Language learning online recommendation

[SDeuchars]

I've just started using www.busuu.com and it seems very good. It uses the modern style of immersion for language learning but also has a community where you can get feedback from native speakers. I only signed up this morning and have submitted one simple piece of written work. I had responses within minutes. It certainly looks like a good (and cheap) way to start with a new language.

The first week gives free access to the Premium (paid-for) content which includes a level test (rated in the CEE terms of A1 to B2). A 12-month subscription works out at less than £1 per week.

Languages available: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, Japanese and Chinese

I meant to say, it is available for Android and iPhone, as well as through a browser, so it can be used offline and sync to the online version when the
device connects. I had difficulty registering from the Android version but no difficulty connecting once I had set up my account online.

For what age group do you think it is good? Thanks for the recommendation

There are mid-teens posting on the site. I think it would be pretty good for any age - I started using this type of software with my DC when DS was about 7 or 8.

You'd want to have separate accounts for them (for tracking progress) but you may want to be sure that they only used it when you were around (because of potential problems with talking to inappropriate people). You can set the Chat function so that the account is shown as "busy" which means you do not get pop-ups asking to talk.

Part of the community aspect involves correcting other people's work. It would be a good English exercise for a young person to be thinking about giving good feedback on other people's work.

Update on free vs premium versions

I thought I'd have to go for the paid-for version because the activities available on an Android tablet are limited. Now I've got into the online version, I see there is much more available (only the 35 specific "grammar" units and the tests are unavailable).

If I pay for premium, all the content will become available on my tablet as well (or I could buy the individual Android apps for about £16).

BTW, the Busuu level tests are not worth much. I got B2 on Spanish, of which I know very little, because of a general facility with European languages. For example, on being asked to pick the written English phrase that matched a spoken Spanish phrase, the choices were among three long sentences, two adjectives and a noun (which had the masculine article). The spoken phrase was very short (immediately ruling out the sentences) and started with the word "el", thus being guessable by anyone with a vague idea of grammar. So, I won't be paying for Busuu simply to have access to the tests.