Do You Want to Learn a Foreign Language?
By Ali Canary
@AliCanary (3045)
November 11, 2017 1:45pm CST
Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated with foreign languages. I memorized the Greek alphabet from my parents' copy of the Oxford English Dictionary when I was in fifth grade, took a summer course in German between seventh and eighth grades, three years of French in high school, and classes at my community college in Japanese and Spanish (the Spanish class was intermediate level, since I had already done a lot of self-study). In addition to this, I've done a lot of self-study in other languages, from Arabic to Serbian. And whenever I meet people from other countries, I always pester them to teach me some words or phrases in their native languages, which is why I can ask "How are you?" in Senegalese, Amharic, and Urdu, say "Thank you" in Danish and Russian, and even say "I love you" in Chinese and Latin.
Currently, I am studying French, German, Japanese, and Spanish on the website Duolingo, which is free to use (and fun, too!). I also searched "free language course" and came up with this fantastic reference for free learning, which includes Duolingo as well as lots of other sites, all gathered in one place. I'm happy with Duolingo, but there are some languages they don't have, so I'm considering checking out some of these others. Here's the link:
Download free language lessons. Collection features audio lessons in 48 languages including Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Arabic...
10 people like this
12 responses
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
11 Nov 17
This is another language learning site with a free basic course.
My native language is German. I learnt English and Latin at school. I studied English and Russian at uni. I taught English, Russian and Italian at secondary grammar schools.
When I travel abroad, I always learn some basic phrases to surprise the locals. I've done that in Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Egypt.
Babbel is the new way to learn a foreign language. The comprehensive learning system combines effective education methods with state-of-the-art technology. Interactive online courses will improve your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation skills in no time
4 people like this
@AliCanary (3045)
•
30 Nov 17
I wish I had learned enough when I was younger to become truly fluent. I'm kind of a dilletante when it comes to languages--I find them all so interesting, I divide up my time and then don't achieve perfection in any of them!
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
30 Nov 17
@AliCanary Perfection isn't necessary. The basics of grammar and a certain fluency in everyday language are enough.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 17
@AliCanary No, not really. I had enough to be useful if we needed something but that's about it.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3045)
•
3 Dec 17
@JudyEv - Goodness, if that was the case after five years, it must take a really long time to get fluent :(
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3045)
•
30 Nov 17
Ooh, I wish we had gotten to take so many years of foreign language! It was only offered in high school in my area :/ You must be very good at French already!
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111169)
• El Paso, Texas
11 Nov 17
Wow, you're a linguist. I learned a teeny bit of German when I was about 7 or 8 cuz dad was stationed in Germany and have learned a few phrases in Spanish. I'm not linguistically talented though.
Are you going to go for a career as a translator?
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
30 Nov 17
Foreign languages have always fascinated me. I know basic phrases in a few different languages but didn't really take formal lessons except Arabic for a short while. I downloaded Memrise to learn Spanish but haven't been very consistent with it.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Nov 17
If I were much younger, I would be inclined to learn more French.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
12 Nov 17
Trying to learn Spanish at Duolingo. Not doing too good at it.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
11 Nov 17
When I gave up my job and had time on hand I did try to learn German. I got through the first phase but the class was shifted to a far away place and so dropped the idea.
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
12 Nov 17
I learned basic German while I was stationed over there, but that's it.
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
27 Nov 17
I love French and before I was hooked by the internet, I spent a great deal of my time studying this language. I use Duolingo also, and it's a great site.
