Posted on 01/01/2023 9:29:20 AM PST by EEGator
Has anyone learned a foreign language as an adult using an online website? I’m looking to learn a foreign language via online “schooling” and was hoping to get some FReepers feedback. Thank you in advance.
Babble did NOT work for me.
Duolingo.
Thank you.
you have to train your ear and brain to the language as the speed of normal conversation.
Is Duolingo free completely?
Learning a language on Duolingo is completely free, but you can remove ads and support free education with Super.
I started learning Russian two years ago via youtube channel “Be fluent in Russian”, and later added Polish when I downloaded Duolingo.
Duolingo is okay, but the seminars by independent youtubers offer a better understanding and pronunciation guide.
you have to train your ear and brain to the language as the speed of normal conversation.
Correct.
Also listening to music in the language is good. That was how I started learning Polish.
Exactly. I learned fluent Spanish 50 years ago when living in Nicaragua by watching the Telenovelas (Soap Operas) on TV.
I sort of tried, but I feel stupid talking to a computer. (You should hear me trying to use “speech to text” - haha, I start getting upset because no matter how slow I talk, it STILL gets everything wrong and then I try to say things like “delete that” and it misinterprets the command and so on because of the volume of my voice going up!)
I had 8 yrs of Latin in HS and College, and have no one to converse with, except my old profs. But it was invaluable in my command of the English language. I doubt they even offer it, anymore, anywhere.
If you are willing to commit yourself . . . really . . . look in to the Rosetta stone complete program. Forget about this free stuff . . . at any rate, it isn’t really “free.”
Being from East Tennessee, people say I can’t even speak English...LOL
I can read and speak French pretty well. But understanding spoken French, forget it, unless you are sure of the context. Plus French speakers use a lot of slang.
If you want to really learn a foreign language (as opposed to just memorizing mysterious phrases), you’ve got to find a site that covers the grammar.
I mention this because too many folks go for sites like Duolingo. That’s okay for the tourist, but without the grammar you really don’t know the WHY of what you’re saying.
Unfortunately I don’t know of any such sites. Perhaps a good textbook could be combined with a site that emphasizes pronunciation.
I have heard good things about Pimsleur, our own government uses it to train their people, but it is pricey.
You can find used copies of the program on ebay for much less, though.
I use Duolingo every day for Spanish. It works! Several others I know are also using it for Japanese and other languages. I’m on a 1355+ day streak!
I pay the annual fee to avoid the ads and it’s worth it.
Bkmk as follow up to self-researching this very topic last week. In addition to watching foreign language television ...
According to Money.com 11.11.22 ... each listed has pros / cons, might also depend on which language one wants to learn.
Best language learning software:
Duolingo - best free course software
Rosetta Stone - best comprehensive language
Babbel - best intermediate
iTalki - best for tutoring
Pimsleur - best for learning on the go
Lingvist - Best for training vocabulary
Watch Telemundo.
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