4 Motivating TED Talks in Portuguese For Polishing Your Language Skills
Have you ever watched TED talks? If you have, did you find them useful and amusing?
7 minute read
You want to learn languages, but your budget is tighter than your jeans from ten years ago?
You’ve hit the jackpot, because today we’re going to share with you ways to learn languages for free.
These days, language tutorials are available on various platforms online and we can access them without paying a cent.
For some, you don’t even have to be online all the time.
What’s in it for Me if I Learn for Free?
When we think about learning, the first thoughts that we run into are always that:
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It’s difficult.
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It’s going to be time consuming.
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We need to set aside a certain budget for it.
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And there’s a fear that we’ll probably waste what we spent because we might end up quitting in the end.
So, if we have the chance to learn them for free, we can now erase the last two points and just deal with the first two.
Now that we’re left with just two obstacles then, logically, it’s way better than having to face four of them, isn’t it?
If you think this makes sense and I was able to convince you somehow, then I’m pretty sure your next question would be:
So how exactly do I learn for free?
What Do I Need to Do to Learn Languages for Free?
Go through the list that we prepared for you and choose what fits your style of learning and your lifestyle.
There are videos, audio tutorials or readable lessons and more to choose from.
It might sound that easy but really, it’s just that easy and convenient, too.
All you need is either a laptop, tablet or a phone and your earphones or a headset for videos and audio tutorials and you’re good to go.
There’s something for just about anyone who wants to learn. Even kids can learn through these ways and I’m not even kidding.
Whether you have more time or barely have any time at all, you will always have a chance to fulfill your goals.
How Will I Benefit From Learning Languages Without Paying a Cent?
I love to travel and be able to converse with the locals. I’m sure those who travel can relate with me. We don’t want to get lost in the middle of nowhere because we don’t know how to ask for directions from the locals.
So what do we do before we travel? We learn at least a few words and phrases to help us get through the trip.
It gets tiring, at some point, to watch foreign shows and rely on subtitles. Wouldn’t it be more convenient if we truly understood what the characters are saying? We could finally focus on their faces instead of being torn between reading the text and watching how they interact.
We know that translations aren’t really that accurate and it sometimes differs depending on who’s translating.
Most of us want to learn for free because it’s practical and we’d rather spend it on more important things or ventures.
You can treat yourself to more vacation days.
You are now able to enjoyably watch more episodes.
All because you opted for free language lessons.
Imagine that.
Without further ado, here are some of the best ways you can easily learn languages for free.
7 Proven Ways to Learn Languages for Free
Websites
Some of the language learning websites I know have been around for a decade or more. They’ve helped thousands of people speak foreign languages depending on the level they want to achieve.
I was searching for a website to help me speak German years ago and I discovered a free service that helped me learn so much.
I couldn’t believe that I was able to learn so much already in just a few days by simply registering and I was able to go through their free online tutorials right away. The impressive reviews I read about the site were truly legit.
These days, you don’t need a laptop or desktop anymore to complete the lessons. They have developed mobile apps for those who’re always on the go.
Here are some of the most popular language websites that can help you learn for free:
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Duolingo
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Open Culture
Livemocha
Busuu
Transparent Language
Surface Languages
Blogs
Blogs are a force to reckon with when it comes to finding quick and easily digestible information.
I end up immersed in them at times especially when they have really catchy titles and in the face content. And seriously, there are a lot out there that can help you learn about languages.
If you’re the type of person who can learn faster by reading lessons or bits of information at random rather than be guided by videos or audio, then this way is for you.
Blogs can be your go to for learning simple phrases and sentences.
There are several blogs on Justlearn.com to help you get through a few days in different countries or would help you understand foreign correspondence.
Read through their tips and tricks in learning languages like Spanish and German.
Video Tutorials
This is popular among those who really have the time to sit down and pay attention to a laptop or desktop screen or a mobile phone or tablet. If you’re alone in your room, you can pump up the volume or use a headset or earphones when you’re in the library or riding a bus.
Video tutorials help a lot with pronunciation and intonation since you can hear and read from them. If you’re planning to be able to enunciate properly and be fluent with a particular language later on, then this is the best option for you, too.
Youtube hosts numerous videos that teach languages and it’s all for free. I doubt if there’s still anyone who’s not familiar with it.
Even my dad, who’s turning 80 next year, watches videos on Youtube everyday.
Mobile Apps
Mobile phones are the quickest way to access the internet in this age. Developers have created mobile apps for language learners who either only have phones or who prefer it more than laptops.
Almost everyone in the world has a mobile phone that we use everyday. So, if you can play games online, why not learn a language, too? Mobile data is needed though, but who doesn’t have access to it these days.
While you are riding the train, or waiting for your order at your favorite coffee shop, you can just click on the app and you can learn anytime you want.
It’s quick and convenient just like fast food, cup noodles and finding a date.
E-books
For bookworms, just like my younger self, or those who find reading more relaxing and are able to absorb information easily through it, this way is more suitable for you.
Another good reason to choose it is when you don’t always go online or you can’t be online all the time.
Yes, there are still some percentage of the population worldwide who either choose not to be online all the time or who really don’t have access to a good connection.
You can download the materials while you’re still online and start learning while you’re offline. You can even print your e-books if you’re the type of person who’s more comfortable in reading while flipping the pages of an actual book.
You can call it old-fashioned but it works for them.
Just be sure not to read in dimly lit places when you’re planning to read them on an e-reader or a print out so that you won’t strain your eyes.
Audio books
If there are people who are visually receptive, there are also those who are audio receptive. If you identify yourself as one, then this way of learning is totally for you.
You only have to download the files and listen to them while you’re going through your day. It’s that simple.
Just like e-books, you don’t need to be online all the time. You can learn while you’re offline and even while you’re doing other things, like soaking in a bathtub, cooking dinner or doing household chores.
Think of it as listening to music, but just more productive.
There are plenty of audio books online that you can choose from and the best part of course is that you can download as many files as you want without breaking the bank.
Podcasts
For those whose goal is to be able to understand the language and be able to converse with it, podcasts are readily available for everyone.
Not everyone can travel to places and apply what they learn in their tutorial classes. Listening to people talk to each other in the language you’re learning is probably the closest that you can get in speaking to a local.
It’s also more like practicing when you’re geared towards being fluent if you are planning to migrate to a different country. It will also be helpful if there’s a language exam that you need to take before you can permanently live and work there.
Like ebooks and audiobooks, these can be downloaded on your handheld devices or laptops, of course, and be listened to anytime even without an internet connection.
Bottom line
Learning languages should be accessible for everyone. You don’t have to shell out anything to be able to speak a different tongue.
You just need to be patient with yourself, muster as much willpower as you can and enjoy learning.
There are always tips and tricks available online, that are also for free, to help you master the language that you want to learn and ease you from your struggles.
Even if you don’t have a good internet connection, you can always go to a cafe or a friend’s house to go online so you can always download audiobooks or ebooks beforehand.
These days, you can barely come up with a valid excuse not to learn languages because there’s so many ways to choose from. They’re all absolutely free and equally effective.
And of course, you’re never going to quit if you love what you do.
Your sheer determination will help you achieve your goals with learning languages and with just about anything.
Have you tried any of these? Which of these free methods will you try first? Let us know in the comments below.
