Language Learning Materials

What materials and tools do I need to study a language?

Possibly the most useful tools there are for learning a language are writing implements,
such as pens and pencils, and something to write on, such as paper or a notebook. You can use
them not only to make notes and lists of vocabulary, phrases, etc., but also to practice writing
in your L2.
The range of other materials and tools available to help you with your language studies
is huge. From language courses and dictionaries, to mp3 players and portable translators. All of
them can help you in different ways, and your language learning goals will determine, to some
extent, which ones are most useful to you.

Below is a guide to the types of some of the language learning materials and tools
currently available.

Language courses | Dictionaries | Grammars | Phrasebooks | Flash cards | Audio

books | Recording devices | Sound editors | Electronic translators

Language courses
Language courses come in a variety of guises, including traditional ones, all audio
ones, CD-ROMs and online ones.

Traditional courses
The traditional ones tend to consist of textbooks containing dialogues, exercises,
notes on grammar, and maybe cultural information. Accompanying cassettes, CDs
and/or mp3s are often available.
Most such courses are intended for complete beginners or people with only
minimal knowledge of the language. Intermediate and advanced-level courses are
available for some of the more popular languages, such as French, German, Italian and
Spanish.

Examples of this type of course include:

1. Linguaphone - available for 100 languages and include all audio courses, explorer courses
for those who just want to learn the basics, and in-depth courses for more serious
students.
2. Teach Yourself and Colloquial courses - these are similar and are available for a wide
range of languages. They focus on teaching you everyday language, and introduce you
to new alphabets or other writing systems where appropriate.

Prepared by: Prof. Roqayah D. Salong, MAELT, LPT

Source: https://omniglot.com/language/materials.htm
Copyright © 1998–2022 Simon Ager | Email: The email address to contact Omniglot
All audio courses
This type of course usually consists solely of cassettes or CDs, though some may also
include a limited amount of printed material. All dialogues, exercises, instructions and
explanations are recorded, and the focus of these courses is teaching you to understand and
speak the language.
Examples of this type of course include:
• Pimsleur language courses - the best-known audio courses. They are very good at teaching
you authentic pronunciation and a manageable amount of vocabulary. They also give you a
good feel for the language you're learning. The Level 1 courses are suitable for complete
beginners. More advanced courses are available for some languages.

Computer-aided learning
Various language courses are available on CD-ROMs and DVDs. Each course is different,
but they generally include dialogues, audio, exercises and tests. Some also include phrasebooks,
dictionaries, videos, games and provide online and/or telephone support.
Examples of these courses include:
• Teach Me! - include CD-ROM with vocabulary and grammar exercises, a series of graded
stories and a talking dictionary. An accompanying booklet contains the text of all the stories,
and an audio CD includes the vocabulary and the stories. Available for over 40 languages,
including Bavarian, Breton, Cornish, Manx, Occitan, Quechua and Romansh.
• Transparent Language - a range of language courses for many different languages. Their site
also includes useful phrases, games, cultural information, articles, quizzes and proficiency
tests.
• A selection of multi-language courses

Online courses
There are online language courses and lessons for just about every language you can
think of. Many are free, while others require a one-off payment or a regular subscription.
There is considerable variation in the quality and quantity of the material available in each
online course. Some of the free courses are excellent, while others are perhaps somewhat
lacking in organization and/or accuracy.
Dictionaries
Dictionaries come in a number of formats including bilingual, monolingual, illustrated,
electronic and online. Bilingual dictionaries are perhaps the most useful ones for beginners and
intermediate learners, while monolingual dictionaries, which are designed for native speakers,
are also useful for advanced learners.

Pocket dictionaries are good for quick reference and easy to carry around. Larger
dictionaries are better if you want more definitions, examples of usage, and information about
pronunciation, grammar and possibly etymology.

