Here is a list of assorted apps to talk about in the English class.

1. AppsJosé Antonio Alcalde
“An App a day keeps boredom away”
For some years I have started all my lessons talking about something in English for a few minutes. The aim is to
quickly engage my students into listening to something funny, amazing, interesting, shocking and the like. First it was
historical events (Today in History), then it was about maps (What a map!) and finally about curiosities around the
world ( It's a small world). But times are changing and now I am afraid I am becoming more of a geek.
Applications or just Apps came a few years ago and they are here to stay. My students are familiar with them
and I know that this will catch their attention for sure as they may already use them or be about to (if they find them
interesting).
The selection down here is completely random and I only tried to include different fields of life (education,
health, leisure, etc.) Some run on Android and/or iOS, some are free and others not, and the standard rating is between
1 and 5 stars.
I always insist on the fact that these apps, apart from the quality content, need a great name and logo to catch
our eyes!! Apart from that, people's opinions are always very valuable as we tend to trust them more than the
companies' information.
iDoceo is the app that I use more as I have it to plan
my lessons, keep track of my students' tests, grades,
etc. It is a must for teachers of any level.
Powercam is one of the hundreds apps available to
take pictures and edit them later. It includes many
tools and effects for photography fans!
AHomeIcon is the perfect way to customize the
different icons you use everyday. It is highly advisable
for visual people or those with lots of apps on their
screens.
Evernote is really handy for disorganized people as
you can take notes about everything (shopping list,
to-do lists, calendar events, etc.)
Dragon Dictation is perfect for lazy people who hate
typing. This is a voice-to-text app available in different
languages. Just relax, lie down and dictate whatever
is in your mind!
Yo is still puzzling many users around the world. The
idea is to always send a “Yo” message to your
contact meaning whatever is in your mind. Simple or
absurd??
iCell is an app ideal for science students as it will
provide them with useful information, images and all
about the world of cells.
I’m Rich!! is an application destined to make you
feel richer due to the fact you can pay a high amount
of money… It cost $999.99 the first day in the App
Store and eight people decided to download it.
Storybook Reading is the perfect way to record
yourself reading a book with pictures so it can be
played later again and again.
Whats App is one of the top ten apps downloaded
around the world. It is the perfect way to keep in
touch with friends, family and colleagues through
text, pics, audio or video.
With Dog Translator you just record your dog barking
and the app “analyzes” the bark and gives you the
English “translation”. How reliable can it be??
Zedge is a mobile content discovery platform and
community where users can download content to
customize their smartphones and other mobile
devices (wallpapers, ringtones, alert tones...)
Hopscotch is an app to teach everybody the ABC of
programming. Lessons are meant even for young
kids!!
Bigoven is great for cooks and amateur chefs and it
gives you 250,000+ recipes. This digital cookbook
can also help you to cook with just leftovers from
your fridge or pantry.

2. Cow Toss is an absurd non-free app which allows
you to toss a cow anywhere on the screen. This game
will allow you to see how the cow falls in 3D!!
The Mitosis app is a good tool to use if you are
learning about it in your high-school biology class.
Packing Pro is a must for frequent travelers. If you
are tired of forgetting essential things in your journeys,
try this app for a change.
Epic Win is a mixture of role-play, to-do list, etc.
Some people think it is ideal for ADD & ADHD kids
who can go through their daily routines in a very
different way.
3D Brain app allows you to rotate and zoom around
29 interactive structures in the brain. Isn't it cool for
science class?
Hold On!’s main intention is to see how much time
you can press an on-screen button. It saves your
results, and you can make competitions with your
friends. Seriously??
Pocket Universe is your app if you want to see more
than blinking lights when looking at the sky. Just point
your iDevice to the sky and discover what you are
looking at.
Flight Track is an app for frequent fliers. It will give
you reliable and updated information on your flight
(gate number, delays, last-minute changes, etc.)
Babbel is ideal for foreign language learners. There
are several languages available and from beginner to
advanced level lessons are on offer.
Khan Academy is super for self-learners as it offers
zillions of lessons on virtually any topic. It will show
you statistics about your progress.
Amazing Sandwiches is an app for those who need
new or different ideas for pizzas, burgers or
sandwiches.
