Sites where You Will Learn Languages Best
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For initial pronunciation we recommend learning numbers on LanguageGuide.org if you want any of the 13 languages they offer: Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish. They teach the numbers 0-102 or 0-21, depending on language.
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For 30 other languages, start with numbers 1-9 on Book2.de.
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If you want a language not on Book2, check the List of Languages to find reviews of courses in 300 languages. The List rates programs from 1 to 5 stars; more stars are given for programs which teach beginners good pronunciation and a lot of material quickly and well. All reviews are independent and unbiased. No payments or gifts from any of the language programs are accepted (see About Us).
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If you follow the suggestions above, you will start with good pronunciation by learning easy numbers. Numbers are a great start for pronunciation, because they are easy to learn without much thought, and without distraction from written material or explanations. Numbers are short, include most sounds of the language, let you hear individual words, separate from the flow of continuous speech, give more practice, but with more variation, than saying sentences 5 times, so they build good new habits in your mouth muscles and brain.
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Then choose any other topics which interest you from Language Guide or Book2, Both are free. Language Guide is very good since it is visual, so you learn new words from native speakers with no distractions from your own language. They show pictures of food, technology, office items, government, geography, parts of the body, clothing, etc. You mouse over the pictures to hear each word, as often as you need to. Book2 has more words in more languages.
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If you can afford $25-50, try Byki (in 76 languages), or at least a month of Pronunciator (in 60 languages). Both of these listen when you speak into a headset or microphone, so they can score your pronunciation. Pronunciator costs more, but it lets beginners learn from pictures, with no distractions in your own language. Pronunciator has more vocabulary than Byki, it conjugates 100 verbs, and it lets you choose topics which interest you, like Language Guide and Book2. Byki has better graphs of your pronunciation, it has some grammar, and it has lower cost.
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Many websites have free introductory examples. Use them to hear different voices and speeds, and see which give you the best help at each stage in your learning. Try all the free sites and the free samples available from paid sites.
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You can start quickly with the best of these courses. Expect to study 600-2200 hours before you reach full fluency. If you studied 4 years of language at school, you had 400-480 hours of language class, only a start. Or in an hour per day for two months before a trip, you will spend 60 hours, enough to learn some friendly words for various situations before switching to English, or enough to reach someone by telephone, if you focus on telephone vocabulary. You will still have a noticeable accent, but after 60 hours you can be understandable.
The reviews here cover sites which teach numerous languages. See "All Languages" for links to other sites which teach only one or a few languages. Separate articles discuss common omissions and the optimum time needed to learn different languages.
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Scoring Your Pronunciation
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Several sites have computer analysis to score your pronunciation. This is a very valuable tool to improve your accent, giving feedback more patiently than any human.
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MP3 Learning away from a Computer
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If you want to learn away from a computer (while driving, walking, etc.), the Alphabetical List shows which sites have downloadable MP3 or audio CDs in the language you want. Most cars since 2005 have plugs to connect an MP3 player or thumb drive to the car's stereo, or you can get adapters to connect to older cars. (A computer person can also convert MP3 files to an audio CD, and play it in a CD player.)
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Most audio files have pauses for you to repeat the words. Language Guide, Book2 and some others (shown in the List) lack pauses. Arguelles says it is better to use these recordings without pauses. He recommends speaking along with the native speaker, at about the same volume, so you can compare your voice to the native speaker (shadowing). People learn songs this way, so try it for languages. He says to walk with good posture while speaking so your voice is clear. At first you can only speak sporadically, until you hear phrases enough to say them with the native speaker.
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Intermediate Learners
.
While this site is focused on beginners, the List of Languages identifies which language programs may be helpful to intermediate learners. Some programs are good for both beginners and intermediate: starting at the beginning and covering a lot of ground. Others are primarily for beginners, not covering enough to help intermediate learners. Some are too hard for beginners, but good once you learn the basics elsewhere.
