Thanks to the Internet, it’s become easier and easier to learn a new language — and you don’t even have to pay a penny. You can watch foreign films on YouTube or streaming sites, order books from every country in the world and chat online.

Millions of language learners also use Duolingo, a free app which treats learning like a game. Practicing earns you points and unlocks new levels of vocabulary.

One super user, Matthias Salzger, tells about his experience and here are tips he has for beginners.

Thanks to my online Spanish, I was top of my class.

I started using Duolingo in June 2013. After seeing it in a YouTube video I thought, “It would be cool to speak some Spanish.” Soon I was hooked.

I learned all of my early Spanish on Duolingo. In fact, I switched schools in the autumn of 2013 and found out I had learned in three months on Duolingo what my new classmates had in three years. I passed a test the school required me to take with flying colors and quickly was at the top of my class.

Besides Spanish, I learned some Italian on Duolingo, what I believe to be almost conversational Esperanto, and a good chunk of my French.

Duolingo can only get you so far. After you’ve got the basics, read. Read some more. Skip the children’s books and start with the stuff that you’re actually interested in. Other than that, try watching a movie or a TV series.

The most important tip in my opinion is to do what’s fun for you.

I guess my level in Spanish now is around B1-B2 (intermediate). I didn’t get there with Duolingo alone. I also read quite a bit, watched some cartoons in Spanish and attended a language school in Spain for two weeks.

But you don’t need expensive programs like Rosetta Stone, a private teacher or even language classes. The really important factor is that you stay motivated and stick with it.

有了互联网，学外语变得越来越简单，甚至不需要花钱。你可以在YouTube和其他流媒体网站上看外语片，上网订购外国书籍，和外国人网聊。

现在数百万语言学习者都在使用Duolingo，一款免费的应用软件。用它学外语就像玩游戏，用户要通过不断练习赚点数来解锁新词。马蒂亚斯•萨尔泽格是其中一位超级用户。他谈了自己的学习经历，并为初学者提供窍门：

多亏我在网上学习西班牙语，现在我是班上的第一名。2013年6月我开始用Duolingo。那时我在YouTube上看到一个介绍Duolingo的视频，心想：“如果会说点西班牙语，那一定很酷。”很快我就沉迷其中了。

我用Duolingo完成了西班牙语入门。2013年秋我转学了，然后我发现我在Duolingo上仅用三个月就学会了同学们三年学的东西。我出色地通过了学校安排的测试，很快成了班上第一名。

除了西班牙语，我还在Duolingo上学了一些意大利语。我认为意大利语是日常对话中使用最多的语言。我的法语也有很大一部分是在在Duolingo上学的。

但Duolingo的帮助也是有限的。在Duolingo上只能学到基础知识，以后就靠阅读了。要在这一过程中逐渐扩大阅读量。阅读时跳过那些儿童书籍，直接找你感兴趣的东西来读。此外还可以试着看看外语电影或电视剧。

在我看来学外语最重要的一点就是，要用你感兴趣的方法来学。我估计我的西班牙语水平在B1和B2级左右（中级水平）。这不完全是在Duolingo上学的。我还阅读了很多东西，看了些西班牙语的动画片，还在西班牙的一所语言学校学了两星期。

你不必花很多钱购买Rosetta Stone软

件、请私人老师，甚至报班上语言课也没那么重要，最重要的是要保持积极性，坚持学下去。

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

   【转换】zhuǎnhuàn switch change direction or course, turn, shift, or change

    【出色地】chūsè de with flying colors with an overwhelming victory, triumph, or success