If you need to learn a foreign language, a good way to do it is to use one of the many Web sites devoted to teaching foreign languages.
There are a number of reasons to learn a foreign language. You might want to travel to a country where people speak something other than English. You might need to use a language professionally. Or, you might be interested in the literature, films, or popular culture of a particular country or region.
A good way to learn a foreign language is on the Web. Web sites devoted to teaching foreign languages are many, but they vary in quality. Some sites are great, and some are less so. The best language learning Web sites are convenient, easy to use, and packed with useful information. So much so, that finding and using a good Web site will set you well on your way to learning other languages.
Advantages of the Web
While the best ways to learn a language are by living in the country in which the language is spoken, or in a classroom with a qualified instructor, the Web does have several advantages. The greatest advantage is convenience. If you have a busy schedule, you may not be able to regularly attend a formal class. Using the Web you can do a lesson or review anytime and anywhere you want to. The great thing about language learning Web sites is that most of them charge no course fees. All you need is an Internet connection, a Web browser, and some time.
A number of sites make heavy use of multimedia, so you'll also need decent speakers and software to play back sound and video file. Nowadays, this isn't a problem. Most computers come with the needed hardware and software. And if you don't have the right software, you can usually download it free of charge. The variety of sites out there is also a bonus. Language learning Web sites range from being like flashcards to containing all the bells and whistles you can imagine.
Most of the sites I've encountered contain text with streaming sound and video, either in Windows Audio, MP3, or Real Audio format. Sound files in those formats can be used on any operating system; a plus when you use a Mac or run Linux.
A Few Good Sites
If you go to a search engine and do a query on online language learning, you'll get literally hundreds of responses. If you want to spend your time sifting through all those sites, feel free. Or, instead, you can use the following sites as your starting point.