Everest is a goal-setting app that lets you break
down goals into steps and reminds you to complete
them. You can also save photos, thoughts, and
quotes around your journey; copy other users’ steps
and goals; and get encouragement via comments.
Procreate is a powerful illustration app. It is ideal for
digital artists as it offers multiple techniques, tools,
special effects, etc.
Pocket is a web-clipping app. When you see
something that you like on the web you can save it
for later reading, even if you are off-line.
Grammar Girl is a different way to solve language
doubts through photos, podcasts, etc.
Read is an app used to teach speed-reading to
young learners. It goes from single words to
paragraphs.
With PetPlay Pen adopt up to 3 virtual pets to play
games with, feed, and take care of. The app shows
you stats for each pet and has a virtual store with over
90 gifts and treats to buy your virtual pets!
Shazam uses a smartphone's built-in microphone to
gather a brief sample of music being played. It
compares it against a central database for a match. If
it finds a match, it will tell you the artist, song title,
and album.
Tenuto app teaches music students the basic of the
theory of music with 15 customizable exercises from
beginner to pro level.
Zoombie Booth 3D is a bizarre app that will make
the zombie version of any picture. The 3D element
means that the image becomes animated, growls,
and will ‘bite’ your finger if it gets too close to their
mouth!
theScore is an amazing app for sports lovers. It will
keep you updated on scores from different sports
around the world: NFL, UEFA, NBA, MLB...
The Behr ColorSmart app (iPhone/Android, free)
lets you preview colors within generic room images
as well as calculate how much paint you'll need.
Is it dark outside? This is a stupid app that,
depending on your location and time zone, will tell you
if it is dark outside or not.
Human Body app will teach you everything about
our body, its functions, etc. Learn more about it while
waiting for the bus or queueing for the cinema
tickets.
Help me! is an app that will call 911 when you launch
it. However it is highly probable that it will take you
longer than just calling by yourself!!
Runkeeper is great for those who want to keep track
of their running, hiking, cycling, etc.

3. Line is another communication app. Some say it is
the direct competitor of What's app but it isn't that
spread worldwide.
Birth Buddy is an “interesting” application that
allows you to have the “same” feeling than having a
baby (contractions, breathing rate, etc.)
Angry Cat offers you an amusing selection of angry
cat sounds. Upgrade to the paid version if you don’t
want the ads. Rarrrrrrr! Hissss!
Pou is a popular game app which features an alien
character that resembles a triangular potato (when
original color is not changed). In the game the
character can be fed, cleaned, exercised, and put to
sleep.
Virtual Frog Dissection allows students to simulate
the experience of a classic animal dissection via your
cell phone. Learn the same without actual killing and
disgusting messing!
Meteor Counter app from the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) will help you count
meteors during a meteor shower.
Cook Mood has unique recipes from all over the
globe. It asks you what you are in the mood for, and
refines your search so you can cook for your mood.
With Beeminder you set goals like losing weight,
quitting smoking, etc. It gives you a financial
incentive to meet those goals: if you don't, you have
to pay real money starting at $5, $10, and $30.
iVoodoo app is for those who need black magic to
solve their problems. Just add the picture of your
worst enemy like in a voodoo session. No guarantee it
will work though...
Hang Time is a crazy app when you have nothing
else to do and you do not love your cell phone very
much. Throw your phone as high as possible and
catch it later. It will record the time lapse in between.
Gene Screen is an app that helps you learn how
recessive genetic traits and diseases are inherited
and how certain diseases are more prevalent in
different populations.
Eden Garden helps you with gardening by
uploading an image of your yard, and scale it to size.
Then search for decorative plants by name, height,
hardiness zone, color, blooming season, sun
exposure, or type, and place them in your virtual
landscape.
iNaturalist lets you record observations from nature
and share them with the iNaturalist online community.
You won't ever be alone again when going to see
nature!
Pocket First Aid and CPR app has clear and
concise instructions for adult, child and infant CPR,
as well as 34 videos and 46 high-resolution
illustrations.
Sketchbook app offers you sketching freedom
coupled with useful ways of exporting drawings on
different canvas sizes and at different resolutions. It is
certainly useful for designers, artists, architects...
Scratch the Chalkboard is just that, the hair-rising
noise effect of somebody scratching a board. Sure
you will get a lot of enemies with this app!!
