Getting Started Guide: Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures (MCLL): Language

"he FSI (Foreign Service Institute) language courses are arguably the best free language courses available anywhere. The FSI language courses cover over 40 languages from the most spoken in the world to some less well known ones. Some of the language learning material is a bit dated, but it is still possible for someone to learn a huge amount from this material This material is public domain, that means we have put it up at no costs, and with no commercials. Feel free to use and download the PDF files and audios on this page however you would like. All of these files are the original, and some of them are a bit old (over 30 years) so some of the information in them may be a bit out of date, but they are still the best free language courses you can find anywhere.

Disclaimer: Live Lingua language school is not affiliated with the U.S. Foreign Service Institute in any way. We simply host this material for free so that it is not lost as part of the Live Lingua Project. "

"The Mixxer hosted by Dickinson College is an entirely free non-profit website hosted by Dickinson College. What began as a small project to help Professor Meguro at Dickinson College find Japanese partners for her students has expanded to 30 - 40,000 active users per month around the world. The site is free and open to anyone looking to practice a with a native speaker in exchange for help with their own. Once registered, users can search for speaking partners via the Profile Search or submit a short writing piece and ask for corrections from native speakers. Those using the writing function are asked to return the favor by correcting short samples in their native language. Our guidelines are very simple. Members are here to practice a language (this is an educational site, not a dating site), and they agree to be respectful and courteous to all users at all times. Welcome to our community where everyone is both teacher and learner."

"All French games are free to use, do not require registration, and are suitable for kids and students of all ages. "

"This record presents French songs for children, specially selected to provide a fun way of introducing young listeners to French language and culture."

"The French short story tradition can be useful in teaching French. Armand Bégué, a professor at Brooklyn College, his wife, and Pierre Capritz, a professor at Yale University, have recorded six stories in two volumes accompanied by written French versions and a glossary.The first CD includes a story by Guy de Maupassant, one by Paul-Louis Courier, and another by Voltaire—three French writers known as masters of the short story. If Maupassant is considered one of the fathers of the modern short story, Courier made a reputation for himself through his letters and pamphlets, while Voltaire’s short stories are known worldwide for their critical power."

"The French short story tradition can be useful in teaching French. Armand Bégué, a professor at Brooklyn College, his wife, and Pierre Capritz, a professor at Yale University, have recorded six stories in two volumes accompanied by written French versions and a glossary. This second CD includes a story by Guy de Maupassant, one by Prosper Mérimée, and another by Voltaire—three French writers known as masters of the short story. Maupassant is considered one of the fathers of the modern short story, and Merimée’s stories turned the genre into one of the most popular of the 19th century. As for Voltaire’s work, it is known worldwide for its critical power."

"Mario Andrew Pei, linguist and polyglot from Italy has developed foreign languages courses accessible by everyone. The recording Getting Along in French, vol.1, is based on the book of the same name published by Harper & Brothers, and focuses on expressions used when travelling in France by train, bus or plane."

"This album is the first of three volumes of a French language course: Speak and Read French, created by Armand Bégué, a professor at Brooklyn College and his wife, Louise Bégué, in 1959. The recording, for basic and intermediate levels, focuses on words and expressions frequently used in French."

"This album is the second of three volumes of a French language course: Speak and Read French, created by Armand Bégué, a professor at Brooklyn College and his wife, Louise Bégué, in 1959. The recording gathers different conversations of everyday life including a doctor visit, a driving lesson and frequently asked questions at the train station."