Nowadays, in a world where borders are mostly open and various nationalities live mixed within countries, knowing a second language is almost a must. But learning a new language doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, with the right strategies, it can be surprisingly affordable and even fun!
There are language learning apps and online resources. There are community events and language exchange programs. In short, there are countless ways to immerse yourself in a new language learning on a budget, without spending a fortune.
Ever wondered how to make the most of these budget-friendly options and accelerate your language learning journey? Let me take you through my own language learning journey as we explore top tips and tricks for mastering a new language on a budget, ensuring you can communicate confidently without emptying your wallet.
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Learning On A Budget: My Experience Learning A Foreign Language
Speaking a foreign language is not only useful, it also provides a beautiful insight into another culture. Learning a new language is easier for some people more than others. That’s why, it is important to determine your learning style, before choosing which way to go.
I myself was always the best at languages. It is probably because I am a mix of nationalities, but also because my brain is good at creative things, but very poor at mathematics. My goal was always to know at least five languages. But since I knew four languages already as a child, the goal seemed too easy. After having Lithuanian, German, English and Russian languages under my belt, I added French and Spanish as extra subjects in college. Sadly the amount of lessons was so limited, that I was forgetting what I learned faster, than we were learning. So, I gave up the enthusiasm unfortunately.
It was first when I moved to Denmark that I was pushed into expanding my language box again. A language I have never even heard before, yet was primarily a combination of the two languages I already knew. Everyone told me that it will be easy to learn Danish if you know English and German. They were semi right. What they did not say is that Danish language erases German for some reason. And I am not the only one who experienced that. So, to learn new language and not forget those I already knew, I had to use various methods outside of traditional classroom approach.
In this article, I will share some fun and affordable ways to learn a foreign language, as well as go through the benefits of language learning apps.
Is There A Way To Learn A Language For Free?
Yes, absolutely! When I moved to Denmark, the first thing I noticed was that majority of their TV content was in original English language but with Danish subtitles. It became my primary source of a vocabulary. Since my eyes unwillingly were following the subtitles anyway, I eventually noticed that I can attach the words I read to the equivalent meaning in English. In that way, slowly, my head was filling up like a dictionary. At a certain point, I started recognizing those words I read on TV, when hearing them on a radio program.
Back when I moved to Denmark, the only option to learn Danish were the in-person or online language courses. I had no time for either of them. When I did attend the few lessons I took, I was quicker than the rest of the class, so I felt it was going too slow and it was boring. If there would have been all the language app options like today, my journey to mastering this Nordic language would definitely have been much easier and faster. But, since I was limited in time, budget and patience, I was making up my own ways of learning.
There are many activities to learn a language for free, besides the free learning app options.
Movies and TV shows: First watch them in your language with subtitles of the language you want to learn. Rewatch same show or movie in the language of your choice with your native language subtitles. It is an entertaining way to gather a vocabulary and learn how sentences are formed while you are enjoying your down time with some popcorn.
Music in your target language: Probably one of the oldest ways to share languages is through music. Sing along to a song. Get lyrics to that song, translate them to understand what the song is about. In this way, you are not only learning a vocabulary, but also how to pronounce those words. And above all – singing is fun! Just maybe be aware of your surroundings when you do it, just in case you are not the next Taylor Swift.
- Magazine or a book in your target language: Use the first page to write down alphabet in your native language, next to each letter – same letter in the foreign language. Flip back and forth, to connect letters into words. It is a bit more complicated method, but for sudoku (or similar games) fans, this could be a fun challenge. When I was little, I was collecting everything I could about Britney Spears (yes, I know, I’m old). Sadly the majority of magazines that contained info about her were in Polish. So, using this method, I learned to read Polish, to justify to my mom, my purchases of magazines in foreign language. My collection of Britney is huge and obviously useless now, but it did give me one more language skill, so at least it was not a total waste.
Travel: There is probably no better way to learn a language, than by fully immersing yourself into foreign culture and their language all at once. My first word in Denmark that I learned best, was TAK (Thank You), because it was written on all McDonalds trash bins everywhere. As a student, McDonalds was a primary source of food for a while. Though, funny story – at first I thought TAK meant trash! Until I saw what this same writing on McDonalds trash can, means in other countries. When I put it together I was simply happy I did not use the word in the wrong way by then.
Find a friend: There’s no better motivation for learning a new language than connecting with someone who doesn’t speak yours. Imagine navigating communication with someone in a completely different language—it’s not as crazy as it sounds. At age six, my first German teacher was from Germany and didn’t speak our language, nor did we speak hers. We had to learn as we went, using drawings, writing, and signs to convey meaning. It was stimulating and effective. Later, we had German pen pals, making foreign friends through letters, which made learning the language even more exciting and enjoyable.
