Ok, so your English is far too advanced for Duolingo or Memrise, but you're still not quite satisfied with your proficiency. What now?

Well, there are plenty of apps and free services out there that are excellent tools for advanced learners of English. The only problem is, you might not have heard of these because, at the level you’re at in English right now, there’s some kind of assumption that you’ll just learn the rest “by absorption”. Sounds a bit silly, doesn’t it?

Here are three fantastic apps that can help you take your English skills beyond intermediate and well into the advanced level:

1. Lunchclub: Real conversations with interesting people (free forever)

I’ve been raving about Lunchclub since I first discovered it sometime in 2021. It’s an incredible, free platform for connecting with strangers all over the world with a focus mainly on professional networking.

Lunchclub wasn’t designed for language learners, but that’s exactly what makes it so effective for practising your English skills. Through a simple scheduling quiz, it connects you with a new person every week (or at whatever frequency you choose) from various professional and linguistic backgrounds, giving you the chance to practise English in real-world settings.

Great for you if you want to:

• Practise real conversational skills in a 1-to-1 setting

• Interact with a diverse range of speakers from around the world, at all levels of English proficiency (conversational and up)

• Make time for English practise without any complicated scheduling hassle

• Use this as a networking opportunity, too, with CFOs, engineers, marketers, coaches, scientists and everything in between

2. Moreover: Designed specifically for advanced learners

I discovered Moreover recently after a client asked about apps that could help boost his skills alongside coaching. Made specifically with advanced learners of English in mind, this app tackles common challenges such as using repetitive descriptive words like “interesting” or “important”, helping learners to broaden their vocabulary and better understand how and when they can use alternative words or expressions.

Great for you if you want to:

• Stop using the same words over and over, and instead broaden your ability to use more nuanced vocabulary

• Tackle common linguistic challenges for advanced English speakers like yourself

3. Elevate: Well-rounded skill building for lifelong learners (free 7-day trial)

Let’s be honest: English is not the only skill you want to improve to boost your career, and Elevate provides a more comprehensive learning experience. This app is actually designed for “native” English speakers, but don’t let that discourage you. The app adjusts its difficulty based on your proficiency in areas like grammar, vocabulary, logic, and maths, making it a fantastic tool for advanced English learners who are aiming high across the board.

Great for you if you want to:

• Improve your precision and nuance in your vocabulary

• Learn written skills, grammar, and advanced words and phrases

• Combine advanced English with other skills such as mathematics and logic

How to make the most of today’s learning apps

These three apps – Elevate, Lunchclub and Memrise – offer simple and effective ways to bring continuous English practice into your daily life. Whether you’re looking to improve your grammar, expand your vocabulary, or engage in meaningful conversations, these apps have got you covered.

While apps have come far to help us build our language skills and boost our confidence, coaching can help to bring it all together to give you a powerful boost to your career. I help you find the most efficient path from your current English level to your most ambitious goals, so that you can stop wasting time reaching “milestones” that have nothing to do with what you truly want and need. If you're ready to bring the best version of yourself into the English language at work, book a discovery call to explore how we can work together.

If you’ve used any of these apps or have other recommendations, share your experiences in the comments below. Let’s learn and grow together!