Looking for the best online language learning programs for your kid(s)?

Good for you!

Whether you’re a language learner yourself or just an awesome parent, giving your offspring access to the joys and endless benefits of acquiring a new language is one of the best things you can do for them.

Browse ed2go's list of online language courses and training programs. Learn a new Language skill online - and change your life for the better. Browse ed2go's list of online language courses and training programs. Learn a new Language skill online - and change your life for the better.

Same goes for if you’re going to be tutoring kids in a foreign language.

Or hey, you might just be curious about what kind of language learning resources are out there for kids… because you figure they might be fun and work for you, too!

Regardless of your situation, you’re in for a treat today.

We’re going to look at the best in online language learning for kids.

Let’s get to it!

3 Characteristics of a Kid-friendly Language Learning Program

Before I give you the resources that you’re looking for, I’m going to give you the three characteristics of a kid-friendly program. Think of them as the three equally supportive legs of a stool.

Activity

A language learning program tailored for kids is highly interactive. It engages the senses and imagination and makes the kids an important part of the learning process. When dealing with children, a straight-up passive lecture is not effective. They barely can sit still, much less keep their eyes on the lesson. You’re dealing with short attention spans and so you need to hit them with activity after activity that keeps them engaged in the lesson.

A kid-friendly program gives children something to do—with their hands, their eyes, their imaginations. It doesn’t expect them to get through the whole thing without a fuss.

So an online resource full of boring text won’t be a hit. It will barely register. If a language learning program is full of paragraphs, then move on.

Kids don’t think of language learning as a linguistic goal made up of words and phrases, they think of it as an activity—a game, a dance, a song or an audiovisual experience. They engage in the experience and forget that they’re already learning about the language. So it’s like you’re layering the lessons behind some fun activities. It’s not like adult programs where the language lessons are so explicit and in your face. It’s not like kids are going to say to themselves, “Okay, today I’m gonna memorize 10 vocabulary words about food.”

Creativity

I’m sure you’ve had the experience of asking your little one to do something she doesn’t want to do. You’re feeding her, for example, and she stops opening her mouth, resisting you at every turn. So you start getting creative. You turn that tiny spoon into an airplane, doing backflips and somersaults in the air. Sometimes it’s a train “choo-choo-choo-ing” into her mouth.

Eating is an activity, but your way is more fun and creative.

Memorizing a list of words from a sheet of paper is also an activity. But it’s hardly creative. When dealing with kids, a program has to rise to their level of creativity and imagination. I’m talking about bright colors, moving objects, talking animals, cartoon characters, changing scenery, storylines, rescue missions, interplanetary drama, etc.

Suddenly, your kid isn’t just learning about numbers, he’s counting gold coins in Czech so he can buy the flying pony he’ll use to rescue the princess. And when he’s done saving her, he gets to meet her family—the king, some rowdy uncles—and along the way, learn about family vocabulary. That’s an activity, and a creative one!

Variety

They say that variety is the spice of life. If the same thing is done over and over, the novelty soon wears off. It’s not a challenge anymore. It becomes a chore. Kids will only engage with material if it still interests them. If there’s something new, something unexpected.

They don’t care if they learn the language lessons you want them to or not. They don’t look far into the future and think, “Being bilingual will raise my value at work.” They’re in the present, thinking, “What’s in it for me right now?”

And if it’s the same thing over and over, they’ll have nothing to do with it.

A good online language learning program for kids knows this. That’s why the creators throw in plenty of different activities. They try to teach the same lesson in different ways. For example, a lesson about numbers can be taught in a song. It can also be taught in a story, or a game, so the kids don’t get sick of the same lesson. Because hey, it’s not really the same lesson. (Wink!)

Resources can also test for the same vocabulary set in different ways, even involving different skills. They can test for pronunciation by asking the children to speak into a microphone, they can do word pairs and they can make the activity more interactive by asking the kids to type in the answer. They can also tap into that competitive spirit and facilitate language contests with other students online.

A good rule of thumb is that a really good online resource for kids will have at least five different types of creative activities.

With all that being said, I’m now going to show you some of the best online resources for kids today.

Some of these programs are specifically made for kids, while others are all-ages programs that just happen to have features great for kids—both types of programs have their advantages. With programs designed for kids, you can rest assured that your children are being catered to by experts, whereas with general programs, you may be more inclined to join in on the fun!

Little Pim

Adults might run for dear life at the sight of a bear, but kids think they’re cute and cuddly.

Little Pim, that lovable panda, can be your children’s video guide to learning any or all of the 12 languages on offer. What used to be recorded on multiple DVDs can now be video streamed or digitally downloaded, but you still get that Little Pim cuteness and goofy goodness that won the program over 25 awards.

Their learning system, the Entertainment Immersion Method, was developed by top language teachers and neuroscientists. It employs repetition, play and child-friendly themes to tap into toddlers’ natural love for learning. The videos are a combination of animations and live-action clips that introduce topics like colors and numbers. They run for only 5 minutes to accommodate an audience of 0-6 year olds.

You can choose from a combination of download, streaming, DVD and book options. Prices vary depending on exactly what you want, but are generally affordable. For example, the full French program, which comes with two books, is $131.99.

Along with the books and DVDs, you can also get other physical products including flashcards, CDs, toys and posters.

The program is said to teach your little ones 360 basic words in the target language. To me, that sounds like an awesome deal!

Muzzy BBC

Muzzy BBC is the BBC’s answer to language learning for all ages. This immersion program, described as “The World’s #1 Language Course for Children,” is centered around animated characters and stories in video “episodes.” The episodes are designed to naturally build on one another, enabling your child to learn through an engaging, interactive method, rather than traditional “teaching.”

Muzzy BBC currently offers courses in Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, German, Italian, English and Korean. You can get started with the online program for $9.95 per month, or save by going with a semi-annual or annual plan. You also have the option of a DVD set with a risk-free trial period and payment plan.

The program will introduce your child to 600+ vocabulary words and cover the following subjects in the target language:

• Telling Time
• People & Places
• Past, Present & Future Tenses
• Transportation
• Food
• Asking Questions
• Occupation
• Days of the Week
• Life at Home
• Family & Friends

Since Muzzy BBC is effective for all types of learners and meant to let your child learn the language naturally, it’s a great low-pressure way to expose kids to a second language at any age.

FluentU

FluentU is your best bet for authentic language learning videos the whole family will enjoy. While other programs often only have a handful of videos, FluentU has a wide variety of video clips that cover all language levels—from absolute beginners to advanced learners—as well as all ages.

FluentU takes real online videos and turns them into lessons that are personalized and digestible. You won’t have to struggle to get your kids away from the TV to do their language practice, because they’ll be able to watch the same sort of stuff they’d be entranced by on TV, anyway—but in the target language.

