This is my growing collection of resources for language learning—apps, tools, communities, and platforms that I’ve found helpful, inspiring, or worth exploring. Most of them are free or low-cost, and all are beginner-friendly.
📱 Apps & Tools
- Duolingo
A gamified way to build basic vocabulary and sentence structure. Great for momentum and habit-building. - Memrise
Features real-life phrases and native speaker videos. Ideal for practical vocab and pronunciation. - Anki
A powerful, free flashcard app with spaced repetition. You can make your own decks or download community ones. - LingQ
Immerses you in real reading and listening content. Great for when you’re ready to move past beginner materials. - HelloTalk / Tandem
Language exchange apps where you can chat or speak with native speakers from around the world.
🎧 Podcasts & Listening Practice
- Language Transfer
Free audio courses focused on conceptual understanding. No fluff—just deep learning. - Search for “Slow [Language]” podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Many languages have beginner-friendly shows narrated clearly for learners.
- Coffee Break Languages
Podcasts in multiple languages, perfect for short study sessions.
📺 YouTube Channels
Search directly for:
- “[Language] for beginners”
- “[Language] pronunciation guide”
- “Slow [Language] conversation practice”
Some high-quality channels to explore:
- Easy Languages (YouTube) – Real people on the street, with subtitles in native language + English.
- Dreaming Spanish, Learn French with Alexa, VietnamesePod101, and similar channels exist for most major languages.
📚 Reading & Immersion
- LingQ Library – Thousands of articles and audio recordings sorted by level.
- Readlang – Turns any web text into a language-learning tool with pop-up translations.
- Project Gutenberg – Free books in dozens of languages. Great for intermediate and above.
📖 Grammar & Phrasebook Tools
- WordReference – My go-to online dictionary with verb conjugators and user forums.
- Clozemaster – Vocabulary builder through context-based sentences.
- [Thematic Phrasebooks] – Consider keeping a physical or digital phrasebook organized by situation (travel, work, daily life).
🗣️ Speaking & Writing Practice
- italki – Affordable tutors for conversation practice or structured lessons.
- HelloTalk / Tandem – Again worth mentioning for free conversation partners.
- Language exchange forums and Discord groups – Search “[language] learning Discord” or check Reddit’s language communities.
🧠 Tracking & Habit Tools
- Loop Habit Tracker (Android) – Free and lightweight habit tracker.
- Habitica – Gamifies your habits and routines like an RPG.
- Google Sheets or a physical language log – I use both to track vocab, hours studied, and what I’ve covered.
🌍 Communities & Support
- Reddit – r/languagelearning – General discussion, advice, and study tips.
- Duolingo Forums – Active user community around various languages.
- Fluent in 3 Months – Blog and challenge-based learning motivation.
✨ Extras for Fun & Culture
- Watch Netflix or YouTube with subtitles in your target language using the Language Reactor browser extension.
- Switch your phone or video game console into the target language for passive immersion.
- Explore native music on Spotify or Apple Music by browsing local charts or genres.
I’ll keep updating this page as I test new tools or find things worth sharing. If you have a recommendation, I’d love to hear it—reach out anytime!