TOWER OF BABEL
The traditional version of language courses has become widespread on the internet. The most famous German platform is Babbel (https://de.babbel.com/). Founded in 2007 in Berlin, today this site has over a million subscribers. In 2016, the startup was included in the list of the most innovative companies in the world.
Translate a word from English to German, complete a dialogue, choose the correct equivalent – the platform offers a whole range of exercises from a school textbook, but with the difference that they use living spoken language.
After attending such virtual lessons, you can safely use the learned expressions in real situations. The site's services are not free; for example, for Russian speakers, the cost ranges from 7 to 13 dollars per month, depending on the subscription period.
GERMAN WITH GERMANS
Social networks also leave their mark on the format of language courses. Some sites are organized on the principle of a chat or language tandem. The community members themselves – native speakers – work on your pronunciation, check texts you have written, or communicate with you on current topics.
One such platform is Busuu (http://www.busuu.com/ru). This virtual language school is visited by 80 million users from different countries. On the site, you can also choose a Russian interface. You don't have to pay for the basic package of services. There is also an option to subscribe to a paid premium package. A subscription costing from 5 to 10 euros per month includes more than a dozen different language courses, individual tests, communication with native speakers, and use of the mobile app. The site's founders claim that in terms of effectiveness, 22 hours of study with Busuu are equivalent to one semester of university study.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN VIDEO FORMAT
Video platforms can also be useful in learning foreign languages. For example, the free German course offered by the Goethe-Institut on YouTube. In her video blog, Munich resident Ida talks about various situations from her daily life, while simultaneously introducing the peculiarities of the German language and country-specific aspects.
It is also worth paying attention to the Berlin video portal Lingorilla (http://www.lingorilla.com/). Videos with subtitles that play out realistic situations (for example, a chance meeting on the street or a meeting in the office) help you master a foreign language for everyday and business communication. Interactive exercises for practicing vocabulary and pronunciation, as well as linguistic games, help reinforce the material. The only drawback is the relatively high cost: one month of using the platform costs from 10 to 20 euros.