Videos range from content made specifically to appeal to children—like cartoons, music videos and movie trailers—to content you may enjoy yourself—such as politics, news and TED talks. This means you may want to help select content that’s appropriate for your child’s age, level and interests, but this is a great opportunity for you to get involved in the language learning process and for you and your kids to learn both individually and together as a family.

You can easily sort and search videos, and once you get started, FluentU begins to personalize your content and make recommendations for further viewing.

FluentU covers the world’s major languages, currently offering Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese,English, Russian, Italian and Korean, with an upcoming program for Portuguese. (There are over 1,000 videos for Spanish alone.)

Each video clip has an interactive transcript so kids can closely follow what’s being said in the clip. Each word in the transcript is in itself a mini language lesson, because when kids hover on a specific word, everything they need to know about that word—pronunciation, translation, usage example, etc.—pops up.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.

Didn’t catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.

You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s “quiz mode.” Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

And FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

Ever wanted to take your child to another country to let them experience language and culture immersion? Now you can do just that in the safety of your own home and at a fraction of the cost—$15 a month for a Basic subscription and $30 for Plus.

FluentU enriches your child’s learning experience, making the process of learning a pure delight. Try it on the website or download the app from the iTunes store or Google Play store.

Dino Lingo

Dino Lingo is an award-winning language program that offers lessons in over 40 languages. They’re known for the package they send you that contains DVDs, colorful posters, flashcards and coloring books.

They do have online subscriptions, and for $99.95, you have a full year’s access to their online content.

It’s called “Dino Lingo” because a dinosaur introduces your kids to the target language. The online portal gives you access to six 35-minute videos that teach your toddler topics like household items, family, body parts, clothes, nature and actions. Your kids will happily repeat these lessons over and over.

Another feature is online games like “Word Wheel,” where kids click on the correct picture after hearing an audio prompt, and “Memory Card,” where vocabulary and mental acuity are honed at the same time.

Parents can also print some easily downloadable worksheets and activity books, so you can not only work closely with your little one, but also get a window into the things that she’s learning. You can gauge her progress and give her a helping hand.

PetraLingua

This is a multimedia vocabulary builder suitable for learners aged 3-10.

PetraLingua has courses in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German and Russian.

Each course has around 20 lessons that range from colors and clothing to fruits and vegetables. There are 10 different activities and exercises for each lesson. Each lesson opens with an introductory video that identifies the vocabulary set that can be learned in that lesson. This is then followed by a parade of reinforcing activities, exercises and interactive gives that the kids perform to help them learn the words. These include listen-and-repeat, listen-and-click and word-matching tasks that allow the kids to deal with the words in different contexts.

All told, each course features around 500 basic words, 80 language learning videos, 11 language learning songs, 140 interactive online games and a talking picture dictionary. For as low as $3.99 a month (if you get the annual subscription), you have yourself a great deal.

Mango Languages

This one is suitable for ages 6 and up.

Your kids are going to use headphones on this one. The uniqueness of the program lies in its focus on conversational skills. If you want your kids to study in the morning and try out their newly learned phrases on the whole family in the afternoon, go with Mango Languages. It has that effect on children.

Each lesson starts by listening to a few lines of basic dialogue or conversation. It might be a greetings dialogue or a question-and-answer type of conversation. There’s a clear text of the whole exchange presented on the screen so learners can follow along. Everything is color-coded to make this easy.

In the remainder of the lesson, the whole dialogue is deconstructed and broken down into lines, phrases and words.

There’s a “Play” icon on every line so learners can self-pace and repeat the lines as often as needed. The learner is guided line-by-line and hears how each word is correctly spoken. If you hover the mouse on a particular line, up goes a translation of it.

The lesson zeroes in on individual words and phrases. And in addition to the replay button, learners can use a microphone to compare their own pronunciation with how native speakers do it.

And you can do this in over 60 languages, including Pirate language! For only $20 a month, you and as many as five kids can start learning practically any language in the world.

Languagenut

Languagenut is the perfect vocabulary builder, pronunciation partner and spelling teacher for learners 5-14 years old. The program amply covers all bases and touches on all four key linguistic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The program has specific games that address each.

It’s widely used in schools in 32 countries around the world as a supplemental language teaching tool. But the program can be equally valuable for homeschooling families.

Languagenut may tackle the same topics (numbers, colors, greetings) as many other language programs, but it has some of the most graphically compelling interfaces this side of language learning. It teaches target words and phrases through games, songs and stories. Your child would find it very hard not to learn and engage. The games alone are worth the price of admission. (What do you say to 14?)

At £9.99 per year, it’d be a crime not to get Languagenut for your kids.

Duolingo

Duolingo is the most popular language learning program online. It’s probably because one, it’s free, and two, it gives adults permission to be like kids.

What I mean is that they divide the lessons into very manageable bits, make the pacing very gradual, add audio prompts and pictures, and, last but not least, feature an animal cartoon character. Mix all of these into language learning content and you have a concoction that could work with kids as well as adults. (Well, at least kids who already know how to read and spell.)

This is another program you can easily participate in with your child. Instead of leaving him alone, you can guide him and give instant feedback and praise, which would make for great bonding time!

Duolingo is one long activity where through repetition, vocabulary is embedded and kept fresh. Learners are given little tasks. The idea is, the more of these teenie tiny tasks they do, the more they’ll remember of the target language.

Learners may be asked to choose the translation of a word from the given choices. Sometimes the actual translation needed to be typed by the learner. Sometimes the task goes the other way and learners are given the English translation and will be asked to supply the target language equivalent.

Duolingo repeats the tasks, goes forwards and backwards between languages, mixes and matches previously learned words and keeps learners on their toes. It also does a good job of remembering the words learners have difficulty with so they can be offered for review.

Duolingo may look simple and straightforward, but there’s actually a lot going on under the hood. If your kids stick with Duolingo, they’ll pick up a greater number of words than with a lot of other programs.

Check out these seven programs and test them for yourself.

Each of them has their strengths and specialties, so choose whatever fits your situation.

And if you really want to make the best of it, learn a language with your kid. Two birds, one stone.

Good luck!

If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn languages with real-world videos.

Get FREE Audio Books from Audible.com and Audiobooks.com

How to learn languages for free? This collection features lessons in 48 languages, including Spanish, French, English, Mandarin, Italian, Russian and more. Download audio lessons to your computer or mp3 player and you're good to go.

Amharic

• Foreign Service Institute Basic Amharic - Audio - Textbook
  • Lessons with dialogues, drills, exercises, and narratives will teach you the basics of this language spoken in Ethiopia. Includes samples of speech, explanations of basic language structures, and a variety of practical exercises. Features two textbooks (PDF) and eleven audio lessons (MP3).

