United Nations – UNHQ – New York

Language & Communications Programme

Language learning resources (January 2012)

This is not an exhaustive list of Language Learning Resources for adult

learners. Some are particularly recommended (see logo ). However, the
UNHQ language programme does not guarantee the quality of all products
and services listed here. Most of them may help language learners to
improve certain skills but do not replace both in-class learning and
immersion courses.

1. ALL languages (or several of the 6 official languages)

1.1 Books

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com (or other countries)

Type “language” in search box.

1.2 Audio

Pimsleur: http://www.pimsleuraudio.com
All-audio language learning courses on cds or downloadable

Audio Lingua
http://www.audio-lingua.eu
Collaborative bank of authentic audio resources, recorded by native
speakers, for a freely pedagogical or personal use.

1.3 Softwares and multimedia-systems

Rosetta Stone: http://www.rosettastone.com

Software and/or online learning
Online tutoring sessions, online language-learning community

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Tell me more: http://www.tellmemore.com
Software and/or online learning
24/7 online Adviser and possible Personal Coach

Fluenz: http://www.fluenz.com
Video-based language learning software, audios cds, phrase book
navigator, podcasts

Transparent: http://www.transparent.com
See also http://www.byki.com
Software and/or online learning. Audio courses. Mobile language
learning application
Online tutoring sessions, online language-learning community

My Languages.org: http://mylanguages.org
Vocabulary and Grammar

1.4 E-learning

Myngle: www.myngle.com

1.5 Websites

United Nations News and Center / Multimedia:

http://www.unmultimedia.org
UN Radio, Television, Photo/Audio/Video Libraries

United Nations Multilingual Terminology Database:

http://157.150.197.21/dgaacs/unterm.nsf
Multilingual terminology database which provides UN
nomenclature, technical or specialized terms and common phrases in
all six official UN languages

WordReference.com: http://www.wordreference.com
Online Language Dictionaries

About.com: http://www.about.com (write a language in the

search box)

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Not a method but an online resource maintained by teachers. There
is a good variety of languages, but the exact lessons, exercises and
information available vary from language to language.

BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages
The BBC has lots of resources for learners of a number of different
languages, including tutorials, news, audio magazines, audio and
video.

My Language Exchange: http://www.mylanguageexchange.com

This site helps you to find penpals, text chat and voice chat partners
for a language exchange. Lesson plans, online word games and
forums all help you learn your new language with other learners and
native speakers

Lingq: http://www.lingq.com
Worldwide community of language learners. Basic Lingq is
available for free but offers a variety of upgrade options.

The LangMedia Collection : http://langmedia.fivecolleges.edu

MIT Library: http://libguides.mit.edu/flnewspapers

Lots of links to online newspapers and magazines in Chinese,
French, Russian, Spanish and more.

I Love languages: http://ilovelanguages.com

Comprehensive catalog of language-related Internet resources with
more 2400 updated links!

http://www.thepaperboy.com
List of 6049 Online Newspapers

National Capital Language Resource Center (NCLRC):

http://nclrc.org/teaching_materials.html

Live Mocha: http://www.livemocha.com

World’s largest online language learning community, offering free
and paid online language courses in 35 languages to more than 11
million members from 196 countries around the world.

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 2. Arabic
2.1 Books

Textbooks in the Program

Alif Baa: Introduction to Letters and Sounds, Third Edition

Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya with DVDs, Part One, Third
Edition
Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya with DVDs, Part Two,
Second Edition
Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya with DVD and MP3 CD, Part
Three
Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi
Georgetown University Press
http://press.georgetown.edu/book-list/al-kitaab

Alif Baa
Paperback (1 DVD-ROM)
Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds. Third Edition
ISBN: 9781589016323 (1589016327)

Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya

Paperback (1 DVD-ROM)
A Textbook for Beginning Arabic: Part One. Third Edition
ISBN: 9781589017368 (1589017366)

Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya

with 3 DVD-ROMs
A Textbook for Arabic: Part Two. Second Edition
ISBN: 9781589010963 (1589010965)

Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya

with 1 DVD video, 1 CD MP3
A Textbook for Arabic: Part Three
ISBN: 9781589011496 (158901149X)

