Learn a language online while coronavirus leaves you stuck in your house in Charlotte
Distanciamiento social.
Xa cách xã hội.
Riduzione dei contatti.
Sosyal mesafe.
No matter how you say it, social distancing is happening around the globe. So while you are stuck at home in Charlotte thanks to the coronavirus, why not take the time to become more worldly and learn a new language?
From intensive online courses to quick and easy apps, there are many ways to add a language to your repertoire or brush up on one you may have studied — including many that are free. In fact, some companies are offering free services specifically to students because of COVID-19.
“Rosetta Stone is here to support parents and students in this unprecedented time of school closures with 3 free months of Rosetta Stone for Students — with no strings attached and no pressure to purchase in the future. Many of us at Rosetta Stone are parents too, and we understand the struggle of simultaneously homeschooling our kids while trying to work from home ourselves,” said Matt Hulett, Rosetta Stone’s president.
“Language learning exposes children to new cultures and opens their minds to new experiences, and can be a welcome respite for parents looking for something new to do with their children during this time,” Hulett added.
Additionally, Mango Languages is granting free access to schools closed due to COVID-19. (All North Carolina schools are closed, with e-learning taking place for the remainder of the year, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.) School administrators must apply on behalf of the school on the Mango Languages site.
Here are 10 — or diez/shi/kumi, if you like — programs to help you get started:
(1) Babbel
Choose from 14 different languages and begin learning on any device. The first lesson is free, and subscriptions are available for $12.95 for a one-month contract and $6.95 per month for a one-year contract. Each lesson is only 10-15 minutes.
(2) Bussu
A great app for beginners, Bussu offers 12 language options including French, Spanish and Italian. General content is free, with paid access to premium features costing $59.99 for six months.
(3) Coffee Break Languages
Learn a language on your coffee break — that’s the idea behind Radio Lingua’s Coffee Break Languages. It features a combination of free and paid content, including 15-25 minute podcasts and online courses. Prices vary by language and course, with discounts available for bundles.
(4) Duolingo
An excellent option for beginner vocabulary and grammar skills, Duolingo is a popular app that lets users choose from 31 languages. The company offers ad-free learning and offline access to its Duolingo Plus subscribers, a service that costs $9.99 per month.
(5) HelloTalk
A free app that connects people around the world to help them learn a language from a native speaker, HelloTalk uses chat, text, live classes, video calls and drawings to facilitate teaching. Access is free across 150 languages, with ad-free VIP membership available for $6.99 per month, $45.99 per year or $124.99 for a lifetime.
(6) Mango Languages
Free to schools facing closure because of COVID-19, Mango features more than 70 languages and dialects. It uses an adaptive learning process that determines how you learn best and then adapts to that style of teaching. Subscriptions are $7.99 per month for one language and $17.99 per month for all languages.
(7) Memrise
Memrise uses video clips and real-time conversations with native speakers to help users learn one of the 16 languages it offers. The app is free, and more advanced content is available through Memrise Premium for $8.99 per month, $80 per year or $119.99 for lifetime access.
(8) Mondly
In addition to traditional web- and app-based learning, Mondly offers virtual and augmented reality learning options that allow you to virtually walk down a crowded street, bring animals into your living room or chat with your own virtual language learning assistant. It offers free content, but for more intense courses across its 33 languages, monthly fees start at $9.99.
(9) Rocket Languages
Rocket Languages is a downloadable software with a one-time purchase fee starting at $99.95 that grants users lifetime access to that language. The program uses audio lessons, interactive exercises and reading excerpts to teach users.
(10) Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is ideal for those looking to master a language. Download the free app to cover language basics, or sign up for a paid subscription if fluency is your goal. Subscriptions range from $35.97 for three months to $299 for lifetime membership, with any 12-month, 24-month or lifetime subscription giving users full access to all 24 languages the company offers. Currently, Rosetta Stone is offering students three free months.
This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 11:17 AM.