Ancient Greek

• Ancient Greek Introduction - Web Site
  • The UT-Austin Linguistics Research Center provides an overview of Ancient Greek and 10 lessons based on famous Greek texts. It is all text-based.
• Introduction to Homeric Greek - YouTube
  • A series of 15 videos presented by The Center for Hellenic Studies, at Harvard University.
• Learn Ancient Greek - Web Site
  • Leonard Muellner (Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies at Brandeis University) has posted 64 videos on YouTube, which, “present all the content covered in two semesters of a college-level Introduction to Ancient Greek course.”

Arabic

• Arabic for Global Exchange - Web site
  • From Carnegie Mellon, a mini-course for individuals with no proficiency or extremely limited knowledge of Arabic language and culture who are about to begin study or work in an Arabic-speaking context.
• Arabic Language Lessons - Web Site
  • The US Peace Corps serves up free lessons that will teach you the Arabic spoken in Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Chad and beyond.
• Arabic Lessons on Spotify - Spotify
  • Over 12 hours of Arabic lessons for beginners.
• Arabic for Beginners 1 - YouTube Free
  • A series of video lessons from Dalarna University in Sweden.
• Arabic in Jordan - Web Site
  • These lessons from the Peace Corps will help you learn normal conversation in Jordan, rather than focusing on formalities.
• ArabicPod - iTunes Free
  • Includes mp3s and PDF transcripts.
• Foreign Service Institute Written Arabic - Vol 1 - Vol 2
  • Spoken exercises in Arabic and the printed transcriptions. Four textbooks (PDF) and 31 audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Levantine Arabic - Web site
  • Introduction to pronunciation. Textbook (PDF) and 19 audio lessons (MP3). Scroll down to the second set of lessons on this page.

• Foreign Service Institute Saudi Arabic - Web site
  • Covers the urban Hijazi dialect. Textbook (PDF) and 51 audio lessons (MP3). Scroll down to the third/bottom set of lessons on this page.
• Survival Phrases Arabic - iTunes Free
  • Provides the essentials you'll need to get around.

Bookmark our free Arabic lessons section.

Bambara

• Bambara in Mali - Web Site
  • Lessons from the Peace Corps.

Bulgarian

• Bulgarian Survival Phrases - iTunes Free - Feed
• Foreign Service Institute Bulgarian - Web site
  • Two textbooks (PDF) and 75 audio lessons (MP3).

Cambodian

• Foreign Service Institute Basic Cambodian - Web site
  • Two textbooks (PDF) and 45 audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Contemporary Cambodian - Web site
  • Textbook (PDF) and 60 audio lessons (MP3).

Catalan

• One Minute Catalan - iTunes Free - Feed
  • A good way to get going with a language still spoken by some 12 million people, many living in Northeast Spain.

Chinese

• Real Chinese - Web Site
  • Presented by the BBC. A lively introduction to Mandarin Chinese in 10 short parts with video clips from the Real Chinese TV series.
• Beginner's Chinese - iTunes Free
  • Introductory audio lessons provided by the Open University.
• Chinese Course - Seton Hall
  • Beginning Chinese - Free iTunes Audio - Seton Hall
  • Beginning Chinese Reader - Free iTunes Audio - Seton Hall
  • Intermediate Chinese - Free iTunes Audio - Seton Hall
  • Intermediate Chinese Reader - Free iTunes Audio - Seton Hall
  • Advanced Chinese - Free iTunes Audio - Seton Hall
  • Advanced Chinese Reader - Free iTunes Audio - Seton Hall

• Chinese Basic - Web
  • A web-application developed by the University of Cambridge Language Centre for basic level students of Chinese. It focuses on listening and reading skill but it also includes many activities that help learners prepare for speaking and writing. Note that you can also download Intermediate Chinese here.
• Chinese Learn Online - iTunes Free - Feed
  • A dialogue-based introduction to Mandarin Chinese. Load the lessons on your mp3 player and get up the Chinese curve.
• Chinese Lessons with Serge Melnyk - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Weekly lessons in Mandarin that get very strong reviews from iTunes users.
• Chinesepod.com -iTunes Free - Feed
  • A series of well-reviewed lessons that will let you learn Mandarin on your own terms.
• Foreign Service Institute Basic Cantonese - Vol 1 - Vol 2
  • Two textbooks (PDF) and 30 audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Standard Chinese: A Modular Approach - Vol 1 - Vol 2 - Vol 3 - Vol 4 - Vol 5 - Vol 6 - Vol 7 - Vol 8 - Vol 9
  • Designed to give a practical command of spoken standard Chinese with nine situational modules. Each module consists of tapes (MP3), a student textbook (PDF), and a workbook. In addition to the core modules, there is a resource module and eight optional modules.
• iMandarinPod.com - iTunes Free
  • This series of lessons teaches Chinese by talking about Chinese culture or what is happening today in China. More advanced than others.
• Learn Chinese in Your Car - Spotify
  • Grammar and vocabulary to beginners, offering guidance in pronunciation and language fundamentals.
• Learn Chinese on Spotify - Spotify
  • A collection of audio courses on Spotify, that will take you from beginner lessons to advanced conversations--featuring essential travel phrases and vocabulary.
• Mandarin Chinese Characters - iTunes Free
  • Created by Emory University, this series of video lessons will help you draw several characters and numbers.
• Mandarin in China - Web Site
  • Lessons courtesy of the US Peace Corps
• Numbers and Radicals - iTunes Free
  • Emory University teaches you the proper form for writing numbers and radicals. In Video.
• One Minute Mandarin - iTunes Free - Feed
  • A quick way to cover the very basics..
• Popup Chinese - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Offers lessons for beginners and also students at intermediate and advanced levels. In addition to language lessons, Popup Chinese provides annotated short stories, HSK test prep materials and a variety of speaking and listening exercises. They broadcast out of Beijing, and all voice actors speak the standard northern dialect.
• Slow Chinese - iTunes Free
  • A cultural podcast for Chinese learners. Features narratives by native Chinese people read in Mandarin at a slow speed (2~3 characters per second). Topics vary from language, knowledge, tradition and culture to opinions on social phenomena.
• Survival Chinese - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Learn the phrases you need to get by while traveling in China.
• Tsinghua Chinese: Start Talking with 1.3 Billion People - Web Site
  • Introductory Chinese language course from Tsinghua University emphasizes basic language skills for everyday life in Mandarin speaking countries. The course utilizes pinyin, the standard system of Romanized spelling for transliterating Chinese, so learners will find it easy to understand and study the language.
• World Learner Chinese - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Another in the mix of possibilities.

Czech

• Foreign Service Institute Czech Fast - Web site
  • Textbook (PDF) and twelve audio lessons (PDF).

Danish

• Duolingo Danish (for English Speakers) - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents.
• One Minute Danish - iTunes Free - Feed
  • We get a lot of requests (believe it or not) for Danish. So here's another useful primer created by the One Minute series.

