Learn a Different Language for Free

If you want to learn a foreign language, there's no need to let a tight budget keep you from pursuing your goal. There are many online resources that will let you learn a different language for free.

Religious Resources from yourDictionary

The yourDictionary website offers a number of resources on religion, including Catholicism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. To find the religious references from the homepage, click on the title "Specialty" under the "Dictionaries" heading. Scroll down to "Religion" and click on it. Over 25 different religious and Biblical references are linked to this resource page.

What Language Should I Study?

For many people, choosing which foreign language to study is an exciting process. There are a number of factors you can use to decide which language is right for you. For example:

• Is there someplace you have always wanted to travel? If you've dreamed of going to Paris since you were a child, learning French could prove quite useful. Although it's true that many people around the world do speak at least some English, making an effort to learn the language of the country you plan to visit will earn you a great deal of respect from the local residents.
• What is your cultural heritage? For example, learning Italian may be a fun way to connect with your roots in Italy. If you're interested in genealogy, learning the language spoken by your ancestors may also make the process of creating your family tree much easier.
• Do you know someone who speaks a foreign language? Having another person to practice your skills with will make the process of learning another language much more enjoyable.
• What are your professional aspirations? If you're interested in becoming a history teacher, for example, learning Latin may prove useful in your studies. However, if you're a social worker in a community with a large immigrant population, knowing Spanish could prove a highly valuable professional skill.

Use Your Computer to Learn a Different Language for Free

The Internet has made it easier than ever to learn a different language for free. Check out the following links to see what lessons are available in the language of your choice:

• BBC Languages provides high quality lesson plans for people interested in learning French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, or Greek. Video clips and mp3 audio files help to make the learning experience more interactive
• Speak Any Language is a web-based, global community that aims to promote understanding of languages and cultures among its site visitors. Forums, chat rooms, newsletters, games, and online lessons are guaranteed to enhance your language learning experience.
• BYKI offers free language learning software downloads in 63 different languages. The software lets you see and hear the foreign language of your choice with native speaker pronunciation so you start building your vocabulary almost immediately. If you enjoy this free language learning tool, you can later choose to download the BYKI Deluxe Edition software for a fee and gain access to several additional lessons.
• Open Culture is a fabulous resource for anyone interested in using their iPod as a language learning tool. This site offers links to free instructional podcasts in a variety of languages.
• My Language Exchange lets you connect with native speakers of the language of your choice in order to help you practice your conversational skills and develop true language proficiency.
• Languages Online has a collection of links to foreign language resources from around the Internet. Some of the languages covered on this website include American Sign Language, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese.
• Word2Word provides a detailed directory of free language instruction resources. Sorting through the links can be a time consuming task, but this site may be valuable if you're interested in a language that is relatively uncommon.

Additional Language Learning Resources

Although free foreign language instruction websites can be a valuable resource, there are many different language learning resources available. For example:

• Libraries often have large collections of books, CDs, and instructional videos for people interested in learning a foreign language.
• Many people say watching television programs in the language of their choice is a useful tool to improve comprehension.
• If you live near a college, you may be able to have a student provide private tutoring in the language of your choice.

Related Articles