Prepared by: Prof. Roqayah D. Salong, MAELT, LPT

Source: https://omniglot.com/language/materials.htm
Copyright © 1998–2022 Simon Ager | Email: The email address to contact Omniglot
 Electronic dictionaries are available as handheld units, or as software. Handheld ones
are portable, easy and quick to search, and often provide other functions, such as, text-to-
speech, voice recognition and speech synthesis organizers, address books. They tend to be
rather expensive though. Software dictionaries offer many of the same functions, and can be
used on computers, PDAs and mobile phones.

Online dictionaries range from simple lists of words, to sophisticated bilingual and
multilingual dictionaries.
Grammars
Grammars are useful reference tools and provide detailed information about grammar
and usage. Some include exercises to help you practice the various aspects of grammar. Some
language learners like to know exactly how the grammar of their L2 works and find grammars
very useful. Others prefer to absorb the grammar through immersion without studying it
formally.
Phrasebooks
When visiting foreign parts, a phrasebook can come in very handy. Phrasebooks that
come with recordings of phrases are particularly useful, as working out how to pronounce them
from the written pronunciation hints is not easy.
Flash cards
Flash cards are a useful tool for learning vocabulary and grammar, if you look at them
regularly. I found them particularly useful when learning Chinese characters. They might have
a character, word, phrase or sentence on one side, and a translation, definition and/or notes
on the other side. You can make them yourself, buy readymade sets of cards, or use flash card
programs such as Anki, Mnemosyne and Supermemo.

Flash card programs are available from:

http://ichi2.net/anki/
http://mnemosyne-proj.sourceforge.net/
http://www.supermemo.com/
http://www.flashcardexchange.com

Audio books
Listening to audio books in a language you're learning is a great way to improve your
listening comprehension and vocabulary. If you can read printed versions of the books at the
same time, even better. You could also use foreign audio books to learn a new skill or to learn
about a subject that interests you through the medium of your L2.
A recording device of some kind is a very useful tool to the language learner. You can
use it to record conversations, radio programmes, songs, classes and lectures. Such recordings
can help you to improve your listening comprehension. You can also make recordings of your
own attempts to speak your L2, analysis of which can help you to improve your pronunciation

Prepared by: Prof. Roqayah D. Salong, MAELT, LPT

Source: https://omniglot.com/language/materials.htm
Copyright © 1998–2022 Simon Ager | Email: The email address to contact Omniglot
and intonation. They also provide a snapshot of your speaking abilities, which you could use a
later date to assess how much progress you've made.
Recording devices come in the form of tape recorders, mini-disc recorders, mp3 players
with voice recording facilities, and dictation machines. The most convenient are those which
can be connected to your computer so that you can transfer the recordings, edit them and/or
copy them to another device.

Some recorders require an external microphone, another useful tool for language
learners, while others have built-in microphones. The quality of recordings is generally better
with external microphones.
It is also possible to make recordings on your computer using software such as Audacity (see
below), or sites such as Odeo.

Sound editors
Once you've made recordings, you might need to edit them. Various programs that
enable you to do so are available.

I use Audacity to make and edit recordings on my computer. It's free, fairly easy to use
and has a range of functions, including changing the volume, speed or tempo of sound files,
cutting out silences and background noise, adding fade-ins and fade-outs, and multi-track
recording. You can also use it to listen audio files, or parts of them.

Audacity of available from: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Other free sound editors
http://www.moor-software.com/0.php?lang=English&page=blast.php
http://biphome.spray.se/baxtrom/soliton.htm
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/
http://www.nonags.com/nonags/auedit.html
http://www.wavosaur.com
http://www.code-it.com/KISS_free_wave_editor.htm

Electronic translators
Electronic translators are available as handheld units, or as software. Handheld ones are
portable, easy and quick to search, and often provide other functions, such as text-to-speech,
voice recognition, speech synthesis, organizers and address books. They tend to be rather
expensive though. Software dictionaries offer many of the same functions, and can be used on
computers, PDAs and mobile phones.

Prepared by: Prof. Roqayah D. Salong, MAELT, LPT

Source: https://omniglot.com/language/materials.htm
Copyright © 1998–2022 Simon Ager | Email: The email address to contact Omniglot