Dutch

• Duolingo Dutch (for English Speakers) - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents.
• Introduction to Dutch - Web Site
  • Learn to speak, write and understand basic Dutch, with this free, three-week, introductory foreign language course. By University of Groningen.
• Laura Speaks Dutch - iTunes Free
  • Lessons that will help you travel to Holland. It’s worth checking out the accompanying web site.
• Learn Dutch - iTunes Free
  • Culturally relevant lessons that are easy to listen to.

English

• Connect with English - Web
  • Featuring the story of Rebecca, an aspiring singer on a journey across America, Connect With English offers 50 fifteen-minute video programs that will teach English as a second language to high school students, college students and adult learners. Produced by WGBH Boston.
• The English We Speak - iTunes Free - Web Site
  • Each week, the BBC looks at phrases used in the English language.
• American English Speech - Web
  • The OLI American English Dialect course from Carnegie Mellon supplies the necessary reinforcement of dialectical structure, audio, production technique and phonetic representation for each sound.
• 6 Minute English - iTunes Free - Downloads - Web Site
  • Learn and practice useful English with the BBC.
• Better @ English - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Focuses on conversational English, with an emphasis on idioms and slang.
• Business English - iTunes Free
  • Learn the English you will need to function effectively in an American business environment.
• Effortless English - iTunes Free - Feed
  • It gets solid reviews.
• English as a Second Language - iTunes Free
  • Free Lessons from HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College.
• English as a Second Language - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • A very well liked collection of ESL lessons. Over 100 episodes in the collection.
• English for Spanish Speakers (’Por Fin Aprende Ingles’) - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Si usted haya asistido al menos a un curso de ingles, y usted necesita la oportunidad de escuchar al ingles y hablar el ingles, entonces ‘Por Fin Aprende Ingles’ es el podcast perfecto para usted. Presentado por Carla Staufert-Sauvier, una profesora de Mexico, y Jade Lindquist, una profesora de los EE UU.
• ESL Business News - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • A weekly wrap of international business news read in slow, clear English. Listen to the broadcast and follow along in the accompanying script.
• Film English – Web
  • Site promotes the innovative and creative use of film in language learning. All of the lesson plans revolve around the use of video and film to teach English. Recently won a British Council ELTons awards for Innovation in Teacher Resources.
• Grammar Girl - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer.
• Tu Ingles! -iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • “Tu Ingles” is designed to help Spanish-speakers improve their ear for English. The weekly program features drills of verb conjugation, interviews, advice about idioms, and excerpts of speeches and other recorded spoken material from famous English speakers.
• USA Learns - Web Site
  • A free website that helps adults learn English online by providing engaging videos and educational activities. Built by the Sacramento County Office of Education, with funding by the U.S. Department of Education and the California Department of Education.

• Bookmark our free English lessons section.

Mortal kombat vs dc fatalities ps3. Estonian

• Oneness Estonian - Web Site
  • The course has 10 lessons that consist of several parts: a short grammar introduction with explicit explanations (Language School, Grammar); a lesson's dictionary (Language School, Vocabulary); a phrase set (Language School, Speaking); exercises to develop language usage competence (Language School, Exercises); and a short socio-cultural introduction to the country that is thematically related to the lesson (Information center).

Farsi/Persian

• Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation - Web Site - iTunes
  • Offers 50 lessons via podcast, each running about 15-20 minutes, which will help students learn conversational Persian for free. Each lesson builds on previous lessons, so to get the most out of the course, start from the beginning. The site also offers affordable premium learning materials.
• Easy Persian - Web Site
  • Easy Persian offers online lessons in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Persian or Farsi as spoken in Iran. In addition to Persian language lessons, the site introduces contemporary Iranian poets with English translations of their poems. You’ll also find free Farsi/Persian software, Persian names with English translations, Farsi writing drills and much more.
• Learn Persian Farsi Easily, Effectively and Fluently - Spotify
  • A 3-hour series of lessons that's freely available on Spotify.
• Persian of Iran Today - Web Site
  • This two volume textbook interweaves grammar- and vocabulary-building exercises with narrative elements in order to engage and develop students' abilities in Persian. The web site includes the textbook itself and related audio/visual files. Persian of Iran Today is published by The University of Texas at Austin's Center for Middle Eastern Studies Publications program. Hard copies of the textbook can be purchased online (volume 1 and volume 2).

Finnish

• Foreign Service Institute Conversational Finnish - Web site
  • Transcripts of the Finnish dialogues with idiomatic English translations plus notes on structural pattern and explanations of essential points of grammar. A variety of exercises with instructions in English.
• Oneness Finnish - Web Site
  • The course has 10 lessons that consist of several parts: a short grammar introduction with explicit explanations (Language School, Grammar); a lesson's dictionary (Language School, Vocabulary); a phrase set (Language School, Speaking); exercises to develop language usage competence (Language School, Exercises); and a short socio-cultural introduction to the country that is thematically related to the lesson (Information center).

• Special FinnishWeb Site
  • For listeners with some command of Finnish YLE Radio Finland offers daily broadcasts in “Special Finnish”. The five minute broadcasts cover items of current interest. To ease understanding, we simplify the language and slow down the delivery. Some grammatical forms are not used at all. The level of Finnish used is planned to match the expected ability to understand Finnish shown by persons in Level Two Language Command (ofFinnish) as defined by the Council of Europe.”

French

• French in Action - Free Web Site
  • Produced by Yale University, these video lessons uses the storyline of an American student and a young Frenchwoman’s adventures in Paris to teach the language.
• French 1 & French 2 from Carnegie Mellon – French 1 and French 2
  • The French courses are introductory, interactive video-based courses intended for use by university students and independent learners on the Internet.
    
