8 Free Language Learning Resources
We made the choice to prioritize language learning after reading about the science behind the benefits of speaking multiple languages from birth. Specifically, the book Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina, outlined the many cognitive, emotional, as well as social benefits of raising a multilingual child. As we talk with others, the number one reason that inhibits most people is the cost of language lessons. Today, I want to give you a list of 8 free online language learning resources. These wonderful platforms will help you and your family get started on your language learning journey.
8 free #languagelearning websites filled with #readaloud books for the whole family! #multilingual Share on X
How to Teach Multiple Languages from Home
When our daughter was 6 months old and I went back to work, we chose to hire a nanny who spoke the local language. Since birth, she has learned Russian, Latvian, and French fluently through immersion at home. The nanny would speak one language to her and my husband and I spoke English. As my daughter grew older, we continued her language learning by putting her in language immersion programs. She actually learned 8 languages before Kindergarten. (Yes, there is a catch!)
The Role of Parents and Caregivers
Outside resources are a must, however, a child’s first and most important teacher are their parents. To support and encourage our daughter learning languages, we practiced with her as well. We supplement what she is learning at school and in language classes at home every single day.
Each of the resources I will share with you below contains options for audio books, streaming books, downloads for on the go reading, bath time, airplane rides, etc.
There are no worksheets or dry, repetitive vocabulary drills. Experts claim that learning a language while you hear the reading of it in context in the form of books will accelerate your language mastery.
For further advice on how to teach languages from home, check out Help Your Child Become Bilingual When You Aren’t.
Bonus: Scroll down to find the best language resource that you may not know about, but is already in your home!
8 Free Online Language Learning Resources
International Children’s Digital Library
This website gives you access to some of the best children’s literature from all over the world. Moreover, it also gives library news and notes so that you can read about special events near you.
Children’s Books Online; by the Rosetta Project
Here you will find online books and translations indexed by languages and reading levels. This website is run by volunteers who are passionate and committed to giving the gift of literacy to young children all over the world.
Oxford Owl Reading
This website has 250 free e-books for you to share with your child, as well as simple ideas, top tips, activities and games to help your child with their reading at home.
Story Bird
This website allows you to write your own book to match the illustrations; a fantastic tool for vocabulary development in your mother tongue or using your new language vocabulary, which is why it is used in the US Peace Corps curriculum worldwide.
Luca Lashes
An incredible resource for jump-starting your child’s language acquisition in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese by offering books that instill confidence in young readers with books about first experiences such as a first plane ride or first haircut.
Free Language Learning Resources for Military Families
Transparent Languages is a free and AMAZING resource for hundreds of lessons in your language of choice; just for you, very fortunate military (retired, active duty, dependents).
You need to sign up at your closest Base library, and when you log in, they give you a code for the google/android/apple app. After your initial sign up, you can access Transparent Languages on all your mobile devices.
Free Language Learning Resources Already in Your Home
Remember, the more proficient a child is in their mother tongue, the more proficient they will be in other languages. They need to be literate in their first language to become competent readers in other languages. For this reason, I highly recommend subtitles or close captioning ANYTIME you turn on a screen.
This method of using closed captioning so children are reading while they have screen time is most popular in Finland. By the time Finnish students are in 3rd grade (9 years old), they consistently have the highest reading scores in the world.
You can also use closed captioning/subtitles for language learning. On most of your DVD/Blue Ray discs as well as Apple TV, Netflix, and Hulu, you have the option of selecting many different languages. Our rule, no TV without during on closed captioning and/or subtitles. And even better, mute the audio and have them read the captions!
Bonus Tip: It Takes a Village to Raise a Reader
The general rule of thumb is that your child needs 25 hours of meaningful language practice per week, so we’ve got to use the resources around us. Find a playgroup in your desired language, and pay attention to people in your everyday local surroundings.
