Did you know there are slightly over 7000 languages spoken in the world today, with only 23 languages accounting for roughly half of the global population? Despite such linguistic variety, most of us are only fluent in English, save for the few who grew up in bilingual households or the rare polyglots who pick up new languages for fun.
According to the WEF (World Economic Forum), only 20% of American students learn a second language. While this figure may sound somewhat impressive, it pales in comparison to Europe’s average of 92%. Regardless of the statistics, there are numerous benefits to learning a new language, from communicating with locals in foreign countries to accessing overseas job opportunities and breaking cultural barriers. With so many online resources available today, learning a new language is just a few apps away. But where should new language learners begin in the vast sea of information that is the internet?
Finding Language Courses Online
For most people, online language courses are the next best alternative to learning from native speakers without traveling overseas or humiliating themselves publicly. But with so many free and paid options to choose from, finding the right course can be quite confusing. Here are some best practices to follow when finding an online language course.
- Language Learning Needs - A common mistake most new language learners make is browsing for courses without understanding their language learning needs. Before settling on a single course, learners should find out the language they would like to learn, their motives for learning the language, the time they are willing to invest into learning and the availability of online learning resources besides the course.
- Price - Online language courses are not designed the same way. Although free courses can be an excellent introduction to a new language, paid courses generally provide more content and value for time. Learners should try a few free courses before switching to the paid options.
- Reviews - Like any other online solutions, it pays to check the reviews of prospective courses before subscribing. Find an independent source of reviews where former and current students share honest opinions on their respective courses.
Language Course Apps
There’s a lot of apps that you might choose from to help learn a language. Some of the most popular out there today include:
- Rosetta Stone - Considered one of the most comprehensive courses, Rosetta Stone’s cloud-based solutions help users learn how to speak, read and write in over 30 languages. Rosetta Stone is a good fit for everyone – beginners learn the fundamentals of a language’s grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary while more advanced users get a well-structured program.
- Duolingo - No conversation on online language courses is complete without mentioning Duolingo. Although advanced learners tend to refrain from it, Duolingo is quite popular among beginners for its fun, unconventional and casual approach to language learning. The app uses bite-sized, gamified lessons to teach new words and standard phrases in 36 languages.
- Fluenz - Specifically designed for native English-speakers, Fluenz lessons feel like one-on-one tutor sessions thanks to its customized video tutorials presented by multi-cultural instructors. Unfortunately, Fluenz only offers French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish courses.
- Busuu - The best way to adopt a new culture and language is to live and interact with locals. While Busuu does not send its users air tickets to Portugal, it gives them access to a vast network of over 100 million native speakers eager to teach their languages. Busuu currently offers 12 languages and at least 1000 lessons for each language, with constructive feedback from native speakers on each written or spoken lesson.
Favorite Languages to Learn Online
So now that you’ve decided to learn another language, you need to figure out which language you want to learn. Some of the most popular options include:
- Spanish - With over 400 million native speakers, Spanish is the official language of 21 countries (mostly scattered across South and Central America) and arguably the USA’s unofficial second language. Given the troves of online material, popular Netflix, Spanish shows and Latin pop’s current popularity, practicing Spanish should not be a problem.
- Mandarin Chinese - Spoken by 1.2 billion people, Mandarin Chinese is the most popular language by native speakers. Although Chinese is generally difficult for native English speakers, learning some Mandarin can be rewarding, especially with China’s rise as a global superpower.
- French - Long before the USA and Britain propelled English to mainstream status, French was the diplomatic language for many countries worldwide. However, French is an official language in 29 countries and is still widely spoken in some parts of the world. French is also a Romance language, meaning any aspiring polyglots might find it easy to learn other French-related languages like Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
- German - Once touted as the “language of science” for its heavy presence in academic literature, German is a stellar choice – but the rigid grammar rules might feel intimidating at first. Besides Germany, German is spoken in Switzerland and Austria.
