Five top online resources for language learners
We present some web resources which we think all language learners could find useful. Each one is free to use and can help you learn a wide range of different languages.
In this roundup of online language learning resources, we suggest five websites offering practice with a range of language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The good news too is that all of these are free – something which we are quite keen on at the Language Learning Centre. Though you may already know one or two of them, we hope there is something new below to help you with your language learning journey.
Mango Languages – We find a lot of people start learning a language using Duolingo. This has its good points, but if it doesn’t quite suit you, or your chosen language isn’t covered, then you could try Mango Languages. This offers ab initio interactive language courses which teach you listening, reading and writing in a progressive course of lessons. This is available free online for everyone with a Wellington City Library Card. With over 80 different languages on offer, you are bound to find the one you’re looking for. There are also specialised courses such as Spanish Text Talk, Etiquette in Modern Standard Arabic, Italian Romance, Mandarin Chinese Feng Shui or Brazilian Portuguese Soccer Celebration. To get to the website, click on Mango Languages in the 'Select a database' combo box.
Clozemaster - Those trying to improve their vocabulary and spelling should check this out. Clozemaster generates a mini quiz for you with sentences in your target language, plus a translation. You need to choose the missing word from four multiple choice answers. For the more commonly learnt languages, including English, you can also filter the vocabulary so you do this based on word frequency.
Easy Languages – Offering a wide range of languages both common and less common, this is surely one of our favourite websites at the Language Learning Centre. With hundreds of vox-pop interviews each with the target language and English subtitles it’s a real gem for those who want to practice their listening whilst listening to authentic conversations between real people from the country where your target language is spoken. Languages with different scripts such as Chinese, Korean and Japanese even feature three sets of simultaneous subtitles – that is, they include an extra transliterated line for hanyu pinyin, romaji etc.
HiNative – One of HiNative’s top features is that you can upload sentences and get them checked by a native speaker. So it’s useful if you want to write or learn to say word-perfect natural sounding sentences specific to you. It works on a system of reciprocity – you belong to a community which you contribute to by helping others learning your mother tongue. You can also request a native speaker record themselves reading a sentence you have uploaded.
Italki – Can’t find someone to practice the language you’re dying to practice here in little old Wellington? No problem. Italki is designed to help you connect with others around the globe. It gives you two options: you can find a paid language tutor or someone like you that just wants to do a language exchange for free. If you are feeling well-off (but not too well off – you can actually find a tutor for many languages at very competitive rates) you can find a paid tutor who will focus just on your language learning, or you can find the next best thing to a Language Buddy sitting in front of you keen for a free chat.
If you liked these language learning websites and are interested in finding more, be sure to check out our Practice Online site of free online resources. For web resources specific to your Victoria University of Wellington course in Chinese, English as a Second Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language, Samoan or Spanish click on the appropriate tab on the left of the page.
Article by Benjamin Swale