Free classes in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Cantonese, and just about any other language you can think of are available online at no cost.
Have you always wanted to learn to speak Italian, and then rent a little villa in Tuscany, or brush up on your high school French or Spanish before your next trip abroad? Many free, high quality language courses are available online. If you have tried unsuccessful to learn a language from books and tapes in the past, give online learning a try. Many of the courses contain a rich variety of delivery methods--conversations, video clips, music, mnemonic devises, pronunciation cheat sheets, vocabulary print outs, games, and more, and it's all free.
Language course through Pod casts
A variety of foreign language pod casts are available at the Apple iTunes site. Dedicated enthusiasts working from their kitchen tables produce many of the courses, so the quality of the broadcasts and content can vary widely. Shop around for the one that matches your needs and learning style. Some courses provide only survival phrases for the tourist or businessperson, while others include extensive supplemental materials. If you find a language course you like, subscribe, and each new pod cast will be emailed to you.
Clearing house for Language Classes
Word2Word is the big box store for online languages classes, though not all of their listings are free. It is a great source though, if you are looking for a more obscure language, since it lists of hundreds of links to just about any language you can think of, including many tribal languages from around the world. Even if you have no desire to actually speak Esperanto or Sanskrit, it is interesting just to take a look at those sites.
BBC Language Pages
One of the most useful and comprehensive foreign language sites is the BBC's Language Page, which has lessons for more than thirty languages including English, and news broadcasts in 33 languages. If you already have some background in a language, listening to news broadcasts is a great way to accustom your ear to the speed and cadence of native speakers. Key words from the day's current events provide the context. The more you listen, the better able you'll be to follow the gist of the broadcasts.
Most of the BBC language courses begin with a quiz to help you determine your level--beginner, post beginner, intermediate or advanced. The French language site, for example, has lessons, games and quizzes for each level. The beginner section focuses mainly on listening to, and reading basic vocabulary. The post-beginner section, called Ma France, has 24 interactive video clips showing native speakers in typical, every day circumstances such as shopping, going to work, or asking for directions. The dialog is printed below the clip in both English and French, and can be easily replayed.
Online learning is convenient, and the price is right. With nothing more than a little self-discipline you can be speaking, at least basic phrases, in the language of your choice in a matter of weeks.
