Learning a language can be a great way to broaden your horizons while improving your ability to travel, earn promotions in work and improve relationships with friends and family. Of course, picking up a new language is a whole lot of work which takes time, dedication and often, money. A lot of people shy away from the prospects of picking up a new language when they see how much language programs and tutors can cost. There is a lot of ways to work around the high prices of picking up a new language though. In fact, with the internet on your side, you should be able to find several different ways to learn a new language without having to spend an arm and a leg.
1. Apps
If you have a smartphone or tablet then you’re already on your way to picking up a new language. When you browse through your app store, you should be able to find an assortment of apps that offer lessons for foreign languages. Now, the key is to find one that actually allows you to learn for free. This won’t limit your choices by too much, but when you begin your search try to stick with the free range. One popular app is DuoLingo, which offers a multitude of languages for nothing at all. This app will even help translate the internet as you play, so people from all over the world can learn and enjoy the materials online that many of us take for granted. DuoLingo isn’t the only app on the block though, you should be able to find several that offer the same principles for free. These apps are great for anyone of a reading age too because they usually use games to help you pick up the vocabulary and grammar. Plus, they allow you to learn slowly and on your own time.
2. Software
Many people believe that software has to cost a pretty penny, so they disregard it before even looking around. Sure, Rosetta Stone is a very pricey software, but if you can get it on sale then you will have one of the best programs out there. Of course, there are other programs available that aren’t Rosetta Stone. These are usually much cheaper and have some of the same principles as the pricier software. These programs don’t offer you interaction with a teacher, but they do provide you with plenty of language games, vocabulary training and grammar lessons. If you shop around then you may be able to find some of these programs for around $20, which is probably one of the cheapest ways to learn a language. You may want to wait for major sales in order to purchase though and make sure you look at reviews on the software to ensure you’re not going to buy a dud.
3. Free Online Courses
Living in the age of information pays off, especially if you plan on learning a new language. There’s a lot of online courses that you can get for absolutely free. Most of the time, you don’t even have to sign up for the course to be able to do the work. Of course, sometimes this does mean you’ll have to buy a text book that follows the course, but this will be nothing in comparison to actually paying for the same course in a college or university. A lot of these online courses come from Ivy League schools too, which means you’re going to get a high quality education from the lessons. The only problem is, you won’t have exams or other activities to reinforce how much you have learned so you may need to find another way to evaluate your progress. All the same, you can find these courses by simply using a search engine, or by programs like Khan Academy or iTunes U. The BBC website is also a great place to look for language lessons.
4. Library
Your local library is always one of the best places to start when you begin learning something new. This amazing location has plenty of information on just about anything you can think of, so don’t think twice about stopping by to ask for a little help. Sometimes, libraries will have lists of resources to help you cheaply continue your language training. They may even have a list of free courses you can take within the community. Another great thing about libraries is they often have old textbooks that can help you through your studies. If not, there’s a good chance they can order a book or ask for an exchange from another library. The key is to actually sit down and talk to a librarian about your needs and goals, so they will know just what they need to do to help you out. If anything, you can always use their computers to study the language as many will have language software available.
5. Community College
If you’re already studying for a degree then you shouldn’t hesitate to add a foreign language to your course load. Foreign languages always look good on transcripts and if you’re receiving financial aid then you won’t have to worry about registering for the course. These are usually a requirement for most colleges, but they can also fall into the elective range if you’re trying to justify taking the course. If you’re not currently in college, then community colleges are probably the most affordable option when it comes to lessons in person. Depending on the community college, you shouldn’t have to spend too much money out of pocket to pay the course. There are scholarships and grants that you could qualify for simply by starting up a language course. Even some companies will help an employee enroll in language courses because this skill will benefit the company. If you’re really interested in picking up a language faster than this is probably the best way to go about it because you will receive feedback, exams and you’ll have a variety of other people to communicate with in the language.
6. Look For Freebies
It may surprise you how many free language lessons you can find in your very own community. If you’re not sure what language you’d like to learn then this could be a great way to figure it out. One of the first places you should look is your community center. Often, they will offer free English and Spanish lessons to help the community have a better understanding for one another. This is a great way to learn, especially if you’re looking to pick up a language that will make life more convenient. Another place to check out is churches. A lot of the time, a church member will volunteer to offer courses to members so they can progress in life. You may have to wait for an opening to join the group because they may be too far ahead of you to open up to a new student. Buddhist temples are also notorious for offering language lessons because many Chinese languages are becoming extinct due to the progression of Mandarin as a main language.
7. Buy Used Textbooks
If you’re a visual learner then buying a text book may be just what you need to learn a language. Luckily, you can find a whole lot of used textbooks online for an incredibly low price. The older the textbook is, the less you should pay for it, which could mean purchasing a book for less than $10. Of course, when you’re shopping around for a language textbook, you may want to look for one that has a software disc or companion website included because this will help you out with pronunciation and other skills that may be trying without an audio guide. The best things is, there’s plenty of places to shop or rent used textbooks, so you won’t have to search for long. You may even be able to find one in a thrift shop, which will save even more money.
8. Make Foreign Friends
One of the best ways to learn a new language is to make friends that speak the language you want to learn. With the internet filled with social media pages that help you meet new people, this shouldn’t be a problem. Try browsing around clubs that support your interests and make friends that way. Usually people are more than happy to speak their native tongue with you, especially if you’re just learning the language and want to improve. Of course, the internet doesn’t have to be your only options. There’s lot of ways to meet people who speak the language in your own community. Try joining a club based around the culture or language. This should help you meet others who speak the language, so you can chat. You can also stop by a restaurant or store that is part of the culture. Usually, you can talk with the owners, employees or even other customers in the language, if you’re lucky.
9. Use the Media
There may be more learning options than you think surrounding you. Sometimes, PBS and other educational channels actually show programs that are designed to help you learn a language. These can easily be recorded or you can tune in to the program as a scheduled lesson. Podcasts are also a huge deal when learning a language. These can be found based on interests or learning level. You may even want to check out YouTube to see if there’s any vlogs that might help you learn. Apart from that, movies and TV series are a great way to learn. You may want to try with the subtitles at first, but once you begin to get the hang of things turn them off. There’s a wide variety of magazines, newspaper and novels that can also help you learn. You may have to start out with children’s books but you’ll soon see yourself advancing!
10. Language Exchange
There’s a surprising amount of language exchange programs available to you. Like meeting new people, these programs help you find a pen pal that has similar interests and language goals. When the two of you are paired up, you may have to struggle a little to get over the language barrier; however, this struggle is one of the best ways to help you pick up a new language faster. When you get together, usually via a video chat, you can ask one another questions, show each other flash cards and even introduce new concepts. Before you know it, the two of you will be chatting a mile a minute in each language. These programs are great ways to find the support you need to keep trying at a language and may even make you a new friend out of the deal. There’s lots of these programs available, so make sure you find one that you feel comfortable with and that suits your budget. Of course, if you ever feel uncomfortable with your pen pal make sure to discuss it with the exchange program or follow the proper channels to report the person.
Learning a language is already going to be stressful, so eliminating the financial stress should put you back on the right track. With these simple tips you should find everything you need to learn and enjoy the language of your choice. So, prepare to broaden your horizons while saving a whole lot of money.
