Language Learning Resources
IMPROVE YOUR CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH
The library has volunteers willing to meet with you one-on-one to improve your conversational English skills. Please email the library director at director@spotslibrary.org to inquire about availability. Include your name and the language you speak at home, and we will contact you with additional information.
FIND HELPFUL MATERIAL IN OUR NONFICTION COLLECTION
Language dictionaries, books, and CDs are available to assist you in learning a new language. Visit the nonfiction section of our library and look for call numbers 400-499. Ask for help at the circulation desk if you need help finding these materials. We can also bring in materials from other LMxAC libraries.
READ TO CHILDREN WITH BOOKS FROM OUR INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION
The library has a small collection of International books for children. Enhance the language skills of children and add to the learning of a foreign language with these books.
WEBSITES
French
Elementary French I & II
Free course from Carnegie Mellon University.
French in Action
Free course from Yale University and the Annenberg Foundation.
Ma France
Free course from the BBC Languages web site.
Francais interactif
Free course from the University of Texas.
German
Basic German
Free web application from the Universtiy of Cambridge. Must be downloaded and installed on your computer.
Deutsch – Warum nicht?
Free course from TV broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
Spanish
Destinos: an introduction to Spanish
A 52 episode television series. All episodes and practice materials are free online courtesy of the Annenberg Foundation.
SpanishDict.com
Free Spanish dictionary and learning materials
Mi Vida Loca
Free course from the BBC Languages web site.
Coffee Break Spanish
Popular series of audio podcasts
Multiple Languages
Babbel
High-quality, self-paced courses.
BBC Languages
Basic travel words and phrases for many languages. More detailed lessons for Spanish, French, German, and Italian.
busuu
One of the world’s largest social networks for language learning.
Duolingo
Earn points as you learn a language with bite-sized lessons.
Games for Language
Travel story courses, easy games, and podcasts that simulate a travel experience.
hello-hello
Free language learning site developed in collaboration with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Includes social features for connecting with native speakers. English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Open Culture
Directory of links to free language resources on the web.
WeSpeke
Learn a language with a native speaker using audio, text, and/or video.