Learning a new language always ranks highly on many people’s wish lists. Being able to speak another language is a great way to meet new people, impress prospective employers and enjoy more authentic travel experiences. Not everyone has the budget to block-book private language lessons.
But you don’t have to spend a small fortune to learn a language you love. Learning a language, and unlocking the many benefits bilingualism brings, can be done on a shoestring.
Free resources
Everybody loves a freebie. When learning a new language, you don’t have to spend your hard earned money on expensive textbooks as avid language learner and fluent French speaker Chelsea detailed in this blog post from The Financial Diet:
“There is actually an amazing trove of resources that can be tapped into (for free!). For instance, I have borrowed language textbooks from the public library. I have also found amazing courses and worksheets online. These online resources can be extremely comprehensive, and I am constantly finding new and extensive materials.”
Utilising these free resources to make learning a part of your everyday is a great way to get into the habit of improving your language skills. Such resources are useful for language learners of all ages, from adult learners to toddlers studying a second language.
Self study
Written materials aren’t the only freebies that can help language learners broaden their horizons. As well as paying a visit to your local library, getting online with websites like YouTube provide plenty of resources for language learning.
Watch videos posted by native speakers and language teachers. You can also download the audio for great language learning on the go.
The BBC’s language portal is another fantastic and free resource that’ll come handy when self studying. You can access courses, activities and tests in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, Chinese, and 33 other languages to develop both your speaking and listening skills. People looking to improve their English can also learn it as a foreign language.
With these online resources you can learn a foreign language of your choice pretty much anywhere. There is a selection of mobile apps that make language learning fun, easy and free!
From downloadable flashcards to full programs, you can use every spare moment to learn the basics in your desired learning style - all you need is your smartphone.
Language exchange
When learning a new language, nothing is more immersive than booking and enjoying a language exchange. With an exchange you learn more than just a new language. This holiday of a lifetime paves the way for better cultural understanding too.
Suitable for all ages and abilities, your language exchange partner will provide a home away from home as well as a unique language learning opportunity. A language exchange goes above and beyond lessons that are taught in the classroom. Here you get to converse with your host in your target language, and put your newfound skills to the test in the wider community.
Language exchanges are free. All you have to do is pay for your transport, cover your spending money and return the favour by hosting guests in your home at a later date.
Finding a great language exchange partner is easy with our help. Join Lingoo today to get started.
