As social distancing becomes more normal day by day, most of us are starting to search for a new hobby or a new skill to learn to pass the time at home. Because travel will bounce back when all of this is over, why not take this time to learn a new language with one of the best language courses on the web. We’ve compiled a list of the best language websites and apps and the pros and cons of each. See this post for more ideas of how to travel from home.
The best language courses you can learn from home
Duolingo
Number of languages: 36
Price: Free or $6.99 per month
Chances are you’ve heard the name before: Duolingo is one of the best free language courses on the web and also available in app form. Duolingo has quickly become one of the most used language courses and that is mostly thanks to it being offered for free. Paid subscribers can remove ads and offline courses. This is one of the best options if you’re looking to learn key phrases and conversation cues, rather than an entire language from scratch.
Italki
Number of languages: Any language
Price: varies
Italki is a great option if you want to learn a language from scratch. The service will match students with teachers and before you know it you’ll be speaking via video call with a teacher anywhere else in the world. It is one of the more expensive options but also one of the most hands on.
Busuu
Number of languages: 12
Price: Free – $9.99 per month
Another great free option, Busuu offers a smaller collection of languages but claims it can teach you to speak in just 10 minutes a day. While we do agree consistency is key, you’ll need to put in around 30 minutes a day to really start to make a difference.
Memrise
Number of languages: 16
Price: $6.67 per month – $119.99 one-time payment
If you learn best with flash cards and repetition, Memrise is a great option for you. With a total of 16 languages (some of the most used in the world) there’s a lot to learn. It is better for someone who wants to learn key phrases and conversation cues rather than someone looking to speak a language fluently.
Babbel
Number of languages: 14
Price: $6.95-$12.95 per month
Babbel is a fun way to learn the every day conversation cues you might use when you travel to a new country. It is not the most comprehensive language course, but it does offer a fun way to learn. The languages on offer are some of the most used around the world – Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese to name a few.
Rosetta Stone
Number of languages: 28
Price: $7.99 per month or $199 one time payment
For as long as I can remember Rosetta Stone has been the pinnacle of language learning courses. Previously Rosetta Stone was quite an expensive option in the language learning space but with the rise of free platforms, it has become a lot more affordable. Right now they’re offering a 3 day trial for free, so what are you waiting for!?
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.