Learning a foreign language is one of those things that doesn’t come easy for a lot of people. For example, as much as I have studied Spanish, I have neither the time nor inclination spend the hours necessary to really master the language in a traditional classroom setting. And let’s be honest – traveling abroad for an immersion program is simply not an option for me. So what am I to do?

Well, there are always online language programs and software solutions. But the question for me is whether or not they really work. Are there good programs out there that will enable learners to achieve a sufficient degree of fluency to make them worthy of the investment in time and money. And, of course, there is always the question about the availability of certain languages at all. After all, while it may be a relatively easy task to Learn to speak Spanish, French, Italian, German, or some other languages using a well-designed and professionally tested program, do such programs exist for languages that are less commonly sought out by students in the West – languages like Urdu, Swahili, or Tagalog? While I am sure that I can find French Language Software with relative ease, what if I want to learn Basque, Croatian, or Chamorro (near and dear to my heart from my years on Guam as a kid)? Does quality Language Learning Software exist out there for these languages as well?

Believe it or not, there is a place that you can find that very software. Transparent.com offers a selection of over 100 foreign languages – including regional dialects like Cornish, Canadian French and Pidgin English – for you to learn at your pace if you want. I’m particularly impressed by the array of Slavic, African, and even Native American tongues that there are to choose from. Absolutely incredible!