The Guardian view on language apps: a reminder that millions aspire to be multilingual
Editorial: Computer tutors such as Duolingo may not create polyglots, but they are a lesson to all who think language teaching is not valued
May 2023
In French I am void of personality. But I learn to embrace my ineptitude
As Fatima Malik’s classmates expertly conjugated verbs around her, she fantasised about quitting French. But along with the dread came new possibilities
April 2022
40,000 jobs at risk as foreign pupils shun UK language schools
Passport requirements for children from the EU are costing the sector revenue and jobs, says report
December 2021
Can you say Squid Game in Korean? TV show fuels demand for east Asian language learning
Japanese and Korean are in top five choices in UK this year at online platform Duolingo
November 2021
Other lives
Patsy Musto obituary
Other lives: Co-founder of French Encounters, an educational travel company for British schoolchildren
September 2017
10 of the best language with activity holidays around the world
Spanish and tango? German and skiing? Or even Japanese and manga? Learn a language in the native country and add some extracurricular fun with these holiday courses that offer a skill or some culture, too
August 2017
French (almost) without tears: a summer school break in France
Just when you thought school was out ... mum books a holiday with language lessons, in Morzine, and signs up for classes, too
October 2016
Can Duolingo's chatbot teach you a foreign language?
The less embarrassed you are, the better you tend to be at learning languages. The answer? Chatbots
January 2016
Jhumpa Lahiri: ‘I am, in Italian, a tougher, freer writer’
The author’s new book, written in Italian and accompanied by English translation, crowns a long infatuation with Italy. Here, she recounts her journey to fluency, and takes our Q&A
February 2015
The case for language learning
Top 10 podcasts to help you learn a language
From videos in Japanese to news in German, language blogger Lindsay Dow recommends her favourite podcasts to keep you motivated and inspired while improving your skills
January 2015
New East network
After decades of Russian dominance, Belarus begins to reclaim its language
In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, activists tell Katerina Barushka that aspects of Belarusian identity – especially language – are making a comeback
December 2014
Mind your language
2014 in synonyms – return of the popular language-based quiz
Where was the crime-ridden hell-hole? Who was the portly dictator? And which was the lying paper? Test your knowledge
August 2014
The case for language learning
Don't try this abroad: your stories of speaking the language while on holiday
Le bon, la brute et le truand – tell us about your attempts to speak the lingo while on holiday
July 2014
Best iPhone and iPad apps
20 best iPhone and iPad apps this week
Glow Nurture, Lingua.ly, Guardians of the Galaxy, Swords & Poker Adventures, Overcast, Shakespeare300 and more. By Stuart Dredge
February 2014
Do Something brainy
Learning a language: five tips
Apps, films, friends and Skype can all help you learn languages
January 2014
The US should encourage Arabic language students, not criminalise them
Anna Lekas Miller
Anna Lekas Miller: Detaining a traveller for having Arabic language flashcards brings the US suspicion of all things Arab to a whole new level
December 2013
Americans constantly badger me: why don't you have an accent?
Áine Pennello
Áine Pennello: Don't get me wrong, it's great that people are proud of their heritage, but accent-uating your origins isn't everything
November 2013
The case for language learning
What we can learn from teaching English abroad
Foreign language teaching in schools isn't making students fluent or even competent. So why can't we adopt the successful TEFL model of teaching languages?
April 2013
Language lessons podcast
Can you learn Spanish in 150 minutes?
A new course claims to teach you the basics of Spanish in the time it takes to fly from the UK to Madrid. Kate Kellaway puts it to the test on a trip to Segovia
May 2011
I learned Mandarin in two days (well, almost)
It's a notoriously difficult language, so no wonder Tom Meltzer was daunted by the prospect of learning Mandarin in just two days. And then there was the road test in the Chinese restaurant
