Tuesday, November 19, 2013

BBC Language Website

Oh, BBC. First you give me "Call the Midwife," and now you give us free language lessons; is there nothing you can't do? With the bar across the top saying "This page hasn't been updated for a while," I'm guessing this isn't the Beeb's highest priority but it's still a nice reliable place to study more than 35 languages. They have audio and video tutorials, exercises, grammar, activities and tests. I'm particularly charmed by the learning opportunities offered under the heading HOLIDAY PHRASES FOR FESTIVALS IN SPAIN:

  Hello, gorgeous! 

 Two beers, please. 

 Two glasses of wine, please. 

 I am (an Ibiza, a Benicassim, a Tomatina) virgin. 

 I haven't slept in (3/4/5/6/7) days. 

 Where are there some more toilets? I'm desperate! 

 Can you please direct me to Oasis?

 Fancy a skinny dip in the sea? 

 My mate wants to know if you fancy me.

 I feel sick. I have a headache. 

 I have a hangover. 

 I need condoms/painkiller/anything for diarrhoea. 

Quite useful, but I shared a house with some British people in my twenties; they say this stuff pretty much everywhere.

Mango Languages

Mango Language is a highly-friendly language website. It's the first one I've found that uses the culture and the history of the country as a part of learning the language, which I quite like. And with 60 languages, I'm guessing you and your family will find something to study pretty easily. My only quibble with the website is that after entirely too long spent rooting about on it I can say that the price is $79.00, but it doesn't say whether that's a year, a month, a session or an hour. It might be worth finding out, though, if the program seems like a good fit for your family.

A Class or two...or 775.

Trying to find upper-level work for your teen homeschooler or the happy autodidact in the house? Here are 775 university-level classes available online.

Live Mocha

As the language website Livemocha describes their service:


Livemocha offers several different types of online, instructor-led training service designed to help members of your organization become fluent quickly and effectively. Live lessons taught by expert instructors are structured around our award-winning course curriculum and combined with 24/7 access to our online, self-study language courses. Live courses can also be customized to fit an organization’s needs. 

 Livemocha’s instructor-led courses provide the instruction, support, and practice learners need to start speaking a new language with confidence. Expert teachers: All instructors are highly qualified, native-speaking teachers. Vetted in a rigorous selection process by Livemocha, every teacher has extensive language teaching experience. 

And if learners develop a strong connection with your classroom instructor, they may also arrange for private tutoring to continue to develop their speaking skills. Your own pace: With over 110 progressive lessons, learners can repeat classes as many times as you like or move right through the levels. 

Schedule group lessons when works for your organization, and practice online at anytime. 

 Custom Lessons: Our expert teachers also create specialized flashcards and tailored speaking or writing exercises for organizations in the Livemocha Classroom. Students learn faster and learn what they need for their job, school, or personal goals. 

 24/7 practice with native speakers: Practice at any time with native speakers from Livemocha’s community of 16 million people from around the world. 

 Try a conversation or get one-on-one assessments of your new skills. And remember, as a Gold Key holder in Livemocha, you will be first in line for all reviews of your speaking and writing exercises.

Unlimited access for $52.00 a month. I've seen cheaper programs, but this one seems really good.