Language Learning | London Public Library

At the Library

Languages for Travelling

To learn some phrases for your next trip, try:

Guidebooks for words and phrases for travelers

Language Learning Tools

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone revolves around a simple idea: learning a language should be fun, easy and effective.
It approaches language learning using a natural method that teaches new language directly, without translation. That means no more confusing grammar explanations or mind-numbing vocabulary lists to memorise.
Use at the library only. Please ask staff for help.
The library offers the English language course.

Mango Languages

Start learning a new language online with Mango Languages.
Mango Languages teaches you everyday conversation skills and cultural insights you need to connect with new people and cultures.
Choose from over 50 languages, learn actual conversations, sound out new words, and compare your pronouciation.
Use from home or in the library.
Click HERE to find out more

Websites

ASL University
Lots of information about American Sign Language, including some "teach yourself" lessons.

Babel Fish Translation
A website for fairly decent machine translation from or to French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch,Portuguese,Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Greek and Russian.

BBC Languages
British Broadcasting Corporation offers on-line free courses in Spanish, French, German and Italian called "Discover the Steps". If your computer has Real Media and Flash players, you can take advantage of the sound and video offered. There are also shorter courses in Portuguese, Greek and Chinese, plus "quick fix holiday phrases" in 36 languages.

One Look Dictionary
Provides definitions of English words from a number of different dictionaries and allows you to translate single words into a number of languages from bilingual dictionaries that it offers.

Test d'évaluation de français(TEF)
The CERF at the University of Alberta has been accredited by the Paris Chameber of Commerce to administer its internationally recognized language competency test.

Ultralingua Online Dictionary
Ultralingua is a wonderful site for people wanting translations and more in French, Spanish, German, Italian or Portuguese. It converts numbers to text (e.g. 508,956), conjugates verbs, and has helpful grammar points explained in English for these languages.