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In reply to the discussion: Does anyone have any tips about learning a new language? [View all]HeartachesNhangovers
(814 posts)for Spanish and French (there are many languages available and most are free). It's set up as short tests (maybe 10 minutes each). There are dozens of different topics on Level 1 (numbers, adjectives, etc), and each topic has multiple tests (from 2 to 20). Also you can take an intro test to get out of the easier stuff and you always have the option to test out of any topic (do 1 test to skip 2 to 20 individual tests). Also, you can read an explanatory lesson before trying most of the tests and topics. You can speak your answers or type them, and you can listen to the questions or read them. And there is a "practice" test that you can do any time that covers all the material you have already done.
I would say that if you do a couple of tests everyday and were conscientious, it would take at least 3 months to get through Level 1.
Spanish was my first language although I've never lived in a Spanish-speaking place and I studied French in high school, so I haven't tried it on a language that I have no experience with, but I think this program is probably at least as effective as a typical high school course.
I hope to start Italian just for fun next year. I'm working on Spanish because I want to apply for permanent residency in Mexico and want to nail the required interview. I'm only doing French because my wife decided she wants to go to Paris for her 50th birthday, and I don't like travelling places where I have no idea what is being said.