Babbel.com - Speak in Tongues, Really

Whoever said learning languages is easy. It’s not. Forget high school Spanish 101 or that college Italian minor you thought might give you the upper edge in ordering pasta all’amatriciana with real unsmoked,pig jowl. So far the easiest way to pick up a language is to pack your bags and spend a few months in the language of your choice—that or an expensive Berlitz type deal that somehow leaves you craving something more authentic. If you really want to learn a language without spending thousands of dollars or leaving the country, try Babbel. Babbel is a rich new Flex application that helps you wrap your tongue around the subtleties of Italian, English, German, French or Spanish. And it’s got a social twist. Send messages to users, create your own lesson plans, vocabulary, and get motivated. Babbel uses images and audio to help you learn. You can submit your own content as well. Or if you feel your learning experience could be better, feel free to add to the available content. And you don’t have to worry about paying—the only thing Babbel requires is an open mind and a willingness to learn.

“Here you can learn words and phrases in foreign languages and connet with people from all over the world.

Practice on your own with our intuitive online lessons or find a study partner in the international Babbel community.”

Babbel is a comprehensive learning site that appeals to those without a fat pocketbook and a willingness to participate in community while learning a new language. Its interface is clean and super-easy to use. Users will be pleased with the content and they’ll learn something too.

Can you really become fluent in, say, German through a website? How much can you actually learn from Babbel? What about the rest of the world’s languages?