Almost everyone has had some exposure to foreign languages, even if it was just learning in the first grade that “el gato” is Spanish for “cat.” However, by the time many of us are in college, we simply lack the time or resources.
Unfortunately, everyone thinks that learning a foreign language means forking out hundreds of dollars on highly-advertised foreign language programs like Rosetta Stone. As college students, one of the biggest deterrents for trying new things is the cost, but here are a few cost-effective ways to learn a foreign language.
Mr. Alvin Sherman is your private tutor
NSU has one of the best libraries in the county, so it would be a waste not to use it to your advantage. The Alvin Sherman Library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. almost every day, and after hours, you can search for books from home using your NovaCat account.
For example, visit sherman.library.nova.edu, sign into your NovaCat account and type “German language” into the search engine, and in a matter of seconds, you will find an audiobook titled “German, Part A: The complete course.” Of course, the hardest part will be dedicating a few hours a day to studying the language, but telling someone “Halt die Klappe,” German for “shut up,” when they upset you will be worth it in the end.
Free websites
It’s very hard to find websites that do anything for free these days, but with a little research, you can find a website that is either free or so cheap that it’s basically free. A few of these websites include openculture.com, which lists other websites that you can use to learn a particular language, and babbel.com, which goes straight into teaching you the language. On babbel.com, you can choose from 14 different languages, and the best part about using this site is that you can hear the pronunciations after you select each word. Also, if you’re always on the go, you can download the Babbel app on your phone via iTunes or Google play.
Friends are teachers, too
The best way to learn something new is to practice it. So if you meet someone who knows a language that you want to learn, practice speaking to them as often as possible. They will be easy to talk to and nice when correcting you so you won’t feel like a complete idiot. If you’re serious about learning someone’s native tongue, he or she will be patient and open to teaching you. Go as far as to schedule some time for you guys to run through some vocabulary and simple phrases. You can also google terms and phrases on your own and then ask your friends to clarify and verify their meanings. Don’t be shy about doing your own research, as this will definitely prove to your friend how serious you are about learning his or her native tongue.
Foreign movies or TV series
YouTube can be used for educational purposes. Use free movies on the website to learn new words and learn how to construct sentences. Just don’t forget to type “with English subtitles” after the foreign language. If you miss a term or phrase, you can always pause or rewind the video, and you can watch the same video repeatedly, which will help you to become even more familiar with the language. Watching a TV series is also helpful because shows are shorter than movies, so you won’t be easily overwhelmed with all the foreign terms and accents.
If this is how you are going to learn another language, try picking a movie or TV series that you actually like. One of the worst things that could happen to you is feeling stuck watching something that isn’t interesting. Sometimes, you can even find mainstream English movies in another language. Try searching for your favorite movie in the language you want to learn; you won’t be distracted by the plot if already know it.
Spend a little, learn a lot
In addition to each of these tips, buy a dictionary in the language you want to learn and download as many apps as possible, like DuoLingo or iTranslator. You can also take a foreign language course in the language you want to learn, like Chinese, Spanish, French or Arabic, especially if you have an open elective. With that being said, “viel Glück und einen guten Tag,” or good luck and have a good day.
