Foreign Language Software  have made learning a foreign language from your home easier than ever. There are hundreds of programs and dozens of approaches presented on foreign language teaching software. There are programs designed for all ages and all skill levels. If you don't have the money to spend on expensive lessons or immersion in a foreign culture, computer software is the way to go.

Things to Consider

What Learning Level Do You Need?

There's no use buying a beginners-only program if you've got the basics down. Conversely, don't be too ambitious if you're not up to speed on things. Maybe you've already taken a few Spanish courses and feel competent starting at an intermediate level. Maybe you don't know a lick of French. Either way, you can find a program that works for so long as you look carefully. Maybe you need an intensive program that will let you get a language down in a matter of months or weeks. Or maybe you want something with a more gradual climb to the top. Thankfully, almost all language software run the gamut from beginner to expert. Still, be careful and read reviews.

What Language(s) Do You Want To Learn?

This should be pretty intuitive stuff. There are programs that cater to almost any specific language you can think off. There are also comprehensive software packages that feature several languages with one purchase price. Some of these multi-lingual packages can be useful, but be sure the specific language you want to learn is included and is comprehensive enough to suit your needs.

Comprehensive Language Software
	Instant Immersion Software 33 Languages  features 33 languages, including all the regulars (Spanish, Italian, Chinese, etc.) and a couple of hard-to-find ones (Swahili, Tagalog, Zulu, etc.) Use's EuroTalk's TalkNow method featuring immersive lingual study With 33 discs, 33 Languages is Instant Immersion's most thorough guide, but 102 Languages  offers even more choices.

Search by Language

• French 
• Spanish 
• Italian 
• German 
• Russian 
• Chinese 
• Japanese 
• Vietnamese 
• Korean 
• English 
• Greek 
• Arabic 
• Hindi 
• Yiddish 
• Polish 
• Latin 

How Old Are You?

If you're 40 years old and you don't mind Mickey Mouse or Reader Rabbit teaching you Italian, then age is probably not high up on the priority list. However, going the other way, its very important when purchasing foreign language software for a child to be sure that your kid is within the suggested age limits of particular language products. Keeping your child engaged in a lesson is as important as the lesson itself. 

Children's Foreign Language Software
Mia's Language Adventure	Kidspeak 6-in-1	Instant Immersion Language Starter for Kids	Learn to Speak
The always exciting Mia series provides one of the most engaging language learning experiences available. Children practice Spanish or French while helping Mia out on an adventure.	Kidsspeak 6-in-1 software provides engaging Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Hebrew lessons in one comprehensive package. Each language more than 40 different activities.	The Instant Immersion Language Starter for Kids is a vocabulary booster that features Spanish, French, German and Italian. The program uses a flashcard system to test kids on their grammar and vocab skills.	The Learn to Speak kids' series is comprehensive and adults and children should find navigating lessons easy. Though not as visually stimulating as its competitors, Learn to Speak beats all comers in content.

External Resources

• Web German: A comprehensive site dedicated to free online foreign language learning. 
• I Love Language: A database with exhaustive links to foreign language lessons and resources.
• Ethnologue: A catalogue of information about thousands of languages.
• Free Translation: An easy-to-use Web and text translation site.