• Ma France - Web Site
  • The BBC offers 24 video lessons that will teach you French.
• Duolingo French - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents. Check out Duolingo's iPhone and iPad apps.
• Easy French Poetry -iTunes Free
  • A French as a second language program, using poetry as a topic for discussion using everyday conversational French.
• France Bienvenue - Web Site
  • A site that focuses on teaching French conversation. The site is written in French, so you will need a little French already under your belt. The site has audios with full transcripts and notes.
• Foreign Service Institute Basic Course - Vol 1 - Vol 2 - Spotify
  • The course is designed to enable you to reach conversational proficiency. You learn how to control the French sound system by listening to the tapes and repeating each phrase. The dialogues present natural spoken French in a variety of contexts, such as, greeting people, registering at a hotel, getting a train ticket, and shopping.
• Foreign Service Institute Basic Course: Phonology – Web Site
  • The Introduction to French Phonology course provides additional drills for those who wish to sound like a native speaker of the language. The course may be used beneficially at any stage of learning the language.
• Foreign Service Institute French Fast – Web site
  • Designed to familiarize you with situations encountered abroad, and to provide you with the language skills you need to cope effectively with those situations. Includes lessons for metropolitan and sub-Saharan French.
• Foreign Service Institute French: Headstart for Belgium – Web site
  • Textbook and culture notes (PDF) and sixteen audio lessons (PDF).
• Francolab - Web Site
  • French Canadian site provides resources for language learners and teachers. Includes videos, quizzes, interactive modules, audio-visual presentations, and a wide selection of Canadian programs covering a variety of social and cultural topics.
• French for Beginners - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Fun, effective lessons for beginners. Provided by the French Ecole.
• French Beginner's Serial and Oral Course 2016 - YouTube
  • Learn basic French with the Manesca French Course. 91 videos on YouTube.
• Le Journal en français facile - iTunes Free - Feed- Web Site
  • Nightly news from RFI presented in slowly spoken French to assist you with your comprehension.
• Learn French - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • A well-reviewed series of lessons for beginners and those who want to brush up on their French.
• Learn French in Your Car - Spotify
  • Grammar and vocabulary to beginners, offering guidance in pronunciation and language fundamentals.
• Learn French with Coffee Break French - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • The producers of the very popular Coffee Break Spanish now offer a program that will teach you French.
• Learn French with Daily Lessons - iTunes Free - Feed
  • These lessons are brought to you by French teachers from Paris. They are best suited for those who already have some beginning French under their belts.
• Learn French with Spotify - Spotify
  • A collection of audio courses on Spotify, that will take you from beginner lessons to advanced conversations--featuring essential travel phrases and vocabulary.
• Native French Speech Podcast - iTunes Free - Web Site
  • Listen to interesting conversations between Native French speakers and learn about everyday life in France and cultural French topics
• News in Slow French - iTunes Free - Web Site
  • Program discusses the Weekly News, French grammar, and French expressions in simplified French at a slow pace.
• Speak and Read French - Spotify
  • Three albums of a French language course, Speak and Read French, created by Armand Bégué, a professor at Brooklyn College and his wife, Louise Bégué, in 1959. For basic and intermediate levels.
• Talk French - Web Site
  • A lively introduction to French presented by the BBC.
• University of Texas: Francais interactif – Web Site
  • UT provides a series of interactive vocabulary lessons. Media can be downloaded from the site.

German

• Deutsch - warum nicht? - Web Site
  • An extensive collection of introductory German lessons put together by Deutsche Welle.
• Audio Trainer - Web site
  • Helps you learn basic vocabulary that is useful for everyday life and improve your pronunciation. The 100 lessons are the result of a collaborative effort between Deutsche Welle and the Goethe-Verlag.
• Deutsch im Blick - Web site
  • A free online textbook for learning German from the University of Texas. It's the web-based first-year German program developed and in use at the university.
• Dialogue for German Learners: Beginner's Level - iTunes Free
  • Created by the University of South Wales, these dialogues will help you to practice and consolidate some of the language skills you are learning, either as part of a language course or as something you need for your work.
• Mission Berlin - iTunes Free - Web - RSS
  • Learn German through a mystery adventure. Created by Deutsche Welle.
• Basic German - Web site
  • A web-application developed by the University of Cambridge Language Centre for basic level students of German. It focuses on listening and reading skill but it also includes many activities that help learners prepare for speaking and writing.
• Radio D - Series 1 iTunes - Series 2 iTunes - Series 1 RSS - Series 2 RSS
  • German for beginners: Paula and Philipp are Radio D reporters who have several mysterious cases to investigate. Join them as their research takes them across Germany -- and learn German along the way! Created by Deutsche Welle.
• Slowly Spoken News - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Deutsche Welle provides a nightly news broadcast in German that’s spoken slowly so that you can work on your comprehension.
• Talk German - Web Site
  • A lively introduction to German by the BBC. Presented in ten short parts.
• Deutsch - Lernen - Text
  • 10 German lessons for total beginners and 24 German grammar lessons. No audio; text only.
• Deutsch Interaktiv - Web
  • 30-part self-study course in German. Features authentic videos, slideshows and audio texts that convey a vibrant picture of life in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Created by Deutsche Welle.
• Duolingo German - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents. Check out Duolingo's iPhone and iPad apps.
• Foreign Service Institute German Programmed Introduction - Web site
  • The text (PDF) and tapes (MP3) present, in a programmed learning style, the structural features and vocabulary contained in the first six units of the FSI German Basic Course. Serves to accelerate the progress of students who subsequently move to the Basic Course.
• Foreign Service Institute German Basic Course - Vol 1 - Vol 2
  • Two textbooks (PDF) and 24 audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute German Fast - Web site
  • Textbook (PDF) and ten audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute German Headstart - Web site
  • Textbook (PDF) and fourteen audio lessons (MP3).
• GermanPod 101 - iTunes Free - RSS
  • Offers materials for beginners, intermediate and advanced.
• German Podcast.de - iTunes Free - Web Site - RSS
• GerGermanGrammar - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • German grammar lessons aimed at American students.
• Lernen Wir Deutsch - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Presented in video, these “vodcasts” get high marks for being not only educational but also very entertaining.
• MyDailyPhrase.com - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Learn German phrase by phrase over a course of 20 weeks. Lessons cover all the language you need to know to get by on a visit to a German-speaking country. This series is put together by the same people created the popular series “Coffee Break Spanish.”
• One Minute German - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Presented by the Radio Lingua Network
• Slow German - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Annik Rubens reads slowly and clearly from parts of her popular program, Sleepless in Munich (Schlaflos in Munchen).

• Bookmark our free German lessons section.

Greek

• Foreign Service Institute Greek Basic - Web site
  • Representative of the Kathomilumeni variety that is the 'standard' speech of educated Greeks. Three textbooks (PDF) and 75 audio lessons (MP3).
• Learning GreekiTunes FreeWeb Site
  • From the Hellenic American Union, these lessons will teach students Modern Greek. For those who already have some foundation in the language.

Hebrew

• HebrewPod 101 - iTunes
  • A way to learn some quick Hebrew on the fly.
• Biblical Hebrew Grammar I (YouTube) and Grammar II (YouTube)
  • These are courses taught at The Master's Seminary in Sun Valley, California.
• Foreign Service Institute Hebrew Basic - Web site - Spotify
  • One textbook (PDF) and 40 audio lessons (MP3). The Hebrew Basic Course is designed to teach spoken and written modern Hebrew that is the ordinary, informal speech of educated native Israelis. It is not intended as a text for the study of the Old Testament or other Hebrew literature.
• Learn Hebrew (Biblical) - YouTube
  • Classical Hebrew taught using the serial and oral method. Features 56 videos. This introductory video presents the outline for the course.

