Jun 12 2008
Use Skype for Free Online Language Learning
You may have heard of Skype, which is a computer program used for making phone calls to other Skype users over the Internet for free. I have also used their phone service in the past, and paid like $20 for a year of unlimited calling anywhere in the US. Anyways, from what I hear, the real gold in Skype is using it to learn foreign languages with people all around the world, and completely free.
Skype is free when you use it to dial up another person’s computer, no matter where in the world they are. You can hook up with someone in say, Brazil, and start chatting up and teaching eachother your native language. All you need to do it is a headset, such as the Logitech ClearChat Pro USB Headset, Skype itself, and a decent Internet connection. Anything faster than dialup would get the job done.
How to find people to exchange languages with? Well, there are forums like this one with discussions specially made for Skype language exchange. There are also cool new social networks created just for Skype language learning, such as soZiety and PrimeSkype. Just check one of those places out and meet up with someone and start chatting.
Using a voice chat system like Skype is far superior to just chatting in a chat room or via Instant Message. With voice chat, you get to work on your pronunciation more and for people who have a listening learning preference, it’s just easier and more effective to just talk and listen.
The Web sure has revolutionized the ways we learn and exchange information and learn!
I use Skype for learning Chinese. Tonal languages, especially your first, are practically impossible to learn on your own. On a similar note, one of the reasons I was curious about Portuguese was the fact that I couldn’t figure out what they meant by a “nasal vowel.” It seemed like that could end up meaning a lot of different things. It seems to me that internet language exchanges are the next best thing to language immersion.
I have not yet used skpe, but I do think that it is a great idea! IF you can’t be in the actualy country, where the locals speak the language you are trying to learn, it is definitely a plus to be able to speak to them, via the internet!
It is a huge plus to converse with a local, when trying to learn a language, because you hear their accent, and they (should) know how to correct your mistakes. I like to chat on MSN with my international friends, but obviously that does nothing for my accent
Great invention!
I love Skype!! I have used it too for learning Spanish and it is a lot of fun. What I have found a little difficult though sometimes is finding someone that wants to help me speak Spanish as much as I want to teach them English. I think it is easier if you can build a relationship with someone first so that the motivation is there for both parties. At the moment I am taking lessons on eduFire.com which I really do enjoy although it is not free.
I am also taking Spanish online. I did sign up for some social sites but it is hard to find committed partners to learn Spanish. I used spanish.online-spanisch.com and http://www.nulengua.com/
spanish.online is in Argentina and nulengua is in Guatemala.
The internet connection for Argentina is much better than Guatemala, thus making the classes easider to conduct.