Helpful Apps To Use When Studying Abroad

My Favorite and Most Used Apps When Studying Abroad!

Hello everyone! Instead of doing a day-by-day update for my second week here in Sweden (just more orientation), I instead thought that I would share with all of you some of my favorite traveling apps that I use because technology runs the world. I hope that you find these apps and this post helpful in your study abroad adventure!

WhatsApp

My favorite and most used app is WhatsApp. I personally find WhatsApp to be amazing because 1) it's free, 2) you can call and text local and international numbers (as long as the people you are texting also have WhatsApp), and 3) you can use the "Skype" feature where you can see your friends and family while on your adventures or in your schools library! Note: If your phone is on airplane mode, in order for WhatsApp to work, you must have access to wifi.

Dgrees

This app is mainly for my fellow Americans. While traveling, you will learn that basically no one else uses Fahrenheit (only really Celsius). I enjoy using Dgrees because for example, I can quickly type in the temperature in Fahrenheit and the app quickly determines what that temperature is in Celsius (or the other way around).

GoogleMaps

GoogleMaps has been a lifesaver to me many times over the years (especially when my phone was on airplane mode and I was lost). GoogleMaps is helpful when your phone is off and on airplane mode because you can use it to find your current location, get driving directions, trains, buses, and walking directions. They even have offline maps (however you will have to have downloaded the maps before going on airplane mode).

SDL Translate

SDL is perfect for those moving to a place with a new language. I find SDL Translate gives more accurate translations than Google Translate. I have used this app many times while in non-English speaking countries and it is so helpful! SDL has many different languages to choose from and their app even allows you to type in a sentence, translates the sentence, and the app will read aloud your sentence in the foreign language!

Tiny Cards

Tiny Cards is another language tool but it is different from SDL mainly because SDL focuses on translating a word/phrase and Tiny Cards is trying to help you master vocabulary. Side note: I am currently using Tiny Cards to learn Swedish! I love using Tiny Cards because it makes learning a new language interesting (and it is interactive!) Tiny Cards helps you learn new languages by improving your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

Facebook Messenger

Truthfully, I never really use Facebook Messenger when I'm in the U.S. (only really to talk to family) but for some reason, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are the two main ways that I communicate with others (both back home and in my new home country) while studying abroad! Facebook Messenger is very similar to WhatsApp except that you can text and call your Facebook friends.

Social media

As social media is very popular, I'm sure that you either have most/if not all of the social media platforms already but if you don't, GET THEM! Studying abroad and traveling the world is something that not everyone has the opportunity to do and by sharing your experiences with others, you will be able to feel more connected with them! Also, people back home will want to see these new adventures (and you will want to look back on them)!!

SmartTraveler

I'm pretty sure that this app is only really useful to Americans (sorry everyone else) as you enroll in their STEP program which keeps you up-to-date on all of the safety and security info around the world, where American Embassies are located, local laws, health information, and traveling tips. Getting this app is especially helpful so that parents can have a little more peace of mind knowing that their children are safe..

Currency

This app might be self explanatory but knowing how to convert one type of currency to another can be really confusing especially when you aren't used to the new money. For example, here in Sweden, 100 Swedish Krona is $10 USD. Without the app, I would be constantly confused when buying stuff and I would unnecessarily overspent just because I didn't know my new currency.

LeapSecond

This is the only app that I have mentioned which you have to pay for ($5), but I think that it is worth it. I'm still new to LeapSecond but you are meant to capture a video (around 1 second) everyday for a certain period of time and after that, the app puts all the video clips together and you have a mini movie! I am currently doing this everyday and am loving it!

Note: They do have a free version but you can't really do anything on it.

Citymapper

This app really only works for those studying in big cities (London, Paris, Rome, etc.). but if you are, GET IT! I heard about this app from my orientation and I'm so glad that I did because it shows all the buses that I can take, shows which city bikes are free, which lines (train, subway, bus) to take, the metro map, the train map, and which city boats are available.

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Hope you found these app suggestions helpful on this crazy and amazing adventure that is studying abroad!