Language Tools: Websites, Podcasts, iTunes (Part 2 of 2)

The last installment on this topic is on podcasts. 

Podcasts are an invaluable tool for sharing information over the web. Basically, podcasts are audio or video files which are transmitted via the web to computers or mp3 players. You can think of podcasts as a new take on early radio programming. Just as in the last century with radios, podcasts followers tune into (and download) their favorite programs each week.

There are thousands on podcasts on the web covering a variety topics like current events, fashion, humor, arts and crafts; and of interest to us, language. Don’t worry if you do not own a mp3 player or an iPod. These portable mediums just make it easy for you to listen to you podcasts on the go. All you need is a computer. That’s it! Download the podcasts and listen from your computer.

In the last year, Apple computers  has made a huge push to provide educational materials through iTunes. But don’t fret. Both the iTunes software download, and the language podcasts are free and do not require the purchase of a iPod. Follow these instructions to get to the language podcasts.

1. If you don’t already have iTunes, download it from the link above.
2. After you have downloaded iTunes, click on “Podcasts“, located in the “iTunes Store” box in the upper left hand corner.
3. Click on “Education“, located in “Categories” box, which is the second box on the left.
4. Finally, in the third and last box on the left side of the page, click on “Language Courses” which is located in the “More Education” box.

You have now reached iTunes language podcasts page. To see all the the language options and courses available, click on “See All” in the “Featured” box in the middle of the screen. If you scroll through all of the courses available, you will notice they are all free! So jump right in, and practice your English, Spanish, Chinese, or try them all!

Language Tools: Websites, Podcasts, iTunes (Part 1 of 2)

If you are just now learning another language, or trying to freshen up your existing foreign language skills, there are many valuable resources at your disposal on the web. This week’s entry will focus on language websites. Next week’s entry will be on language podcasts and language tools available on iTunes.

LanguageGuide: Foreign Language Vocabulary, Grammar, and Readings- This website is amazing. It is like a online “see and say” book for language learners. There are many languages available- English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese, Hebrew, and Italian. Each language is divided into sections covering, animals, clothes, parts of the body, nature, and everyday matters. Select one of the links under a category, and then click on any of the pictures on the page. You will hear audio giving the correct pronunciation for each word depicted in the pictures. Some of the languages have grammar or reading sections, which also have audio giving the correct pronunciation. Overall, this site is a great resource to not only work on vocabulary and grammar, but also pronunciation.

WordReference.com- This site is an excellent online dictionary and idiomatic expression translator. Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, English, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Greek, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and in the near future, Arabic, are all available. All of the dictonaries translate from English to “another language” or “another language” to English (i.e. English to Russian or Russian to English).  As long as you are familiar with either English or the language you are translating to or from, this site will work well for you. Unlike other online translation websites, this site will use your translated word in a sentence, have difference uses for the word, and provide compound forms of the word. In addition, there is a forum where users can talk about the meaning of expressions and different uses of the word in contemporary society. This is a very useful tool for idiomatic expressions that are not accurately translated using traditional online translators.

Give these websites a try and tune back in next week for the last installment on this topic.