Cheap ways to learn a new language

A question about : Cheap ways to learn a new language

Around the start of every new year many of us resolve to learn a new language in time for our summer holidays. We want to tap MoneySavers' collective knowledge on the best ways to become multilingual on the cheap. Have you found great websites or other resources that have had you conversing with locals in no time?

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Best answers:

• A local library is a good place to get language CDs. I found Michel Thomas' ones really helpful, and they'd set you back a lot of money if you bought them.
• It's both an online resource (duolingo dot com) and an app available for iOS, Android and WP).
  You learn sounds, written, listening, and best of all it's free!!
• As previously mentioned Duolingo if wanting to learn a language but also Google Translate offline is extremely useful for on-the-fly translations both from English and into English.
• Second hand eBay.
  Or, you are British, why bother? Everyone can speak English really, they are just pretending not to, especially the French.
• I leant spanish in school but recently wanted to refresh myself! I found listening to free podcastst to be really effective. The radio lingua 'coffee break' podcasts are excellent and there's a choice of several languages!
• I really recommend memrise.com. It uses speech and images to help you learn languages, and other subjects too. It's fun and much of it is free! Love it.
• I think I used the most expensive way of learning a language by marrying a foreign girl It was only after that I decided to learn the language.
  Anki flashcards (https://ankisrs.net/) is a free spaced recognition flashcard software which you can sync between your PC and phone. Especially useful as the language I was/am learning is not a popular one for language learners so pre-made flash cards were hard to find!
  BYKI (https://www.byki.com/) does a free version of pre filled spaced recognition, although I got the paid version.
  Nothing beats having a native speaker to talk to or write to so try to can get hold of a native speaker to skype or penpal with. There are forums out there where people who speak your target language and want to learn your native language.
  Finally, I found this page (https://fluent-forever.com/the-method.../#.VNt_c_msWPN) very useful. It's the top 1000 english words. I translated them to my target language and loaded them on to Anki to learn.
  Once you get better at your target language you can stream TV and radio over the internet.
• Take a look at 'FutureLearn', my wife and I are starting a 3 weeks Introduction to Dutch on 2 March and there are many other types of courses available for free.
• I agree with the above, infact a combination is good. Library, Duolingo, Conversation Exchange all free. Also look out for Meetup groups in your target language and try advertising locally for people who would like to meet up to do conversation exchange. Also check the usual providers for second hand language courses, easy readers etc. Lots of websites offer free resources such as About which give word for the day etc, online Italian Club offers grammar exercises every day and I'm sure there are others in other languages.
• If you live in Wales you can get a number of the introductory, online Learn Direct language courses for free if you register through a college of further education. I registered via Coleg Gwent.
  Last year I did Italian and this year I'm doing German. The courses are very basic but teach you a few useful phrases and help with pronunciation.
• I'm absolutely useless at learning languages - every time I open my mouth to try something nonsense just comes out and the other person replies in English.
  However, I have had some success with the Radio Lingua Coffee break series (https://radiolingua.com/). They have short 10-15 lessons in various languages which you can download as podcasts from iTune. The audio lessons are free but you can also pay for extras such as transcripts. I've got quite a way into the French and Spanish ones and the tutors are fantastic even if they do like their cheesy songs a little too much.
  Otherwise there are lots of language courses on YouTube. The quality and style vary massively but try a few a few and see if any suit your taste.
• I use a site called "My Language Exchange", very cheap and lists over 100 languages to learn, you cannot beat being taught by a native speaker.
• The best way to learn anything is to make a commitment. I made a commitment to give a speech in Portuguese in June. Oh I have a nil command of Portuguese.
  Shouldn't be too difficult? ;-)
• Take in a foreign lodger!
• Try the BBC website for a range of language courses.
  www.bbc.co.uk/languages
• The SaySomethingIn... website has audio lessons which are great. My boyfriend decided to learn welsh about 2 years ago, mainly using that website, and is now fluent. Welsh is the language they started with and so has the most lessons, but there are some other languages available. The first course (about 25 lessons) is free.
  I can't post the link (I'm new) but just search Google for Saysomethingin.