanese, see my post How to Change Your iPhone, iPad & Mac to Japanese (and Change Back if Necessary!).

2. Use Maps, Siri, etc. in Your Target Language

When you change your iPhone language, you get so much more than just foreign-language menus. This single change also unlocks the following two forms of iPhone immersion:

1. Turn-by-turn directions in your target language when using Apple Maps. Get valuable listening practice as you navigate to your destination, especially useful direction words and exposure to the command form.

2. Listening and speaking practice with Siri in your target language. Ask Siri questions, make requests, set reminders, and more, all while getting useful language exposure and practice.

💡 For detailed tips on using Siri in Japanese, see my post How to Use Apple Siri in Japanese and Get Free AI-Powered Speaking Practice Anywhere, Anytime!

3. Use Language Learning Apps & Dictionaries

There are numerous apps designed specifically for language learning. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them aren't very useful. I've tested out hundreds of language-learning apps so you don't have to. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Duolingo offers gamified, bite-sized lessons for dozens of languages. It's not perfect (and the app alone won't get you fluent), but it's a great addition to a balanced language-learning diet.

💡 For more on Duolingo's strengths and weaknesses, see my post Why Duolingo Won’t Get You Fluent in a Language (But Why You Should Use it Anyway!).

• Anki is a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to help you memorize vocabulary more efficiently. It offers extensive customization and allows you to create your own decks or download community decks.

💡 For more on why and how to use Anki, see my post Rapidly Expand Your Foreign Language Vocabulary with These 7 Expert Anki Tips.

• Dictionary and translation apps like DeepL, Nihongo, Pleco (Chinese), and SpanishDict allow you to quickly look up new words and save them as flashcards. Or better yet, export the words to Anki!

💡 For more suggested Japanese dictionaries, see my post 8 Great Japanese Dictionary Apps to Help You Understand What You Hear & Read.

💡 For more suggested Chinese dictionaries, see my post Dive into Mandarin: The 10 Best Reference Tools to Explore Chinese Language & Culture.

4. Listen to Podcasts, Audiobooks & Music in Your Target Language

Listening is a foundational skill in language acquisition, but it takes A LOT of practice to get used to new sounds, rhythms, accents, etc. Podcasts, audiobooks, and music are all excellent ways to boost your listening skills as you commute, exercise, or do chores around the house. Here are a few suggested apps to enjoy podcasts, audiobooks, and music on iOS:

• Overcast is my go-to podcast app. I love their custom playlists, smart speed feature (which automatically removes silence), and voice boost (which equalizes volume throughout the episode).

• Apple Podcasts is a good free, built-in option for podcasts, especially since the recent addition of auto-generated transcripts for English-, French-, Spanish-, and German-language podcasts.

• Audible is a solid—albeit expensive—place to find audiobooks narrated in your target language. I especially like that you can use WhisperSync to jump between the Audible and Kindle version of the same book.

• Libby allows you to check out audiobooks and ebooks for free using your library card. You sometimes have to wait a while for popular titles, but you can't beat the price!

• Apple Music gives you access to thousands of foreign-language songs and even provides interactive, karaoke-style lyrics (just tap the quote icon in the lower-left while playing a song).

💡 For more about learning Japanese with Apple Music, see my post How to Learn Japanese Using Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music & YouTube Music.

5. Watch Videos, TV Shows & Movies in Your Target Language

Video is one of the best forms of language-learning input. The rich visuals create a clear context, and the engaging narratives keep you watching. Here are a few of the best iOS apps for watching videos, TV shows, anime, movies, and more.

• Apple TV includes a wide range of series and films, and offers extensive subtitle and dubbing options. You can even watch familiar favorites like Ted Lasso in your target language!

• Netflix is my favorite place to watch foreign-language TV shows and movies, especially hit Spanish shows like Money Heist (La casa de papel) and Japanese delights like Aggretsuko and Samurai Gourmet.

💡 For more about learning Japanese through Netflix, see my post Netflix Immersion: How to Immerse Yourself in Japanese Watching Anime, Dramas & Movies.

💡 For more about learning Mandarin Chinese through Netflix, see my post Lights, Camera, Chinese? How to Unlock Mandarin Fluency with Netflix.

• YouTube is a language learner's dream! Choose from a near infinite supply of videos in your target language on any topic you can think of, including documentaries, DIY tutorials, comedic shorts, and more.

6. Read Books & Articles in Your Target Language

Reading is one of the best ways to expand your vocabulary and see how words are used in context. Here are some of my favorite reading apps available on iOS:

• Kindle: The free Kindle app allows you to read any Kindle titles you have purchased right on your iPhone (no Kindle device required!), and includes built-in dictionaries for most languages.

