About.com is one of the Web's premier portals, with information on hundreds of topics. As you can expect, foreign languages aren't neglected there. About.com contains sites for French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and English as a Second Language. You'll find that the content of each language site varies, but they generally contain rich information on grammar and vocabulary. Just as important, each site contains dozens of links to other language learning resources on the Web. A recommended starting point for your online linguistic journey.
The BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) transmits news and posts Web content in a number of languages. But what many people don't realize is that the BBC Web site also offers comprehensive language lessons. The focus here is major European languages: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. The BBC also offers courses in Welsh and Gaelic. Each course takes you gently through the basics of the target language, from your beginning steps to more in-depth topics like conversation and reading. The site also makes excellent use of audio and video, creating an experience comparable to using off-the-shelf language learning software. The BBC languages site is easily one of the best of its kind.
Parlo
Anyone interested in getting more interaction while learning should check out Parlo. Parlo. This site offers courses in English, French, Spanish, and Italian that enable you to build a foundation and then more on to more complex vocabulary and grammar. Each course builds on the next. The site also offers short courses in basic language skills for travelers. Best of all, you can take a test to discover your level of proficiency. Once your score is tabulated, Parlo recommends the course that is best suited to you. The main drawback is that Parlo is a pay site. The courses cost $39 to $69 (U.S.) each.