Friday, October 30, 2009

"How to Learn a Foreign Language Online"

I just read this article on cnn.com and it has lots of good advice and suggestions for online language learning websites. Here's the link: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/24/language.training.online/index.html
It compares free and paid programs, such as LiveMocha, Rosetta Stone, and Lang-8, plus lots of others. It also looks at a bunch of iPhone apps as well: AccelaStudy and Byki. They're all different, so you need to read up on their focus and approach to find the one that's best for you.

For example, Live Mocha uses basic grammar instruction with lots of vocabulary and simple exercises, but the best part is giving and receiving feedback from other users who are native speakers of the language you're studying, and want feedback from you on their English.

Rosetta Stone, on the other hand, is strictly immersion-- don't expect to see one single verb conjugation chart or explanation; there's not a drop of English. See my earlier blog post for more description of the pros and cons of RS.

Lang-8 focuses mostly on writing as its niche. And Byki - owned by Transparent Language - has both web- and iPhone- Apps. AccelaStudy seems mostly focused on vocabulary.

But check them out for yourself, along with the rest of the programs in the list. Need help figuring out which is right for you? Send me an e-mail and I'll be glad to help you find the right fit!

1 comment:

  1. Hi Laura,
    I love your blog - thanks for sharing these links :) I had a good time studying Korean this summer, mostly on my own. A student had told me about www.koreanclass101.com - they have similar sites for other languages, too, and it's quite comprehensive! The addition of video is also nice, and it's quite chunk-based and designed for functional situations. So I recommend it!
    cheers,
    Julia Deak

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