Livemocha

Livemocha is a very good popular, free language learning website, where you learn other languages by taking online courses and improving your speaking skills by interacting with native speakers. It was founded on September 24th 2007, and now it has a big learning community from over 200 countries around the world. Registration is necessary if you want to start learning a language, you can subscribe and complete courses in a number of different languages including English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese Icelandic and Italian. Spending 160 hours the user can complete the course from the basic to the advanced level; each level made of ’4′ modules.

Advantages and limitations

Live mocha offers over thirty languages, so if the users can handle the linguistic challenge of learning more than one at the same time they can do it. Many programs just have a few exercises available for students, but Livemocha has a lot of optional exercises, which allow students to practice until they have truly learned the lesson. Learners can improve their language skills with other users by using speech or text chats on the site. There are also people who practice their native language and the target language alternatively. This site is dynamic and flexible because you can log in at anytime.

Leveraging the advantages of a web 2.0 platform the learners use content text, audio and video inputs to learn the nuances of a language. It is also possible to find native speakers to tutor and help you learn the language. One limitation is that if you do not have access to Internet, you cannot work on the program since you need web connection to develop the activities the program offers you. 

How to use it

To get started you must create your free account; it is pretty simple and does not take long time. After, you must choose your languages of domain and the languages that you want to learn. Then, you have to confirm your address e-mail, and once you are already a member and you have activated your account you can log in. So, you can discover all that Livemocha has for you.

Features and usefulness

Live mocha offers grammar instructions, reading comprehension exercises, interactive role-plays with other native speakers from the Livemocha community among other different activities. All users can help others in learning the languages; for example, when learners submit coursework for peer review, native speakers can provide feedback on how that learner is progressing.  As soon as someone reads something aloud and submits it to the site, a native English speaker is willing and able to give feedback on the submission because Livemocha utilizes the English speakers who want to learn other languages to help the English learners.

Written by

HENRY ORREGO LONDOÑO

KARLA PEÑA SUAREZ