Best Apps for Learning English in Taiwan

If you’re in Taiwan and trying to improve your English, you’re not alone. Over 80% of Taiwanese students start learning English in elementary school, yet many still struggle with fluency as adults. That’s where English learning apps come in. They’re fast, flexible, and they work around your schedule — not the other way around.

This article breaks down the best English learning apps for learners in Taiwan. Whether you’re prepping for 雅思補習班 or aiming to boost your TOEIC score, we’ll walk through the tools that are worth your time. No jargon. Just clear value.

Why English learning apps work so well in Taiwan

Taiwan has strong educational roots. But many learners say traditional methods feel outdated. A 2023 survey from CommonWealth Magazine found that 67% of adults feel embarrassed speaking English, even if they can read or write it well. Apps change that. They give you a no-pressure space to make mistakes and improve.

Plus, the digital shift is massive. Over 88% of young adults in Taiwan own a smartphone, and the average screen time is more than 6 hours a day. That means English apps can fit directly into routines — on the MRT, during lunch breaks, or before bed.

Apps also offer one thing classrooms often don’t: flexibility. You don’t have to wait for class schedules or travel across the city. Learning happens anywhere. At your pace.For those wondering how to speak English fluently, these tools provide personalized lessons, real-time feedback, and daily practice that builds both confidence and skill.

What to look for in an English learning app

Every app promises fluency. But not every app delivers. Here’s what matters:

• Speaking opportunities: Apps that just give vocab lists won’t help your pronunciation or confidence.
  
• Cultural relevance: Content should reflect real-life conversations, not textbook sentences from the 90s.
  
• Progress tracking: You should see where you’re improving — and where you need work.
  
• Native speaker exposure: Hearing natural accents is key. Especially for tests like IELTS or TOEIC.
  

Keep these in mind while going through the list. Each app below is reviewed with these points in focus.

App: Duolingo

Duolingo is often the first stop for beginners — and for good reason. It’s easy to start. You open the app, choose a goal, and get moving in under five minutes. No setup. No fuss.

The real power of Duolingo is in its habit-building. You don’t need to block out 2 hours. A few minutes each day builds fluency over time. The app uses spaced repetition and rewards to keep users motivated. In Taiwan, the platform saw a 35% user increase in 2023 alone.

What it lacks, though, is depth. Once you hit intermediate level, it feels a bit shallow. It won’t prepare you for academic English or business communication. But if you’re just starting or want to get into a routine, this app nails it.

App: ELSA Speak

In Taiwan, most learners can read English better than they speak it. That’s a known issue. Speaking out loud — especially when there’s fear of making mistakes — is tough. ELSA Speak solves this by letting users speak into their phones and get instant pronunciation feedback.

It uses AI trained with over 2000 different English accents. That means it’s tuned to help non-native speakers specifically. You’ll learn to fine-tune your accent, rhythm, and clarity.

The app also offers structured lessons focused on real-life topics like job interviews, business meetings, or travel situations. Taiwanese professionals aiming to work abroad often use ELSA to sharpen their edge. It’s not a replacement for human conversation, but it’s a strong prep tool.

App: Grammarly

This one isn’t a traditional language learning app, but its value is undeniable. Grammarly helps you write clearly, correctly, and naturally. That’s a big deal if you’re preparing emails, essays, or presentations in English.

The tool works across platforms — Google Docs, Gmail, Microsoft Word, and more. When you type, it corrects grammar and suggests improvements. Not just for mistakes, but for tone and clarity too.

In Taiwan’s tech and education sectors, where English writing is often expected, Grammarly has become widely used. Even advanced learners benefit from it. Unlike classroom grammar drills, this feedback is real-time and relevant to your actual writing.

It doesn’t teach grammar rules from scratch, though. You’ll need some foundation. But if writing is part of your English goals, this app pulls its weight.

App: AmazingTalker

When it comes to exam prep, personalized help makes the biggest difference. And that’s exactly what AmazingTalker offers — one-on-one lessons with certified teachers focused on your specific goal. Whether you’re preparing for the IELTS or the TOEIC, it’s not just about practice. It’s about strategy.

For IELTS, it’s not enough to know English. You need to think in the IELTS format — fast reading, academic tone, and structured writing. AmazingTalker’s tutors let you practice mock interviews, essay writing, and reading comprehension in a way that mirrors the test.

For TOEIC, speed and precision matter. The 多益補習班 courses emphasize business English, listening under pressure, and practical vocabulary used in real office scenarios. The platform matches you with tutors who know exactly what the exam requires.

More than 40,000 students in Taiwan use AmazingTalker for test prep. And the reason is simple: it works. Learners get individual feedback, real-time correction, and flexible scheduling. That’s something no general app can offer.

App: BBC Learning English

If you’re looking to improve without spending a dime, BBC Learning English is a solid choice. It’s free and packed with high-quality content. Lessons are short, clear, and made by native speakers. You’ll find daily vocabulary, news stories, idioms, and pronunciation tips.

For Taiwanese users, the biggest advantage is that the English feels very real. It’s used the way people actually talk. Not overly formal. Not watered down.

The app doesn’t offer interactive exercises or gamification like others do. But what it does offer is substance. Perfect if you’re self-driven and just want to stay immersed in English during downtime.

Real learner stories and insights from Taiwan

Apps can be powerful. But it’s the way learners use them that brings real progress. In Taiwan, we’re seeing more adults blending apps into their daily lives—quietly and effectively.

Take Yu-Han, a 29-year-old software engineer in Hsinchu. She started using Duolingo during MRT rides, then shifted to AmazingTalker for 1-on-1 speaking lessons. In six months, her IELTS speaking score jumped from 5.5 to 7. “The app gave me structure. But the real change came when a tutor corrected my patterns in real-time,” she shared.

Or Jason, a 35-year-old working in finance. He struggled with formal email writing. Grammarly became part of his workflow. “Before, I would write something and second-guess every sentence. Now, it’s smoother. Faster. My confidence grew just by seeing my usual mistakes highlighted,” he said.

These aren’t sponsored stories. They’re typical of what’s happening on the ground. People are not switching fully to apps — they’re combining tools to match their specific goals.

What apps can’t do — and what to do about it

It’s easy to expect apps to do everything. But there’s a hard truth: no app can fully replace human interaction.

Speaking fluently isn’t just about vocabulary. It’s about flow, emotion, confidence. Apps can simulate conversation, but they can’t recreate the unpredictability of real talk. You won’t learn how to interrupt politely in a heated group chat on an app. You learn that in actual conversations.

Same goes for writing. Grammarly can polish your emails. But it won’t teach you how to develop an argument in an essay. For that, you need feedback — the kind only teachers or mentors can give.

That’s why the most successful learners mix and match. Use Duolingo or BBC for consistency. Use Grammarly to clean up mistakes. And use platforms like AmazingTalker when you need serious progress with accountability.

Apps are tools. Not solutions.

Conclusion

Here’s what research shows: it’s not the app itself that improves your English. It’s how you use it. A 2022 study by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education found that learners who used language apps consistently, even for short sessions, showed better outcomes than those who studied longer but less regularly.

That’s a clear message. A 15-minute daily session is more effective than a weekend binge study.

Set a simple system:

• Use an app with short daily goals
  
• Speak out loud while practicing
  
• Review progress weekly
  
• Pair with a live teacher or group monthly
  

That’s how real improvement happens. Steady, trackable, supported learning.