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I am frequently asked what the best way to learn languages is, and truthfully the answer is multi-faceted. The fact is, much depends on what language someone is learning and how s/he learns best.

That said, if you are learning English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or Swedish, one of the very best triple-faceted combinations of an online learning platform (a "web software"), an offline desktop application and an iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad app we've come across is Babbel.

Babbel's interface is the definition of eye candy, works on any modern Web browser, loads quickly and runs solidly. The dynamic learning system reviews you on terms and phrases you've learned while seamlessly incorporating new ones on topics you select. This guarantees you'll be interested in what you're studying - and that it will be the most applicable to your specific needs and goals.

Part of the Babbel learning system involves media-rich (and user shared) virtual flash cards. The flash card stacks are organized into "packages" (groups of cards) that treat common themes (eg, youth hostels, winter sports, restaurants and eating out, fruits and vegetables, clothing, standard greetings, giving and receiving compliments, etc). With input and contributions from the users, these packages get consistently better as more contributions flow in.

Furthermore, an intelligent system organizes all the vocabulary words you've learned. You get a comprehensive overview of everything you've studied - and it signals which are your problem words so you'll know you need to practice them again. This syncs seamlessly with the Babbel Refresh desktop application as well, using your personalized Vocabulary list to calculate reminders for what's best to review next and how often. Wow - talk about helpful!

Add to all of this Babbel's social networking tools, including the ability to hook up with other users interested in sharing and exchanging language skills, and you have a dynamic Italian-education platform that covers all the bases.

Go ahead and try a Babbel lesson free and see if it works for you. You can select one of various options for your free lesson, too. Chances are you'll be up and learning in no time, making friends to share with, quizzing yourself on the go and progressing more quickly than you thought possible - online, offline and on the go.

If you're interested in some more in-depth reviews of Babbel for the particular language you are learning, have a look at Free Language's reviews of Babbel:

Babbel English
Babbel French
Babbel German
Babbel Italian
Babbel Portuguese
Babbel Spanish
Babbel Swedish

Free Language also reviewed Babbel over two years ago - when it was in its nascent stages - for their social language learning section. View this review article with even more info here.

By the way, did you think I was going to say Rosetta Stone? Well, Babbel costs between $6.62 and $11.95 USD per month depending on your subscription option. Compare that that with a whopping $539 for a full Rosetta Stone course, and you could be using Babbel for 67+ months at that price! If you can't get ahead in 67 months using Babbel, I suggest you'd better move to a country where the language you're learning is spoken! After all, nothing can top true immersion, but using Babbel's socially interactive community is about as close as you can get without catching a plane.

Finally, what if you're learning something other than the languages Babbel has to offer? Well, we're going to address that very soon, so please subscribe to our newsletter and/or RSS feed to be the first to know.