Hindi

• HindiPod 101 - iTunes
  • Learn Hindi with fun, interesting and culturally relevant lessons that are easy to listen to.
• I Speak Hindi iTunes -FeedWeb Site
  • Coversessential words and phrases that you need for your trip to India. There are also Beginner Hindi lessons for those that want to seriously start to learn the language.
• Namaste Dosti - Learn HindiiTunes Free FeedWeb Site
  • There are few options when it comes to learning Hindi so the author decided to fill the void.
• Hindi: An Active Introduction - Textbook
  • A short textbook by DN Sharma & James Stone on behalf of Foreign Service Institute (FSI).

Hungarian

• Foreign Service Institute Hungarian - Web site
  • Two textbooks (PDF) and 24 audio lessons (MP3). Also includes a graded reader.
• Let's Learn HungarianiTunes FreeFeedWeb Site
  • Learn with Steve or Gyorgyi, a native speaker.

Icelandic

• Icelandic Online - Web Site
  • Created by University of Iceland. The lessons use various media - text, flashcards, videos and so on. Lets you track your progress. Available up to expert level. (Requires registration.)
• Viltu læra íslensku? - Web site
  • 21 TV episodes of Icelandic lessons. Each episode deals with daily life and common situations in Iceland. Accompanying every episode is a thorough summary, explaining the subject of the episode. The episodes have Icelandic subtitles, making the dialog easier to follow.
• A Beginners' MP3 course in Modern Icelandic - Web Site
  • This is an experimental eight-hour beginners' Icelandic course, based on Alaric's experiences living in Iceland in 2010,

Indonesian

• Indonesian Survival Phrases- iTunes - Web Site
  • A fun way of learning the Indonesian language and culture at your own convenience and pace. Includes free podcast audio lessons.
• Learning Indonesian -iTunes Free - Feed
  • A complete online Indonesian course geared towards developing conversational fluency in the Indonesian Language.
• Indonesian News - iTunes Free
  • This is the latest news in Indonesian from NHK World Radio Japan. For more advanced learners.
• SBS Radio Indonesian Language Program - iTunes Free - Web Site
  • For more advanced learners, SBS Radio Indonesian Language Program offers extensive coverage of international, national and local news and current affairs, including interviews with Indonesian community leaders and other cultural programs.

Irish

• Duolingo Irish (for English Speakers) - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents.
• One Minute Irish -iTunes Free
  • Description Learn Irish with Eoin as he teaches you the basics of Irish, or Gaeilge. In this podcast you'll be learning just enough Irish to get by on a holiday or business trip to Ireland - and to impress Irish speakers everywhere!
• Irish Lessons on Spotify - Spotify
  • Learn some essential Irish, and hear poetry, prose and songs in Irish.

Italian

• Talk Italian - Web Site
  • A lively introduction to Italian presented by the BBC.
• BBC Italianissimo - Web Site - YouTube
  • Italianissimo was a TV series to learn Italian first broadcast in 1992 and repeated regularly over the next 10 years. You can watch the videos online.
• Duolingo Italian - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents.
• Foreign Service Institute Italian Head Start - Web site
  • Textbook, glossary, culture notes (PDF) and 21 audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Italian FastCourse - Vol 1. - Vol 2.
  • Includes a textbook (PDF) and 30 audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Italian Programmed Course - Web site
  • Textbook and instructor’s manual (PDF) and 24 audio lessons (MP3).
• LearnItalianPod.comiTunes Free
  • A series of Italian language lessons that will get you up and running. I have personally used them and found them effective.
• Let’s Speak ItalianiTunes FreeFeed
  • This collection will help you learn Italian in small, manageable 5-minute bites.
• MyDailyPhrase.com iTunes Free
  • Learn Italian step by step over a course of 20 weeks. Lessons cover all the language you need to know to get by on a visit to a Italian-speaking country. Created by the same people who put together the popular series “Coffee Break Spanish.”
• Speak Italian with Your Mouth Full - Web - YouTube - iTunes –
  • MIT instructor Dr. Paola Rebusco uses cooking to help her students learn to speak Italian.

Bookmark our free Italian lessons section.

Japanese

• Foreign Service Institute Japanese - Web site
  • Student guide, textbook, glossary, flashcards (PDF) and nine audio lessons (MP3).
• JapanesePod101.com - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Over 100 quality lessons aimed at the beginner. Users give it high marks.
• Kanji Characters - iTunes Free
  • Learn the proper form and stroke for several important Kanji characters. From Emory University.
• Learn Japanese Symbols - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • These lessons teach students how to work with Japanese symbols, such as Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana.
• Let's Speak Japanese Basic - YouTube
  • 26 video lessons produced by the Japan Foundation.
• Let’s Learn Japanese Basic II - YouTube
  • 25 video lessons produced by the Japan Foundation.
• Survival Phrases iTunes FreeFeed
  • Learn the must-know phrases for traveling in Japan.

Bookmark our free Japanese lessons section.

Korean

• Foreign Service Institute Basic Korean - Web Site
  • Includes the original and updated courses, each with textbooks (PDF) and audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Korean Headstart - Web site
  • Textbook, cultural notes, and eight units of audio lessons (MP3).
• KoreanClass101 - iTunes Free
  • Features daily audio lessons, video lessons, word of the day, etc.
• Korean Language Adventure - Web Site
  • These lessons have been developed in the theme of travel and adventure, allowing learners to take a virtual journey to Seoul and its nearby popular tourist destinations.
• Korean Learning for Correction Pronunciation - Web Site
• Let’s Speak Korean Season 1 -YouTube
  • 130 video lessons produced by Arirang TV.
• Let’s Speak Korean Season 3 - YouTube
  • 130 video lessons produced by Arirang TV.
• Online Intermediate College Korean - Web Site
  • A web-based online courseware based on Intermediate College Korean(University of California Press, 2002).
• Pathway to Korean: Beginning Spoken Korean from Zero - Web Site
  • Created by the National East Asian Languages Resource Center at The Ohio State University. When you get to the website, look for the 'Units' in the top navigation bar.
• Survival Phrases - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Gets the phrases that will get you by.
• Talk to Me in Korean - iTunes Free - Web Site
  • Korean learning made simple and easy. Quite possibly the most thorough, frequent, slick, and entertaining language-instruction podcast of any kind.
• Traveler’s Korean Season 1 -YouTube
  • Six video lessons produced by Arirang TV.
• Traveler’s Korean Season 2 - YouTube
  • 25 Six video lessons produced by Arirang TV.

Lao

• Foreign Service Institute Lao - Web site
  • Basic textbook, reading textbook (PDF), and two parts of audio lessons (MP3).

