Learning a new language can provide life changing opportunities and enjoyment. There are so many reasons to learn a foreign language whatever your nationality, to improve employment potential, intellectual curiosity, make travel more enjoyable, sharpen cognitive and life skills, make lifelong friends, and many more. While it is widely acknowledged that it is easier to begin learning a second language at a tender age, starting a new language at any age is eminently worthwhile.
There’s a good selection of traditional materials and tools available to assist with language studies, such as language courses, grammar books, dictionaries, phrasebooks, and electronic translators. However, there are real benefits in using the latest technology to quicken the pace of learning. Online lessons and computer software are two popular ways of immersing yourself in learning a foreign language. They are the best alternative to actually staying in a country where the language is spoken by the general population.
There is an extensive amount of open source computer software to help individuals learn a foreign language. We have identified the best of breed open source Linux software to make language acquisition fun, enjoyable, and a stimulating way of learning. These applications offer the opportunity to radically improve your life.
Now, let’s explore the 11 foreign language tools. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, a screenshot of the software in action, together with links to relevant resources.
| Foreign Language Tools | |
|---|---|
| Tagaini Jisho | Japanese vocabulary and kanji dictionary |
| Anki | Extensible flashcard learning program |
| Learning with Texts | Read and listen, save and test words in context |
| FLTR | Foreign Language Text Reader |
| OpenTeacher | Learn words in a foreign language |
| Verbiste | French and Italian conjugator |
| Parley | Vocabulary trainer for KDE 4 |
| Artikulate | Pronunciation trainer - The KDE Education Project |
| Jargon Informatique | Front-end for the French computing dictionary Jargon Informatique |
| Step into Chinese | Language-mining tool to help English speakers understand Chinese |
| Perroquet | Train your oral skills in foreign languages |
 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. |
Thank you for the new ideas. I will give some of them a look.