If you are trying to learn a new language, chances are you have heard of the popular language learning program Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone has been translated into many different languages, allowing you to learn another language using dedicated learning software on your computer or mobile device.
However, the software is expensive. For example, most of the languages ??on the site currently sell for $ 209, which gives you either online access, a download, or a CD.
Even though it’s expensive, the $ 209 is probably worth it if Rosetta Stone can really help you learn a foreign language. The point is, the Rosetta Stone method of teaching languages ??may not be as effective for some people. Rosetta Stone focuses mainly on the ability to speak quickly rather than grammar, sentence structure, etc.
If you want to start learning a foreign language without buying Rosetta Stone and paying for the lessons, there are some decent free alternatives you can try.
Babylon
Babbel is an online learning tool for how to speak, read and write in a new language. The site mainly contains lessons for European languages ??such as French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, etc. In addition, it has Russian and Turkish.
The lessons are interactive and allow you to practice speaking. The program has a voice recognition feature, so you can be sure that you pronounce the words correctly.
If you create an account, it syncs all your lessons to the cloud so you can go from your computer to your phone and pick up where you left off. When it comes to pricing, they have some free lessons, but if you really want to learn the language, you’ll have to sign up for their subscription plans
All in all, this is a cheaper solution for Rosetta and they have a community that allows you to connect with native speakers of the language you are trying to learn.
Busuu
Busuu is a language learning website that offers many useful tools for learning English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, French and other languages. Busuu has a short video that takes a quick look at the website’s features.
Busuu is a pretty good language learning software that offers several different ways to learn a foreign language, from vocabulary and writing to punctuation and grammar. Busuu also offers quizzes that will give the class a learning style.
They have many lessons and almost all of them are free. If you become a premium member, you will have access to grammar exercises, voice recording and review, faster error correction from a native speaker, travel and business courses, and level tests.
The price is pretty close to Babbel and follows the same monthly subscription model. Overall, it is very well done and contains many resources for each language, in addition to being able to speak it. They also have mobile apps for easy learning on the go.
Duolingo
Duolingo is the first tool mentioned here that is completely free. They do not have many languages, but there are all the popular ones, which we have already discussed above.
When you start learning a new language, you start at the top of the path and gradually work your way down. If you already know a language, you can take the test assignments to skip lessons.
Lessons include various types of interactive questions to help you read and write in a new language.
You can also hear words and sentences pronounced so you can pronounce it yourself. Plus, you can add Facebook friends if you want to study with someone else. They also have discussion forums and even real-world articles that you can translate as soon as you master the language.
LiveMocha
LiveMocha is a website owned by Rosetta Stone and is essentially their cheaper lower tier option. It’s still not free, but it basically allows you to purchase lessons in parts. They also give you some free credits to start with, which basically give you around 5 free lessons. After that, you will have to spend about $ 1 per lesson.
Obviously, some languages ??have more lessons and courses than others, and there are indeed quite a few languages ??available. If you are looking for something small this is a good option.
The lessons are pretty straightforward: they include a short introductory video and then a few flashcards. They also include audio recordings for each word. Overall, this is a different teaching approach than Rosetta Stone.
So, these are some good options you have when you are trying to learn a new language. They are especially good for popular languages ??like Spanish, French, German, Italian, etc. If you have any other tools you use, feel free to mention them in the comments. Enjoy!
–