Learning another Language for free...

I always thought that the internet should be a huge medium that allows everyone to learn whatever they want for free. Sadly it's nothing like that in reality. Or at least not at first glance. Websites like Encyclopaedia Britannica take a common good, which is knowledge and make you pay for it. However there are also pages like Wikipedia that basicly form a big network of exchaging knowledge. From the people for the people. That's the future. Making all knowledge of mankind available for anyone is sort of a dream vision for me and sadly so many other people have that as a nightmare because it means that their elitist positions are endangered. Hence the paysites. Gotta make sure only the rich have the opportunity to learn. Well times change.

Since I want to continue studying the Japanese language I looked into ways to do that in my own pace and also free of charge, and I found them. Websites like The Japanese Page and The Foreigner - Japan offer basic Japanese courses and most importantly a community where you can talk with others in Japanese and find help if you get stuck somewhere. It's really great and that's what the internet should be. I mean, I still have textbooks for the advanced sort of things, but it is much nicer when you get in touch with the culture as well. Check out the beautiful photo essays of people who have traveled through Japan.

For any other language you can also find websites that teach you the basics. Here is a nice link list of such websites. Nice! I think Icelandic is next on my list. :)

Of course the world of free online tutorials is already huge so that goes well. You can find basicly any sort of how-to guide online, from cooking recipes to how to fix a flat tire on your bike.

I just love the internet! :)