Our checker at the grocery store was from Ghana and was able to have a whole conversation with my daughter in French while I was buying house supplies. We asked him for his work schedule and will definitely try to make our store run when he is working. We also attend the weekly Spanish language story hour at our local library.
Become a Host Family
There are so many hidden ways to incorporate language learning into your lifestyle. You can sign up online through the US State Department to be a host family for international visitors. There are frequent foreign nationals or families that come to various cities around the United States and are in need of a home-cooked meal.
It’s a win-win for both parties; they need to see something other than the inside of a conference or hotel room and your family needs conversation lessons. There are also long-term hosting opportunities.
Click HERE for volunteer hosting opportunities.
Whether you’re learning a new language for fun or out of necessity, these resources will guarantee your whole family can enjoy the process together. If you have any recommendations to add to the list, be sure to comment below!! And good luck!
We also invite you to take out the guesswork and give children the most colorful bookshelves possible for simultaneously raising global citizens as we raise our readers.
JOIN THE READ YOUR WORLD FACEBOOK GROUP
Tips for Reading with Kids
Join the Biracial Bookworms tribe and you will get our FREE printable Top 10 Tips for Reading with Babies, Toddlers, and Pre-Schoolers. You will learn the best strategies for parents and teachers to read to young kids. It's up to you to make reading fun and memorable and the love for books life long, but we're here to equip you to do it.
High Five Family
02/06/2018 @ 4:12 pm
Thank you so much for the Oxford owl resource. I love these books. They are amazing for teaching English to my kids !!
Definitely in my favorite list !
MERCI BEAUCOUP !!!
Bethany M. Edwards
02/06/2018 @ 4:19 pm
You are so very welcome! De rien! Be sure to join our Facebook group as well. Many French speakers and such a great support for families like ours!
https://m.facebook.com/groups/492821577729423
Amanda Miss Panda
12/23/2017 @ 12:19 pm
Love your story! What a wonderful collection of resources and tips for language learning! For my ELL students Story Online is a great resource for listening to stories in English.
Diidy
05/27/2017 @ 12:14 am
Great tips.
I can speak 4 languages.
I learned Spanish from TV ( telenovelas )
Xo didy
Bethany M. Edwards
05/27/2017 @ 12:19 am
I know so many of my friends who learned languages from television. Amazing!!! What other 2 languages do you speak besides English and Spanish?
Sauumye
05/26/2017 @ 4:07 pm
Definitely bookmarking this!! I’m learning a new language & they would be of great help!!
Bethany M. Edwards
05/26/2017 @ 5:06 pm
I am so glad these are useful for you Sauumye! I am using them to brush up on my Spanish currently. My French pronunciation is also terrible so I listen to books before I attempt to read them aloud with my kids! Cheers! Thanks for commenting!
Bre Paulson
05/25/2017 @ 7:01 pm
That’s so cool that your daughter is trilingual! I’m not even bilingual lol
Bethany M. Edwards
05/25/2017 @ 8:01 pm
She shows me up too! The struggle is real.
Cassie
05/25/2017 @ 3:26 am
great resources! I think it’s awesome your daughter has learnt so many languages! I really regret not learning more languages when I was younger. I did a little french but can’t remember any of it!
Bethany M. Edwards
05/25/2017 @ 3:29 am
I too am being challenged to keep up with my daughter. She has a supreme advantage over me since she started from birth, and I even though I am jealous of her accents, I can’t help but be so proud.
Sheila Price
05/24/2017 @ 2:29 pm
Thanks for the tips! I desperately need to brush up on my Spanish…
Bethany M. Edwards
05/24/2017 @ 4:59 pm
Happy to help! Necesita practicar español también! Cheers!
Jenna Colgrove
05/24/2017 @ 12:39 am
These are som egreat tips!!
Tessa J Torrente
05/23/2017 @ 7:41 pm
definitely bookmarking this for later
xo
Tessa
http://travelwheretonext.com
Bethany M. Edwards
05/23/2017 @ 8:56 pm
Great!! They are fantastic resources for sure!