MoodTune treats depression, stress, and anxiety
based on neuroscience research (depression is
related to reduced activation in certain brain regions).
By doing 30 minutes of exercises per day, you can
help increase activation.
MyPetED is a great tool for pet owners. Create a
profile for your pet with all of its vital information, vet
appointments and vaccinations, store your vet’s
contact information, adopt a pet, find a vet, find a lost
pet, and more.
iFart is the app for those who love toilet humor. You
can choose different effects and laughter is
guaranteed, at least for some time...
Periodic Table of the Elements app is a must in
any science lesson. It is just the digital version of the
old one!
Instagram is great for sharing pictures and videos
around the world. This app is one of the top ones for
millions of people.
Classify It is an app to learn more about the different
kingdoms in Nature. Perfect for your next Trivial
Pursuit game!
Proloquo2Go app is a full-featured augmentative and
alternative communication solution for autistic children
who have difficulty speaking.
Ghost Radar is mainly software that shows your
position and possible ghosts near you. Another
stupid application that takes up your mobile’s space!
Gorilla Workout is like having your own personal
trainer who has built a customized exercise routine
based on your skill level and goals. Users are
presented with a set of exercises each day, targeting
different muscle groups and working towards losing
weight, building muscle or gaining energy.
Pimple Pooper is a disgusting app. The point is to
squeeze pimples on the face displayed on the
screen. Who really likes to do this??

4. Expedia an app for travelers and holiday makers
around the world as it will find for you the perfect
hotel, restaurant, flight, etc.
iCommunicate for iPad allows you to create
pictures, flashcards, storyboards, routines, visual
schedules and record custom audio in any language.
In Army First Aid you'll find basic first aid information
as well as instructions for rescue carries and
transportation. There are also categories for
dangerous and poisonous animals and plants to help
you survive
Lose It is a comprehensive food and exercise tracker
with a comprehensive database of foods and
activities. Beyond the preloaded food, Lose It also
supports entering your own food items or recipes
Gate Guru will offer you great tips and lists of
services to help you navigate the world's best and
worst airports.
iComm app lets you load picture and audio and
record your own voices. It is ideal for children with
autism, cerebral palsy, apraxia and down syndrome.
PocketYoga puts your favorite yoga instructor directly
onto your smartphone. There are three different
styles, each with three different durations and three
different difficulty levels.
AutoCAD 360 is a useful app for architects as it
shows plans and projects in 3D.
Ask a Vet allows to you ask questions of a real vet. It
can take several days for a response. The first
question is free and then you have to pay per
question.
Fruit Ninja is another game app. It is one of the most
downloaded ones in the world. Your aim is to slice
fruit like crazy!
My Talk Tools Mobile app for iDevices enables
people with communication difficulties to express their
needs and desires to those around them.
Viator app shows you deals and discounts either
nearby or in the place you're going to visit next time
you are traveling.
iDestroy is an app to liberate adreline as you cut,
squeeze, mash, shoot or blast bugs on your phone
screen. Digital brutality a la carte!
Kayak app started as a flight searching site but now
has incorporated hotels, car rental, etc. Another must
for frequent travelers.
AwayFind acts as a gate between your email inbox
and you, that lets through only message you want to
see and alerts you of their presence by phone or text
message.
Dashlane lets you quickly access securely stored
passwords and other confidential bits of information,
like credit card details whenever you are on-line.
With Lift, you create habits like “floss” or “hug my
wife” and check them off each day you perform them.
It then tracks how many consecutive days you’ve
performed a habit and how many days overall.
Global Cuisine is an interactive 3D globe which
shows you food information from all over the world!
Just rotate, zoom-in, spin and play around with the
globe to learn about each country’s unique dishes
and culinary history.
Gogobot offers interesting things to do for any type of
traveler across a wide range of cities around the
world. It has suggestions for family friendly activities,
stuff for outdoorsy people, in addition to the typical
shopping/eating/site-seeing agenda.
With Fitocracy, users can join a vibrant community
of fitness enthusiasts of all levels. You don't just track
your workouts, you can share your accomplishments
with other users, earn points and interact with people
that have similar goals.
StarWalk is an amazing app for stargazing at night
but it can also help you orientate if you are lost.
iStalk Tracker app is for those with bad memory as it
tracks back your movements in the last hours, days,
weeks... or maybe you want to spy on someone?
