Most people want to learn a new language, but they don’t want to spend a lot of money. We’ve all seen the commercials for Rosetta Stone, but let’s be honest. Rosetta Stone is way too expensive. Luckily, there are a number of tools and tricks online that can get you the same results without breaking the bank.
Babbel
Babbel is the best online tool I’ve found for learning a new language. It takes you from being a complete beginner to simulating conversations in a fairly short amount of time. This is very important when it comes to learning a new language. It also offers many different kinds of lessons such as grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Its prices are fairly reasonable, making it an obvious choice for getting started.
Duolingo
Duolingo isn’t quite as thorough as Babbel, but it does have one major benefit. It’s free. And for a free service, it does its job surprisingly well. If you’re starting from scratch and want to try a new language without any investment, Duolingo is your best bet. That said, I must admit I found its pronunciation lessons to be a bit buggy. I still prefer Babbel, but if you’re looking to save some money, Duolingo is the best platform you can find.
Italki
If you really want to become fluent in a new language, the best thing to do is find a tutor. A good teacher will be able to guide you and correct your mistakes. This is where Italki comes in. Italki has online tutors in every language from around the world. They also let you pay by the lesson so you don’t have to worry about tuition. Most tutors offer hourly rates which are pretty cheap. If you’re serious about learning a new language, this is the best thing you can do.
Immerse yourself in the language
A great way to practice a new language once you’ve learned the basics is to completely immerse yourself in it. This is how babies learn their language. It’s not that they’re necessarily better at learning language. They’re simply surrounded by it at all times.
There are a few ways you can do this. One of my favorites is to watch your favorite movies or TV shows in the language you’re learning. Using subtitles is also an option when this isn’t possible. A person can learn a surprising amount of grammar and vocabulary just by doing this. Other ways to immerse yourself are to read articles or listen to music in your chosen language.
As you can see, there are a number of affordable options for learning a new language. You don’t have to fork over hundreds of dollars. And with options like these, there’s no reason not to get started. If you practice your new language for at least an hour a day, you can make a surprising amount of progress. So don’t wait. Decide which service works best for you and get started now.