I've always been interested in foreign languages because I love to travel and enjoy being able to speak at least a few survival-type phrases in the native tongue of whatever country I happen to be visiting. But since I work full-time, it's hard to fit lessons in, especially since I didn't feel like making the 30-minute drive out to the community college after a long day on the job. Plus, I'm not the kind of person that can sit around with a textbook and plow through it on my own. Then a friend turned me onto online language learning, and my attitude changed pretty quickly.
Frankly, I'm surprised I didn't think to check out online language learning a long time ago! I guess I was under the impression that I'd just find a lot of websites from regular people sharing their hobby with others. I didn't want to waste my time on something completely unorganized and lacking focus. And while there are definitely a bunch of sites that fit the hobbyist mold, there are many more that are very professional and effective resources that can help folks learn to speak other languages.
Online language learning sites typically fall into two categories. First, you have the paid sites that require membership fees before you can access the content. I have never used a fee-based program, but from what I've heard, many of them are actually worth the money. They present a very in-depth approach to foreign languages, and feature content comparable to what you might get from a college course. The actual cost of this kind of online language learning varies from program to program, so do some comparison shopping before joining a particular site.
The second category of online language learning consists of the free sites that are offered by public organizations such as libraries or schools. For instance, my library card entitles me access to the online language learning program featured on the library's website, where I can study French, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, or German. These courses are quite good considering the fact that they're free, and are definitely worth the time. Sure, they might not cover things like reading and writing, but you do get to develop your speaking and listening skills at a fairly decent pace. And did I mention that the programs are completely free? That's the biggest draw, in my opinion.
The bottom line is that online language learning provides everyone with the opportunity to study foreign languages right from the comfort and privacy of their own home. If you've always dreamed of being able to speak French while vacationing in the Riviera or ordering a meal in Italian while staying in Rome, then this is your chance. Start studying today!