Indylan, an app to learn six European minority languages
Autonomous learning
Description: IndyLan is an mobile app designed to help users learn some of Europe's endangered languages, namely Gaelic, Scots, Cornish, Basque, Galician, and Saami. It also provides cultural information about the people who speak these languages. IndyLan contains around 4,000 vocabulary items in 100 categories, which can be practised in various study modes, such as Vocabulary, Phrases, Dialogues, Grammar, Aural Comprehension, and Culture. It only deals with these endangered languages, so it is specifically for people with a particular interest. IndyLan was developed by Heriot-Watt University within the framework of the “Mobile Virtual Learning for Indigenous Languages”, supported by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
Evaluation: IndyLan can be an engaging and useful tool for users interested in endangered languages and their culture since it provides a comprehensive set of learning tools and resources. Its diverse study modes, such as Vocabulary, Phrases, Dialogues, Grammar, Aural Comprehension, and Culture, cater to different learning styles and help learners develop various language skills engagingly and interactively. For teachers of these endangered languages, it provides resources to teach the language and could be useful as a complementary or self-study tool. Overall, IndyLan's is a valuable tool for preserving linguistic and cultural diversity.
Cost: Free.
Usability and tech notes ▼
Time efficiency 
Time needed to learn how to use a tool and its time-saving potential: Medium.
Interface language(s) The number of languages in which the tool is currently available/adaptable to: Finnish, Swedish, English, Norwegian, and Spanish.
Respect for privacy What data does the tool collect and why? What security measures are there? GDPR compliant? : Medium/high. The app does neither record identifiable personal information nor share personal data with third-party services. See more here. However, it is hosted by Google Apps, so the usual policies apply. That means that Google apps collect personal data, which may later be shared with third parties. See more here.
Saving work for future use Can work be saved for future use?: Yes.
Any other relevant information:
- Installation required?: Yes, it is only available as a mobile app. It requires signing up with a name, email and password.
- Compatibility/ Operating System: Android, iOS.