Latin

• Nightly News in Latin - Web Site
  • “Nuntii Latini - News in Latin - is a weekly review of world news in Classical Latin, the only international broadcast of its kind in the world, produced by YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company.
• The London Latin Course - YouTube
  • Learn Latin from the ground up. This is a serial course, structured to bring you to a high level of Latin fluency. The pace is slow and unhurried. This course is suitable for all ability levels. Restored Classical Pronunciation. Find related course materials here. You can also find lessons on advanced vocabulary here.
• Latin Introduction - Web
  • The UT-Austin Linguistics Research Center provides an overview of Latin and 10 lessons based on famous Roman texts.

Lithuanian

• Lithuanian OutLoudiTunes FreeFeedWeb Site
  • Offers beginners, intermediate and advanced lessons.
• Oneness Lithuanian - Web Site
  • The course has 10 lessons that consist of several parts: a short grammar introduction with explicit explanations (Language School, Grammar); a lesson's dictionary (Language School, Vocabulary); a phrase set (Language School, Speaking); exercises to develop language usage competence (Language School, Exercises); and a short socio-cultural introduction to the country that is thematically related to the lesson (Information center).

Luxembourgish

• One Minute Luxembourgish - iTunes - FreeFeed
  • Another niche language covered by the Radio Lingua Network.

Maori

• Toku Reo -Web Site
  • Learn Maori, the language of New Zealand's indigenous people. Although these lessons accompany a television programme that is currently running, the essential bits of the episodes are available to be watched right here on this site. The course starts at square 1. Site includes video lessons. Another useful site for learning the grammar can be found here.

Norwegian

• Foreign Service Institute Norwegian Headstart - Web site
  • Textbook (PDF) and eight audio lessons (MP3).
• One Minute Norwegian - iTunes Free - Feed
  • Learn Norwegian in minutes with the Radio Lingua Network.
• Easy-to-Read Newspaper - Text
  • This is not audio, but it's useful nonetheless. A newspaper that helps you learn Norwegian by using large fonts and basic language.
• Norwegian on the Web - Web Site
  • Free introductory lessons from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Includes audio, video, and a downloadable textbook.

Polish

• One Minute Polish - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Another helpful audio series provided by the Radio Lingua Network.
• Oneness Polish - Web Site
  • The course has 10 lessons that consist of several parts: a short grammar introduction with explicit explanations (Language School, Grammar); a lesson's dictionary (Language School, Vocabulary); a phrase set (Language School, Speaking); exercises to develop language usage competence (Language School, Exercises); and a short socio-cultural introduction to the country that is thematically related to the lesson (Information center).

Portuguese

• Brazilian PodClass - iTunes Free
  • Free podcast is released once a week, for all levels, with a focus on conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and popular expressions.
• Brazilian Portuguese 101 -iTunes Video Free
  • 45 lessons by Semantica.
• Duolingo Portuguese - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents.
• Foreign Service Institute Portuguese Programmatic Course - Vol 1 and Vol 2
  • Two volumes including textbooks (PDF) and audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute From Spanish to Portuguese - Web site
  • Textbook (PDF) and three audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Brazilian Portuguese Fast - Vol 1 and Vol 2
  • Two volumes including textbooks (PDF) and audio lessons (MP3).
• Língua da gente - iTunes Free - Web site
  • Portuguese learning podcast for English speakers. Features a lot of discussion, conversation, cultural tidbits, and slang. From the Center for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning (COERLL) at the University of Texas.
• Ta Falado: Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation for Spanish Speakers - iTunes Free - Web Site
  • Created by the Texas Language Technology Center in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at UT-Austin.
• Talk Portuguese - Web Site
  • A video introduction to the language in 11 short parts with audio clips for key phrases.

Romanian

• One Minute RomanianiTunes FreeFeedWeb Site
  • Quick lessons by the creators of the One Minute language series.

Russian

• A Spoonful of Russian - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Recommended by our readers.
• Business Russian - Web
  • Presented by the UCLA Center for World Languages, this series teaches students the essentials of Russian business communication.
• Foreign Service Institute Russian Fast - Web Site
  • Textbook (PDF) and eight audio lessons (MP3).
• Learn Russian - Web Site
  • A free course by RT.com that covers all aspects of Russian including alphabet, phonetics, vocabulary and grammar. It also has multiple grammar tables and tests. RT.com is a Russian 24/7 English-language news channel.
• Learn Russian Fluently, Easily and Effectively - Spotify
  • A 4-hour series of lessons that are freely available on Spotify
• Russian Grammar - YouTube
  • 50 free, short videos on topics in basic Russian grammar. Funded by a grant from the University of South Carolina, the videos were created by Curtis Ford, a senior instructor at the University.
• Russian Literature - Web Site
  • Also presented by UCLA, the lessons help users improve their comprehension and vocabulary by listening to excerpts from Tolstoy, Gogol, Chekhov and other Russian literary greats.
• One Minute Russian - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
• Russian Essentials - Web
  • A web-application developed by the University of Cambridge Language Centre for basic level students of Russian. Russian Essentials concentrates on basic language, with eight sections covering key spoken and written language.
• Russian for Beginners 1 - Free YouTube Video
  • A series of instructive videos from Olga Viberg at Dalarna University.
• RussianPod101 - iTunes Free - Web Site
  • Helps you learn Russian and Russian culture at your convenience.
• Russian Handwriting - Web Site
  • Brown University provides animations showing how to write Russian letters by hand.
• Speak Fluent Russian - Free iTunes - Web Site

  • Offers free audio lessons that develop speaking skills and listening comprehension, allowing students to speak Russian more fluently. Site includes full transcripts and notes.

Bookmark our free Russian lessons section.

Serbo-Croatian

• Foreign Service Institute Serbo-Croatian Basic - Web site
  • Includes two textbooks (PDF) and twelve audio lessons (MP3).

Sign Language

• American Sign Language - Web Site
  • Lessons that will get you started with the sign language prevalent in North America.