Swim Coach Plus app allows coaches to record HD
video, then provide swimmers with technique analysis
of their stroke in real-time or slow motion.
MotionX GPS delivers terrain maps, route trackers,
and even maritime charts, complete with the option
of saving the maps for offline use.
Poop Scoop is a perfect app to map dog droppings
you see around. You can share and warn other people
about it. Be on the alert!!
TripIt connects to your email accounts to compile all
your travel information for you automatically. It
searches our confirmation numbers for flights, hotels,
rental car reservations, and even restaurant
bookings.

5. iFood.tv app includes 40,000 trustworthy recipe
videos to help improve your cooking skills and satisfy
your culinary curiosity. This app works if you’re more
akin to watching video whilst you follow along in your
own kitchen.
Knots 3D app teaches you how to make those knots
via an interactive 3D interface. They can come handy
for fishing, making a shelter or makeshift strechter.
Unstuck is an app that helps you resolve problems,
get motivated, or deal with other “stuck” moments.
You get tips, advice from other users, and digital
coaching.
Dog Whistler: Use your iPhone to train your dog!
With this simple dog whistle app, you can set the
whistle to a frequency your dog will best respond to.
With Pet Names you can choose from over 3000 pet
names. Browse by pet type, name popularity, or
alphabetically. You’re not even limited to cats and
dogs!
Lose Weight Hypnosis is a miracle app. It is
supposed to make you lose weight by looking at the
hypnotic image on the screen for 45 minutes. Who
needs exercise or diet with this app??
BootPrint Pocket Survival app records the location
of the last working cellular signal you received via
GPS so you can backtrack to it and (hopefully) make
a call.
NASA app is great for space enthusiasts and curious
minds as it packs a wealth of news stories, features,
images, video, and information about the space
agency's activities.
With Stress Check you can measure your heart rate
variation using the camera and light features on your
smartphone. You can then use the Stress Doctor app
to reduce stress.
Freestyle Swimming was developed by Great
Britain Olympic swimming coach Ben Titley and
features technique tips performed by elite swimmers,
land-based drill examples, core strength drill
examples, and interviews.
World famous Dropbox is a must in your app list. It
allows you to save documents, pics, video... on the
cloud and have access to them on-line anywhere.
Hangouts belongs to the communication apps. It is
an instant messaging and video chat platform
developed by Google.
My Razor is another dumb app which pretends you
are shaving. If you pay, apart from the noise, you will
get other effects like the cut hair falling on your phone.
Really?
With Happier you share positive moments in your
day with a simple note or photo. It is a way to boost
your happiness. You also get support from the
community, who can “smile” or comment on your
updates.
With Petcentric you can find pet friendly hotels,
restaurants, and bars in your area. Also locate local
vets, dog parks, pet stores, animal shelters, pet
sitters, kennels, groomers and more.
Myeatbox is pretty much a Pinterest for foodies. You
can use this app to show off your culinary prowess,
document your diet or just to share happy food
moments with your loved ones.
Lumosity offers online brain training exercises that
can improve your memory, attention, flexibility,
problem solving, and speed. You can upgrade your
membership to get more games and track your
progress.
Akatu Fake Shower is perfect for those who want to
make parents believe they are taking a shower (or
using the flush) with very realistic water noise.
Rate my Puppy is a social networking app for dog
lovers. Upload your dog’s photo to see what others
think of him or her. View, vote on, comment on,
favorite, and save photos of adorable dogs from all
over.
Pic Stitch lets you stitch different images together
into one collage quickly and easily. It has tools for
editing the photos as well.
Instapaper strips out some of the annoying ads,
images, and extra junk on a Web page so that it's
easier to read on a small screen. It saves Web pages
and content for you to read later by downloading a
simplified version of them.
Yelp turns out to be an invaluable tool for finding
businesses nearby, especially when you're in a town
you don't know well.
Angry Birds is perhaps one of the most famous
game app in the world. Who hasn't ever played
them??
Viber belongs to the communication apps. It allows
you to text and call people for free. Nice!
Temple Run is a famous video game app. It was so
popular that they make a sequel.
Pinterest is like a virtual bulletin or cork board that
allows users to find and curate images and videos.