Free language learning websites/software

[Mela Bala]

I was doing a quick google search on language learning websites and found the following links that offer free lessons

http://www.123teachme.com/

http://www.byki.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

http://www.livemocha.com/

http://www.busuu.com/

http://www.learn4good.com/kids/learning_spanish_online/free_lessons_for_children.htm

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/foreignlang.html

I have not tried any of these sites yet so if anyone has please let me know what you think about it or if you are using any other site(s) I did not list.

[Leanan]

I tried Busuu & BBC and found them both quite good especially bearing in mind that they are free to use.

The BBC has interactive courses, video courses vocabulary lists etc.
They also have TV shows for some of the languages that you can use with their on line material. I am not sure though If they still broadcast these shows.
They have quite a few languages available but I noticed that many of their language pages haven't been updated in years.

The page is certainly good to get the basics when learning a new language. Not sure it is suitable for advanced learners ( I never made it that far  )



Busuu has well structured courses with varying topics. Busuu also has quite an active community.

You can get your posts or voice recordings corrected by a native speaker. There is also an integrated messenger so you can chat in real time with people from all over the world.

The only downside is that so far they just have a small selection of languages available.
As of yet they do not offer the language I would like to learn. So for now I just log in every now and then and correct other people's postings.

None of the two sites are suited for small children though.

Hope that helps....

[Mela Bala]

Thanks for your insight Leanan.   
I was looking at these sites so I can help myself learn the languages my son is learning.
So far I have enjoyed the BBC site the most.

[jwp]

Also check out what your local library system offers. I just discovered that ours offers a version of byki that you can access from the library website – although you do need to have a card at the library to sign in on the byki website. I think the library version has a few more features than the free version at byki.com, specifically you can record your own pronunciation and the computer will rate it against the native speaker's  - it has been a really helpful feature. I think when learning a new language, being able to hear yourself is key – otherwise it’s hard to know how you sound and where you need improvement. I'm looking forward to checking out some of the other links you found.

[Khush]

hi Mela,
I had attended a beginners course on Spanish long back. After that to brush up my skills I had signed up at livemocha.com which was very helpful. They sent me the free course by email in parts. The practice sessions were also very good....and you can always save the lesson links for future.

Hope this helps.

[Mela Bala]

Thanks Khush 

[Boca Beth]

I want to let you know that we have an entire page of FREE bilingual resources on our web site - free bilingual language cards, audio clips, Spanish/English coloring pages, circle time activity ideas and more.

http://www.bocabeth.com/Bilingual_Resource_Area/default.php  Hope you enjoy our Boca Beth free resources available 24/7!

[clicknkids01]

Wow! so love this. my baby would surely like these.. I would also like to recommend this site for you http://www.clicknkids.com

[lisayvonne]

Thanks for sharing. These are great!
I'd like recommend beestar. DD has been using it. The English language arts program is pretty cool.
Lisa

[CatherineW]

Online language games for Spanish, French and Chinese, especially suited for children. A free selection is available for anyone to play, no registration required:
http://www.qtalkpublishing.com/component/content/article/241.html

The QTalk method relies on visual mnemonics with colorful pictures. QTalk founder Maurice Hazan has also authored two books for young children: "Let's Speak Spanish!" and "Let's Speak French!" both published by McGraw-Hill.

[cokers4life]

I found a new one today.  Its directed towards adults but what better way than to learn with your child. 

http://oli.web.cmu.edu/openlearning/forstudents/freecourses

Carnegie Mellon has an open source for their courses.  I looked at their French course and I will tell you that it includes video and audio.  Plenty of opportunity for you to interact and answer questions about the video or audio.   For being free, I give this site an A. 

[SarahLoo]

I have a neice who's father is half german and my sister is naitive english. She has suggested to my using lost of verbal activities to teach children and from an early age, even if you just talk a bit of either language just so they start being firmiliar with the words, not the differences in the langugaes. Another good method is them listneing to tapes or CD's ( this is a site I have found with a offer on), so if you are cleaning or cooking the child can just listent to them. Or you can learn this language course and teach your child.

  

[lois1]

Spanish:

I found these through reading someone elses post  http://www.gpb.org/salsa/term/episode   It's very expensive to buy the entire set but as we barely "watch" anything on tv/ internet these free episodes will keep us going for a long time. They are very well made & have good "morals" - there is one on Goldilocks & the 3 bears (in Sp she eats baby bear's soup not his porridge) so in the next episode she goes to make ammends by making them soup

These are entirely in Spanish; I don't like bilingual books or resources as I prefer that my son learns a foreign language contextually, which is how he learns English (native language) rather than having the clues in the English words on the same page. Obviously that wouldn't apply to a really young child & they can be a help to a parent who doesn't speak. It must work as there are so many bilingual resources out there so it's just a personal opinion!

French:
I've asked on a couple of threads but haven't had any feedback - can anyone recommend a good series of early/ beginner reader books in French?

@corkers4life thanks for the link at carnegie mellon I'll be able to brush up on my own french as well!

Thanks,
Lois

[cokers4life]

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm

I ran across this tonight and had to share.  Its a free curriculum on American Sign Language.  It includes pictures and videos.   I am on a roll tonight.

[mybabyian]

Thanks cokers4life.  I had seen that website before but as it is visually kind of bland I didn't pay much attention that it actually has lessons and not just a dictionary.  It makes me feel more motivated to actually learn and teach my son ASL as an actual language and not just baby signing. 

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