What is a good computer-based program for learning languages?

Question

Please do not answer with "take a course in school" because there are currently none available in my area. I would prefer something that gives the opportunity to hear, read, speak and write the language.

Answer 1

Check out the ROSETTA STONE software.

I do a mean Chinese these days, thanks to lots of carry out
and their program.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

There is no absolute, universal 'easiest' language. Some are easy for some people to learn but not so easy for others, and vice versa. Python is one of the easiest to learn and highly recommended for beginners. BASIC is also fairly easy to learn, but some people believe BASIC teaches programmers bad habits and should thus be avoided; I'm undecided on that myself. Pascal is about the same as BASIC, at least based on what I remember from my short fling with it. C is a little more difficult (but nice and powerful), and C++ is a little more difficult than that (OOP can be ugly to learn for a beginner). Some flavor of assembly might be considered 'most difficult,' but it's really just time-consuming to code in. You also have to be very careful about using your data in its proper context, otherwise you can get wildly unpredictable results (some are just wrong while others can corrupt other data or even crash your system). I actually prefer assembly because it removes all the abstraction other languages introduce. I can handle thinking procedurally better than an OOP approach. You could also do programming with a hex editor, if you are so inclined. That would probably be the most difficult approach short of using binary. To do that you'd probably have to write your own compiler/assembler, and you'd have to have either an excellent memory or a very thorough yet well organized reference manual.

Answer 4

Over the years, I have tried them all. I am serious about acquiring the Spanish language, so I have researched or purchased thousands of dollars worth of material and classes.

I plan to write a book after I become bilingual. This is my recommendation JUST for you:

1). Start out with a very small audio and booket (no DVD or computers for starters) You need to train your ear.
2). If there is no one who speaks the language you desire, purchase a composition tablet and learn the booklet well.
3). Purchase songs in the language of your interest. We learn songs ten times as fast and they never leave us, never.
4). You are now ready to graduate to a larger book with cassettes. It is important for you to purchase tapes and not CDs. You will have to rewind hundreds of time, and cassettes are better. NEVER BE IN A HURRY, WHY?
5). If you have studied seriously and have learned a lot of the language of your choice, go to the computer at this point. When it comes to a language too much too soon will discourage you and cause a burnt out. Much Success!

Answer 5

It depends on the language. For Thai, I hear Rosetta Stone sucks. Another good one might be Linguaphone, for any language. Check it out.

Answer 6

Rosetta Stone. I only started a few weeks ago, and I am beginning to be proficient at Spanish. Also, they have it in almost every known language, including Latin.

Answer 7

I heard the Rosetta Stone programs were good and also, there are a lot of podcasts out there that can teach you languages, then you can just put it in your headphones and go.

Answer 8

Go to "http://www.ask.com/" I go there all the time for almost anything. It's a lot like Yahoo! Answers, but the internet answers your questions with a bunch of different sites. I'm sure you can find something there that will help you.

Answer 9

Rosetta Stone software is the best.

Answer 10

Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur are both pretty good.