Spanish

• 5 Minute Spanish 1 - iTunes
  • Self-paced course from University of Arkansas offers a good introduction to Spanish for those who have never studied it before, or a good refresher for those who have. The course focuses almost exclusively on Spanish grammar. If you would like to take a more well-rounded approach to learning Spanish, click here for David Nance's Spanish textbook, available free for the iPad.
• Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish Web Site
  • This telenovela, or Spanish soap opera, immerses students in everyday situations and teaches speaking, listening, and comprehension skills in Spanish.
• Mi Vida Loca Web Site
  • An immersive video mystery set in Spain to help you learn simple Spanish. Created by the BBC.
• Coffee Break SpanishiTunes Free - Web Site
  • Learn Spanish in a low-key, effective way. Currently the #2 overall favorite on iTunes Free.
• Duolingo Spanish - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents. Check out Duolingo's iPhone and iPad apps.
• Show Time Spanish - Tunes
  • Produced by the same folks who created Coffee Break Spanish, this podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners.
• Foreign Service Institute Basic Course - Vol 1 - Vol 2 - Vol 3
  • This course in the Latin American dialect prepares students to function effectively in conversations. Pronunciation, inflection, and intonation are heavily stressed.
• Foreign Service Institute Spanish Programmatic - Vol 1 - Vol 2
  • Two volumes including textbooks (PDF) and audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Spanish Headstart for Puerto Rico - Web site
  • Student text, glossary (PDF), and four modules of audio lessons (MP3) with self-evaluation quizzes.
• Foreign Service Institute Spanish Headstart for Spain - Web site
  • Textbook and cultural notes (PDF) and four modules of audio lessons (MP3).
• Foreign Service Institute Spanish Headstart for Latin America - Web site
  • Textbook (PDF) and fifteen audio lessons (MP3).
• Finally Learn Spanish - Beyond the Basics iTunes Free - Feed
  • If you’ve had some Spanish classes and you need experience listening to and speaking the language, then Finally Learn Spanish has lessons for you.
• Insta Spanish LessonsiTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Weekly comprehension and grammar exercises for students of all levels. One of the more popular programs on iTunes.
• Learn Spanish in Your Car - Spotify
  • Grammar and vocabulary to beginners, offering guidance in pronunciation and language fundamentals.
• Learn Spanish on Spotify - Spotify
  • A collection of audio courses on Spotify, that will take you from beginner lessons to advanced conversations--featuring essential travel phrases and vocabulary.
• Learn Spanish Survival Guide -iTunes Free - Feed
  • If you’re planning a trip to a Spanish speaking country, and if you don’t know the language, this will help get you up to speed.
• Learn to Speak Spanish - iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Learn to speak Spanish in just 15 minutes per day.
• Medical Spanish for Healthcare Providers - Web Site
  • This site is presented as a free medical Spanish immersion, with vocabulary including greetings, history, examination, and everyday speech, all with translation and audio. It is designed to be helpful for a variety of medical personnel. Created by a general surgeon turned Spanish teacher.
• Notes in SpanishiTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Produced by Ben Curtis and Marina Diez, a husband-and-wife team out of Madrid, Spain. Ben is British and Marina is Spanish and they too have built quite a large following for their conversational Spanish lessons, (for beginners, intermediates and advanced students), which promise to teach listeners “real Spanish” the way it is actually spoken every day in Spain.
• One Minute Spanish iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Covers the absolute basics of Spanish, focusing on the pronunciation used in most parts of Spain.
• One Minute Latin American Spanish iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Same as above but focuses on the Spanish spoken across South America.
• Rojas Spanish LanguageiTunes Free - Feed
  • “No English is spoken here. These lessons are for the Intermediate and Advanced Spanish Speaker who would like to sharpen their Spanish skills. The fine points of the language will be presented and explored through a variety of topics to include; music, history, culture, food.”
• Spanish 1 - Free iTunes iOS Course; Spanish 2 - Free iTunes iOS Course; Spanish 3 - Free iTunes iOS Course
  • A self-paced Spanish course by David Nance at Arkansas.

Bookmark our free Spanish lessons section.

Swahili

• Foreign Service Institute Swahili - Web site
  • Includes “Swahili: An Active Introduction” and basic course with textbook (PDF) 150 audio lessons (MP3).

Swedish

• Duolingo Swedish (for English Speakers) - Web Site
  • A popular free language-learning and crowdsourced text translation platform. As users progress through lessons, they simultaneously help to translate websites and other documents.
• Foreign Service Institute Swedish Basic - Web site
  • Includes textbook (PDF) and sixteen audio lessons (MP3).
• Klartext - iTunes Free - Web site
  • News in easy-to-understand Swedish.
• Learn Swedish with SwedishLingQ -iTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • Our readers have been waiting for Swedish lessons to come along. Here it finally is.
• Swedish Lessons on Spotify - Spotify
  • Some essential grammar and vocabulary gathered on Spotify.
• Swedish Survival PhrasesiTunes Free - Feed - Web Site
  • From the makers of the Survival Phrases series.

Tagalog

• Viloria.com PinoyiTunes FreeFeedWeb Site
  • Learn to speak Tagalog to give you the advantage when you travel to the Philippines.

Thai

• Foreign Service Institute Thai - Web site
  • Textbooks (PDF) and 50 audio lessons (MP3).
• Learn Thai: Free English Thai Audiolearning Course iTunes Video-Web Site
  • Apparently the lessons are good, but they’ve been having some technical problems and not all lessons are always available.
• Thai Alphabet - iTunes Free
  • Emory University presents flashcards for recognizing letters in the Thai alphabet.
• Thai Survival Phrases - iTunes - Feed
  • Covers the basics.

Turkish

• Foreign Service Institute Turkish - Web site
  • Textbooks (PDF) and 50 audio lessons (MP3).
• Hands On Turkish - Web site
  • Features a short course for absolute beginners, and a full course for people learning the language for business purposes. The project was funded by the EU.

Twi

• Introduction to the Twi Language - Web Site
  • 17 audio lessons by the Peace Corps will get you started speaking Twi, one of the most widely spoken of the 70 languages in Ghana.

Ukrainian

• Ukrainian -Web Site
  • More lessons from the US Peace Corps.

Urdu

• Introduction to Urdu Alphabet - iTunes Free
  • Emory University offers a quick primer on the Urdu alphabet and pronunciation.

Vietnamese

• Foreign Service Institute Vietnamese - Web site
  • Included familiarization course and basic course with two volumes of textbooks (PDF) and audio lessons (MP3).
• Survival Phrases iTunes FreeFeedWeb Site
  • You get the gist from the title. Learn here some phrases that will help you survive in Vietnam.

Welsh

• Say Something in Welsh - Web Site
  • 25 half-hour lessons available for free.

Yiddish

• The Center for Yiddish Culture - Web Site
  • Includes a 20-lesson introduction to the Yiddish alphabet, basic vocabulary and sentence structure. There are also some more advanced lessons.

General How-To

• GLOSS - Defense Language Institute - Web Site
  • These lessons (6,000 in total) are developed for independent learners to provide them with the learning/teaching tools for improving their foreign language skills. Reading and listening lessons are based on authentic materials (articles, TV reports, radio broadcasts, etc.) and consist of 4 to 6 activities. GLOSS offers certificates providing documentation of work accomplished.
• The WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources Web Site
  • This website directory, which is part of the WWW Virtual Library System, features over 2000 carefully selected, annotated links in 37 international affairs categories. The site offers a great way to understand our changing world, but it also includes its own section of language learning resources, and it includes sections dedicated to Spanish, French and German.
• Teach Yourself a Foreign LanguageiTunes Free
  • This program discusses how to go about learning a foreign language on your own. Some people liked it, some didn’t. Check it out and judge for yourself.

  Our collection of foreign language lessons has been featured in the New York Times,Princeton University's Humanities Resource Center, and The New York Times again, and yet once again in The New York Times.

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