I won’t lie to you; there are a ton of language programmes available in almost every language conceivable, (Elvish included)! But how many of them can actually boast a high success rate with their students? And how can you actually track if this is true, other than trolling though tons of reviews? Everyone has a different way of learning, and this can cause complications for the studious – as what works for your best friend or brother, may have you throwing your hands up in the air in despair. Or accidentally beating said language programme into a shiny, fractured pulp … which defeats your main objective.

For those at the end of their metaphorical rope, keep reading to find some of the top language programmes that will have you talking fairly fluently in no time -which will make conversing with locals during your travels infinitely more enjoyable.

1.  Numerous Languages – Pimsleur Approach

No other language programme can boast that both FBI and National Security operatives learn languages with their programme. The idea is that you only need to learn core words and basic sentences first, much like you would as a child learning to talk for the first time. The main benefit is you’re just learning how to speak the language; with no boring noun or adjective writing lessons in sight.

As the genius behind this course, Dr Pimsleur, says “Your brain is already wired to learn a language in 10 days. You just need to activate it.” One of the best things about this programme is their promise, you either learn the language in 10 days, or you get your money back. If you’ve got some time before your travels begin, you can pop the CD into your car’s audio system, and start learning phrases on your drive to work, the shops, etc.

2. Romantic: Spanish

Spanish is one of the romantic languages, and is a benefit to learn if you’ll be travelling to South America or Europe, though each continent has its own distinctive brand of spoken Spanish. With the “Bueno, entonces” course, you follow the adventures of a comical male student, and his feisty Latina teacher, and through various situations and numerous laughs, you absorb the language. Text is displayed on the monitor and is highlighted in different colours to show which words are verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc.

3.  Oriental: Chinese

For many, there is an allure to being able to speak a language from the orient. Most students decide to learn Chinese Mandarin over Cantonese, as it is more widely spoken. One of the best software tools for this is the RocketLanguages course. The company has programmes out for over 38 languages, but is really useful if you’ve only got a few weeks before you head to China, as it not only teaches you useful phrases, but it also gives you cultural awareness within various lessons. Once you’ve paid, you have access to the member’s portion, in which you can play language games, track your progress, and join an online community.

4.  Germanic: German

As one of the more challenging languages to learn, German should not be undertaken by the faint hearted. Its main benefit comes from the fact you’ll be able to understand some Dutch and Austrian when you’re fluent in it, and if you visit South Africa, some Afrikaans.  The Michael Thomas course is an audio based one, with visual options available for those on the PC. He has a great approach, and famously stated that if you can handle verbs, you can handle the language, as everything else is just vocabulary. There is a free app for iPhone and iPad users, so anyone who’s tried this, let us know how it turned out.

For those of you who got hooked on the above Elvish mention, head here, here, and here to learn to read and write it. For those looking for free language resources, visit about.com and see the variety of free courses they offer, or visit Duolingo. If you’re interested in following someone who is a verified polyglot, then head over to Fluent in 3 Months, to follow a humorous Irish lad, and gain further insights into learning numerous languages.

Let us know which language has been your favourite to learn, and which programmes (free or paid) helped you the most with your studies.

Main Image by tvol (Flickr)