Make up fun games: When learning English as a child, me and my classmate used to make fun and speak between each other, the words as they are written, exaggerating them quite a bit, instead of saying them as they are pronounced. It helped to remember the spelling of the words. Though it did cause occasional problem remembering the actual pronunciation, if we did it too much.
Post It’s: Use post it’s on your daily objects and around home or office, to write down the meaning of things in a foreign language. Every time you open a fridge or take a shower, you’ll be able to repeat, what’s the word in another language. When you have mastered the word, remove the post it. It will make your surroundings colorful and educating.
There are many more ways to learn a language naturally, without daily commitment to some subscription, if you do not have a deadline or specific purpose. I even used to change the language on my phone to a very strange one, and navigate it in foreign language. It might seem easy at first, but if you do not know precisely where some settings are, it might not be easy to find how to change your wallpaper in a Japanese language.
How Can I Learn Languages Affordably?
All of the above methods are good ways to learn a language, if you just want to do it for yourself and have the luxury of taking your time. But what if I have a specific purpose and limited time in hand? In most instances, the new language is needed for work, travelling, love or for some other specific purpose, where time is more limited and your learning has to be more precise. So, here are some more efficient ways to learn new language in a cost effective way.
Learn a new language with cost-effective online courses and language learning apps.
Take advantage of free language learning resources, such as language exchange websites and podcasts.
Consider budget-friendly language learning platforms that offer affordable subscription rates.
Find groups on social media that offer courses or lessons, both in private or in a group setting. They are often for free or for a fair price.
Take advantage of free online resources and online tutorials.
Use online libraries and educational websites that offer free access to e-books, articles, and other learning materials.
Utilize YouTube channels and educational blogs that offer free language learning lessons and tips.
Benefits Of Learning Apps
Learning apps are all-in-one, in the palm of your hand and on the go. You can have a private “teacher” in your ear on the way to work, exercising or cooking dinner, without having to take out extra time of your schedule, to master a new language. What is more – it travels with you to other countries, with the ability to assist you in real time when navigating new language in a new country. We live in a society, where the phone is glued to our hands majority of the day, so it is no surprise that one of it’s uses now replaces dictionary or language course.
There is a really wide range of apps to choose from, according to your learning style, your level of knowledge, your purpose of learning and your budget.
What Learning Apps Are Out There?
Here are few most common types of learning apps that are out there.
Vocabulary Acquisition And Memorization Based Apps
These are apps that focus on helping you expand your vocabulary and memorize words and phrases. It can be done through interactive ways like flash cards, image associations, stories and many other ways. The most popular app in this category is Drops. Most of them are done now in a game style, based on repetition and encouraging you to level up. These are a good start to introduce you to the basics of the language and definitely help you most when travelling, offering most useful phrases to get around and get what you need.
However, Dr Anthony Metivier, the innovator behind the Magnetic Memory Method, has a word of caution for all language learners out there. “A lot of people don’t balance enough memory, reading, writing skills, speaking and listening activities. Getting lots of those activities into rotation is key,” he shares. Dr has a deep understanding of cognitive processes and memory improvement techniques. He expands further, “Even though I know of research which shows that people can retain 88% of vocabulary by using mnemonics compared to 22% with rote, what I call the Big Five of Language Learning still need to be done in rotation: memorizing, reading, writing, speaking and listening.”
Apps That Help You Navigate Written And Recorded Material
While previous type of apps are more focused on expanding your vocabulary, these apps tend to help you improve your speaking, pronunciation and reading skills. Though vocabulary can still be included in them, to help you with the unfamiliar text or phrases.
Apps That Help You With Your Speaking
These apps are based most on encouraging you to repeat audibly the material you are presented. Some of them even can asses your progress and correct your mistakes.
For instance, apps like Ling and Duolingo offer features where you record your own voice speaking the vocabulary or phrase and the app analyzes your pronunciation. These are really handy features that help you learn the sounds of the language.Apps That Connect You To Online Teachers
These are apps that offer more personalized teaching, designed specific for you, with a real life response and evaluation of your skills. For example, Ling offers Ling Live – an online platform where you can schedule an online video class with a certified teacher. A virtual, private classroom in your pocket, so to say. However, at the moment, the platform only offers classes in the Thai language.
How To Choose The Best One?
When choosing the right app for you, first – set a goal. What is it that you want to achieve? Are you learning for fun, professionally or to expand your travelling experience? Is it a short term interest or a longer term goal?
