In today's world, learning a second language almost feels like a must. And we can all agree: learning a foreign language is always a good idea, whether you do it for personal reasons, for easier traveling or to upgrade your professional profile. In fact, more and more people in the world are or multilingual, and having at least a couple of languages on your CV is now the norm.
So, I am listing a few of the resources which you can use to learn a new language. Which I am also using. I am not ranking them as they all are helpful and amazing.
1. Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the best places for learning a new language for free. The website is clear and easy to grasp, there are tons of languages to pick from. It is one of my favorite platforms for learning any language. I use this green bird app almost every day.
They use the gaming strategy to make sure you retain more of what you learn than you would from your standard, flipping-through-printed-flashcards approach.
This free language learning site has several functions. There's a Learn section for starting with the basics, Stories to challenge your reading and listening skills, Discuss for interacting with the user forum, Events to find language learners near you, Dictionary for on-demand translations and sample sentences, and Shop to buy things with the credits you earn throughout the site.
2. Memrise
Memrise is another free language learning site that provides techniques for remembering each and every concept you run across. Some of these courses are provided by it and others are created by users like you.
The platform uses a gamified flashcard approach and adaptive spaced repetition learning technology. Users are awarded points and reputations as they learn, and they can also compete against other users. You can use the cards provided by Memrise and other users, or you can create your own mnemonic devices by composing and finding images for your own cards.
Some options require a paid membership. You can pay a monthly, annual, or lifetime price depending on how long you plan to use it and how much you want to spend.
3. HiNative
HiNative is a Q&A app for language learners where you can ask native speakers language and culture questions. Whether it's about the difference between two confusing words, getting a pronunciation check or figuring out how and when to use the subjunctive, just send a text and wait for a response.
The interface is simple in design and easy to use. You can ask practically any question about a language/culture and get it answered quickly.
HiNative is good for language learners who want help with the basics of their target language and for people who are interested in different cultures.
4. Tandem
Tandem is a language exchange app on iOS and Android that connects language learners with native speakers. Members can search for language exchange partners to talk to by either text or voice chat. Tandem requires its members to submit an application before being accepted into the Tandem community. As part of Tandem's moderation policy, each application is individually reviewed. Once accepted, Tandem presents its members with a stream of potential Tandem partners who are native speakers in the language they want to learn. Members can then chat with their Tandem partners via instant messaging, voice messages, audio calls, and video calls. The list of partners can also be refined using location, age and gender filters.
5. italki
It is one of the biggest names out there for practicing your language skills online with native speakers. It is similar to tandem, the only difference is that it is designed for language learners to find native-speaking teachers. You can learn from certified teachers. Find teachers from all over the world sharing their languages, dialects, and cultures for 1-on-1 lessons. Of course you have to pay for it, but it is going to be an amazing experience.
The free version of their service includes some great benefits, including access to their learner community. This access allows you to connect with other learners and arrange informal language exchanges via Skype or email feedbacks.
6. uTalk
According to their website, uTalk is for anyone who wants to learn key words and phrases in another language. It's perfect for beginners getting started in a language and invaluable for intermediates looking to fill in gaps in their vocabulary and pronunciation.
This app is great if you are a beginner. This is not as popular as Duolingo, it has an amazing feature that makes it better than Duolingo, which is every word in uTalk is voiced by both male and female native speakers, which clearly means you're also learning real-world pronunciation.
7. Forvo
Forvo is a free language learning website and app that provides pronunciation assistance. All words are recorded by native speakers. Forvo lists words in categories, which makes it easier to find the words you are looking for. You can search any word in your language and get tons of translations in different languages.
It has an eLearning option that helps you learn the most useful words and phrases in the languages available. You only need to be registered on it to start a course. The tool will do the rest for you and the entire process is very simple and straightforward.
It has a separate section for kids, which is designed for language learning through vocabulary games. It is simple to use and fully adapted to children.
It is a great tool to learn pronunciation and is good for quick reference, as it has an enormous database.
8. Language Transfer
An amazing platform for learning any language. All the courses are free. Everything on its site is the creation of just one guy, yes a single person who is doing a wonderful job and helping a lot of folks learn a new language. It will give you a classroom-like feel, where there is a teacher who records his lecture with a real-time student, basically, it is a class with one student and the teacher is teaching and asking questions and explaining everything from scratch and short lessons usually 5–10 minutes. And I thought that why the teachers don't teach like this in schools. Not only are there no price tags to access material lovingly and painstakingly created, but there are also no adverts, no sign-ins, and no one asking for or selling your data. LT runs on donations, if you like the service and you are capable of making a donation, you should do it.
9. LingQ
LingQ is an easy and fun way to practice vocabulary in context. After you register, choose the language you want to learn and your level, the app will pick audio and video lessons for you. Also, you can read books and short stories. It is available for free on the web, Android, iPhone.
It provides an immersive experience by allowing you to read online articles on a topic of your choice. While reading, you select every word you don't understand, and the app translates and pronounces it for you. The app suggests materials that are on your level. The app keeps track of the points you earn, the words you learn, and the progress you make.
Listen, read, and enhance your vocabulary with this app.
10. Lang-8
An ideal service to grammar fans and intermediate speakers who want to improve their writing skills. It is a language learning platform where native speakers correct what you write. Join the community by creating an account or sign up. Here the community works together to improve each other's writing in languages they're learning by offering revisions and tips on the posts made in their languages. Write a text in your target language and a native speaker will correct your writing. Help others to learn your native language by correcting their writing.
11. YouTube
Everyone knows about YouTube, you can get anything from this app, from cooking classes, to how to change an LED in your living room. So, It is compulsory to mention it. You can use it to watch lectures of native speakers and teachers. Yeah, but there are also many videos that claim that they can teach you any language in 5–10 minutes, I don't know how it is even possible. But there are exceptions everywhere and I think it is meant for some extraordinary people, like, I have a friend who can study while watching a movie or listening to songs and still score good marks. I think these videos are made for these types of people. Not for everyone. Some native speakers and learners also share their stories about how they learn languages, what resources to follow, tips and tricks, and much more.
Apart from these, there are many other platforms where you can learn any language. There are various courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, where you have to buy a course, but I will not recommend it as there are tons of other websites or apps which will give you more material as well as time to learn any language for free. So, don't waste your time and make up your mind, which language you want to learn and start learning it starting right now.