How to learn a language Online, and in Seattle

Around TeachStreet’s offices, we often talk about learning new stuff and what the more popular learning topics are, including music lessons like Piano and Guitar, sports classes such as Golf and Tennis, and technology interests such as Ruby on Rails and even HTML. But, by far, the most common example keeps coming back to “Learn Spanish (or, insert your language choice here… French, Arabic, English, ESL, etc.)”

In the last few weeks, we’ve seen some really solid new online language learning services launch, including LiveMocha, a new Seattle-area language-learning website. If you haven’t checked it out yet, this blog post by LiveMocha does a great job of introducing what they’ve built, and what their goals are –we highly recommend that you check it out.

Of course, you’ve got 100’s of other options for online language learning, including services like Mango, SpanishSense (here’s a great blog post from their parent company, Praxis, that discusses the differences between ‘delivered and constructed information and learning’) and others… or you could also sidle up to a booth at the airport from the leading software provider, Rosetta Stone, and buy some installable software.

These all involved a large amount of self-study (aka time spent learning on your own) and likely work for many people with limited time, large amounts of travel time spent on airplanes and in hotel rooms, or who possibly live in more remote locations with less robust education provider options. We’re wondering what people prefer — is it online tools (e-learning, video, installed software) or in-person learning experiences including tutors, classes, and evening courses?

In larger cities like Seattle, we have the advantage of having an abundance of learning opportunities — including rich and targeted language schools such as the Seattle Language Academy, DiscoverU and others.

Of course, we also have the advantage of Leonardo, the ‘Green Lake Seattle Spanish Teacher’ — a great painting of him created by Seattle artist Scott Erickson is above — ahh, the wonders of living in a city like Seattle!

We’d love to hear from you — do you have a strong preference (online vs. offline)? Do you have any specific favorite teachers, schools or services?