Once you have decided what it is that you need, think about your learning style. Are you more keen absorbing as much raw information as possible, or you need it to be in a more entertaining way? Are you starting from scratch or you have some basis? Are you more visual or audio based? Some people have trouble remembering if they hear something until they read it. Choose what works best for you.
Miriam Joy Macalanda, Editor-in-Chief of Best Hardware Supply has some tips to share when it comes to choosing an app based on your learning style. “Consider how the app fits with your preferred learning style. Some apps focus more on visual learning through images and videos, while others emphasize interactive exercises or audio lessons. Reading app reviews can provide insights into user experiences and help you gauge whether the app’s approach aligns with your learning preferences,” she says.
After you have defined the learning style that works best for you, think about your budget. There are quite a few fully free apps to choose from, but they, of course, have limits to what they offer. The rest offer a free trial, helping you to try several out, to see what you think is worth investing and taking a step further, like the Ling app. Doing an online research to see what other people choose and why, can help you narrow down your choices. But remember – the most popular app is not always the best app. So give a chance to the smaller scale apps as well.
Further more, look for platforms that offer a range of several features, such as interactive lessons, audio from native speakers, and immediate feedback on pronunciation. Check for platforms that offer a mobile app, making it easy to learn on-the-go, to save your time and to save your money.
Last but not least, keep an eye out for coupon code and promo code that offer discounts on language learning courses on your chosen apps. Sign up for newsletters and follow social media accounts to stay informed about upcoming sales and promotions to save even more.
Ling App: Small But Mighty
Ling app might be seen as one of the smaller apps on the market, but one that should not be overlooked. Ling has the advantage of offering Asian and Eastern European languages that are not commonly found on other language apps like Duolingo or Babbel. It was created from a real need and, therefore, designed in a way that it fulfils those needs. It is a great stepping stone for beginners to start learning language in a simple way with the ability to follow your progress.
On top of the language learning itself, Ling offers a deeper look into the culture and origins of the languages they teach on the app through the Ling blog. The blog is filled with articles on topics related to grammar, travel, and culture which truly help the language learning process, beyond daily exercises. It’s a free tool going hand in hand with the efficiency of the app.
All in all, it is a very cost efficient app with the brilliant option to set a daily reminder when it’s time for your lesson. Not to mention a very vibrant and playful design, that stimulates the childlike energy and curiosity in you, reminding you how learning something can be fun.
A broader list of the Ling app’s features can be found on it’s social media on Facebook and Instagram.
FAQs About Learning On A Budget
What Is The Cheapest Way To Learn A Language?
The cheapest way depends on your needs. You can learn a language naturally, through tv, books, radio or friends, in a longer period of time, free of charge. But if you need a focused, specific and more efficient way – language learning apps are the best option to choose from. It’s a source for learning at your convenience at all times, with many options, learning styles and knowledge levels. You don’t pay per lesson, you pay once and you have endless learning possibilities.
Are There Cost-Effective Language Learning Apps?
Yes, there are many apps that are cost effective or even free. What is more, all apps offer a free trial, shorter or longer, to give you the opportunity to try them out and see, if it is something you would want to invest your money and time. For example, the Ling app offers you a free 7-day trial and several options of subscription thereafter to find one that suits your budget the best.
What Is The Easiest Language To Learn For Free?
English language is used as one of the most common foreign languages around the world for business, travelling or socializing. Besides it being not the hardest when it comes to grammar or pronunciation, it probably has the most learning material out there to fit everyone’s needs. There are truly endless ways to learn English language for free, one of them, as mentioned in the text above – through movies and music. And, chances for you to make an English speaking friend are pretty high, no matter what country you are in. Making it as a great option to learn language by using for socializing.
Which Language Apps Are Most Budget Friendly?
Which app is the best suitable and budget friendly does depend somewhat on which part of the world you are coming from and what are your learning goals. We are happy to say that the Ling app is amongst the top budget friendly apps out there. For a broader list on this matter, please visit our blog post about 6 Best Budget Friendly Apps.
Enjoy Learning A New Language Already Today!
Technologies make every aspect of our life easier, including language learning. Now that you know that there are many cost effective ways to learn a new language, what could be stopping you? Continuous learning experience keeps the brain young and efficient. So, enjoy your morning coffee with a little bit of foreign language and start your day just a little bit wiser.
If you will decide to go with a learning app, remember to give yourself the time to choose the right one, fitting your needs and your learning style, before making a longer term commitment. Ling (available on App Store and Google Play Store) is throwing it’s hat in the ring for you to try out it’s wonderful features and beautiful design and who knows, maybe this will be a start of a new friendship.