.
For initial pronunciation we recommend learning numbers on LanguageGuide.org if you want any of the 13 languages they offer: Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish. They teach the numbers 0-102 or 0-21, depending on language.
.
For 30 other languages, start with numbers 1-9 on Book2.de.
.
If you want a language not on Book2, check the List of Languages to find reviews of courses in 300 languages. The List rates programs from 1 to 5 stars; more stars are given for programs which teach beginners good pronunciation and a lot of material quickly and well. All reviews are independent and unbiased. No payments or gifts from any of the language programs are accepted (see About Us).
.
If you follow the suggestions above, you will start with good pronunciation by learning easy numbers. Numbers are a great start for pronunciation, because they are easy to learn without much thought, and without distraction from written material or explanations. Numbers are short, include most sounds of the language, let you hear individual words, separate from the flow of continuous speech, give more practice, but with more variation, than saying sentences 5 times, so they build good new habits in your mouth muscles and brain.
.
Then choose any other topics which interest you from Language Guide or Book2, Both are free. Language Guide is very good since it is visual, so you learn new words from native speakers with no distractions from your own language. They show pictures of food, technology, office items, government, geography, parts of the body, clothing, etc. You mouse over the pictures to hear each word, as often as you need to. Book2 has more words in more languages.
.
If you can afford $25-50, try Byki (in 76 languages), or at least a month of Pronunciator (in 60 languages). Both of these listen when you speak into a headset or microphone, so they can score your pronunciation. Pronunciator costs more, but it lets beginners learn from pictures, with no distractions in your own language. Pronunciator has more vocabulary than Byki, it conjugates 100 verbs, and it lets you choose topics which interest you, like Language Guide and Book2. Byki has better graphs of your pronunciation, it has some grammar, and it has lower cost.
.
Many websites have free introductory examples. Use them to hear different voices and speeds, and see which give you the best help at each stage in your learning. Try all the free sites and the free samples available from paid sites.
.
You can start quickly with the best of these courses. Expect to study 600-2200 hours before you reach full fluency. If you studied 4 years of language at school, you had 400-480 hours of language class, only a start. Or in an hour per day for two months before a trip, you will spend 60 hours, enough to learn some friendly words for various situations before switching to English, or enough to reach someone by telephone, if you focus on telephone vocabulary. You will still have a noticeable accent, but after 60 hours you can be understandable.
The reviews here cover sites which teach numerous languages. See "All Languages" for links to other sites which teach only one or a few languages. Separate articles discuss common omissions and the optimum time needed to learn different languages.
.
Scoring Your Pronunciation
.
Several sites have computer analysis to score your pronunciation. This is a very valuable tool to improve your accent, giving feedback more patiently than any human.
.
MP3 Learning away from a Computer
.
If you want to learn away from a computer (while driving, walking, etc.), the Alphabetical List shows which sites have downloadable MP3 or audio CDs in the language you want. Most cars since 2005 have plugs to connect an MP3 player or thumb drive to the car's stereo, or you can get adapters to connect to older cars. (A computer person can also convert MP3 files to an audio CD, and play it in a CD player.)
.
Most audio files have pauses for you to repeat the words. Language Guide, Book2 and some others (shown in the List) lack pauses. Arguelles says it is better to use these recordings without pauses. He recommends speaking along with the native speaker, at about the same volume, so you can compare your voice to the native speaker (shadowing). People learn songs this way, so try it for languages. He says to walk with good posture while speaking so your voice is clear. At first you can only speak sporadically, until you hear phrases enough to say them with the native speaker.
.
Intermediate Learners
.
While this site is focused on beginners, the List of Languages identifies which language programs may be helpful to intermediate learners. Some programs are good for both beginners and intermediate: starting at the beginning and covering a lot of ground. Others are primarily for beginners, not covering enough to help intermediate learners. Some are too hard for beginners, but good once you learn the basics elsewhere.
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