• Apple Books: The free Apple Books app lets you enjoy any ebooks or audiobooks you've purchased through Apple, and includes pop-up dictionaries for most languages and elegant highlighting options.

• Wikipedia: Many languages have their own dedicated version of Wikipedia, with tons of articles to choose from on almost any topic imaginable.

• LingQ: Looking for a more systematic way to save and learn vocabulary as you read? LingQ supports dozens of languages, includes a large library of articles, and lets you import your own content, too.

• Readwise Reader: I've tried many "read it later" apps over the years, but Readwise Reader is by far the best. It supports articles, RSS feeds, newsletters, YouTube transcripts, PDFs, EPUBs, Twitter/X threads, and more.

💡 For more about learning Japanese through Readwise Reader, see my post How to Immerse Yourself in Japanese Using Readwise: Save, Highlight, Listen & More.

7. Chat with Native Speakers & AI in Your Target Language

Exposure to your target language through listening and reading is essential, but it's not sufficient. In addition to massive amounts of listening and reading input, you also need to get tons of output practice (speaking and writing). The following tools allow you to practice speaking or texting with native speakers (or AI-powered tools) wherever you live.

• HelloTalk: This free app lets you chat with 50+ million native speakers all over the world in 150+ languages. I especially like their built-in translation, pronunciation, and transliteration tools.

• italki: Meet with certified teachers one-on-one to practice speaking, get feedback on your writing, and fix pronunciation and grammar mistakes before they become solidified.

• Teacher AI: Get 24/7, personalized speaking practice without the anxiety or scheduling challenges that often arise with human tutors, all for a fraction of the cost.

• ChatGPT: Practice speaking and writing anytime using OpenAI's powerful ChatGPT LLM (large language model). You can ask questions, get corrections, and even get rewrites and summaries.

8. Practice Writing in Your Target Language

In addition to texting with native speakers or bots, I highly recommend that you engineer opportunities to practice writing throughout your day. Writing is one of the best ways to reinforce what you’ve learned during your immersion activities and spot holes in your vocabulary and grammar. Use these apps to practice:

• Apple Notes is a quick, easy, and free way to capture thoughts, tasks, vocabulary, phrases, etc. You can also attach images, PDFs, sketches, etc.

• Day One is my favorite journaling app on iOS. I especially like the "On This Day" feature to quickly scan through entries from previous years.

• Apple Journal is a free alternative to Day One worth checking out, though it currently lacks a few key features I want so I have yet to switch over.

• Google Docs allow you to easily collaborate with online tutors and quickly get personalized, in-line feedback and correction on your writing.

9. Follow Social Media Accounts in Your Target Language

Though social media presents many problems (just watch The Social Dilemma if you need any more convincing), it can be a useful ally in language learning if used intentionally. The key is following just a few high-quality accounts in your target language. This transforms an otherwise aimless activity into a highly immersive form of language learning. Here are a few suggested social apps on iOS:

• Twitter (X): Follow news outlets, authors, etc. who tweet in the language you’re learning.

• Instagram: Follow teachers and influencers that post content in your target language.

• Reddit: Join language-learning subreddits like those listed here.

10. Set Daily Goals, Track Progress & Block Distractions

All of the above iPhone apps will help you get the exposure and practice you need to get fluent in any language, anywhere. But they won't use themselves! You have to actually put in the time. But with so many distractions in the modern world (any many just a tap away on the same device!), it can be tough to stay consistent.

Fortunately, there are some useful iOS settings and apps that can help you build robust language-learning habits and automatically block potential distractions.

• Streaks: This beautiful, intuitive app lets you set and track a variety of daily or weekly habits. As the name implies, it uses the power of streaks (i.e. loss aversion) to keep you more consistent.

• Focus: Studying in 25-minute sprints called "pomodoros" is a powerful way to stay focused without burning out. The beautiful Focus app lets you set custom focus and break sessions, track tasks, and more.

• Freedom: Instead of relying on willpower to stay on task, use the Freedom app to automatically block distracting apps and websites during your language study time.

• iOS Focus settings: Create a specific "Language" Focus in iOS settings that turns off all notifications and has a home screen with only the apps listed above.

Immersing yourself in a foreign language using only your iPhone is not only possible, but in many ways, it can be preferable.

Instead of waiting until you get home to study, your device unlocks limitless immersion opportunities on the go.

Instead of forcing yourself through boring textbooks or expensive classes, you can use your smartphone to create a comprehensive, engaging, low-cost language learning environment.

So, grab your iPhone, dive into these recommended apps, and start your journey towards fluency today!