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2.2 Audio

http://www.archive.org/details/TeachYourselfArabicConversation
Audio-based language series from Teach Yourself

2.3 Softwares and multimedia-systems

http://www.learn-arabic-language-software.com

http://www.byki.com/fls/free-arabic-software-
download.html?l=arabic

http://download.cnet.com/Arabic-School-Software-for-
beginners/3000-2279_4-10026248.html

http://arabicteacher.com

http://www.arabicsp.com

http://multilingualbooks.com/arabsoft.html:
Al-Mumtaaz: Introduction to Arabic (A Multi-Media Language
Acquisition Course)

http://www.aramedia.com/atutors.htm

2.4 E-learning

http://www.arabacademy.com

http://arabiccomplete.com (7000 audios + 80 podcasts)

http://arabic.speak7.com

http://www.madinaharabic.com

http://www.al-bab.com/arab/language/lang.htm

http://www.naturalarabic.com
A collection of topical news stories (updated weekly) from Arabic
newspapers, with parallel English translations and recordings by
native Arabic speakers. Users can click on any word to hear it read
aloud and see the translation highlighted or they can play the whole
recording to hear it read at natural speed.

http://www.dalilusa.com/arabic_course

http://i-cias.com/babel/arabic/index.htm

http://www.arabic2000.com/school

http://www.schoolarabia.net

http://hmaxos.com/Languages.htm

http://www.almedia.net

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 2.5 Websites

http://www.languagequest.com/home/search_result.php?lang=Ara
bic&media=All

http://www.mideastwire.com

http://www.arabfilm.com: Arab Film Distribution

2.6 Arabic language schools

Middlebury Arabic Schools: http://www.middlebury.edu/sa

Now runs academic year programs in Egypt (Alexandria) and Jordan
(Amman).

American Institute for Maghrib Studies:

http://caorc.org/centers/aims.htm
AIMS sponsors an intensive intermediate level Arabic language
program in Tangier, Morocco

In Egypt:

American University in Cairo (Arab Academy)

http://www.aucegypt.edu

Hedayet Institute for Arabic Studies
http://www.hedayetinstitute.com/English

University of Alexandria, Faculty of Arts (TAFL Centre)
http://www.alexu.edu.eg/?q=node/118&id=1

International Language Institute, International House, Cairo
http://www.arabicegypt.com

Kalimat Language & Cultural Centre, Cairo
http://www.kalimategypt.com

In Morocco:

AALIM (Arab-American Language Institute in Meknes):

http://www.aalimorocco.com

Al Akhawayn University - Arabic Language and Culture
Program in Ifrane:
http://www.aui.ma/old/VPAA/shss/aranas/shss-aranas-home.htm

ALIF: Arabic Language Institute in Fez
http://www.alif-fes.com

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In Jordan:

Language Center University of Jordan, in Amman

http://ujlc.ju.edu.jo

Yarmouk University - Language Centre - Arabic as a Foreign
Language (AFL) Program, in Irbid
http://www.yu.edu.jo

In Syria:

Arabesk Studies in Damascus

http://www.arabeskstudiesindamascus.com

University of Damascus - Arabic Studies Unit
http://www.damascusuniversity.edu.sy

In Tunisia:

Institut Bourguiba des Langues Vivantes, in Tunis

http://www.iblv.rnu.tn

In Yemen:

CALES - Center for Arabic Language & Eastern Studies, in

Sana’a
http://www.calesyemen.com

Sana'a Institute for Arabic Language (SIAL)
http://www.sialyemen.com

Yemen Language Center, in Sana’a
http://www.ycmes.org

In Lebanon:

American Lebanese Language Center, in Beirut

http://www.allcs.edu.lb

Center for Arab & Middle Eastern Studies – CAMES, in
Beirut
http://www.aub.edu.lb/fas/cames

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 3. Chinese
3.1 Books

Road To Success—A Series of Progressive Chinese Textbooks

for Foreigners
Published by Beijing Language and Culture University Press
Road To Success is a series of foreign language teaching materials
for non-native learners of Chinese. It not only can be applied to
classroom teaching of formal Chinese teaching institutions but also
can meet the demands of various forms of teaching and self-taught
learners.
Road To Success consists of 20 volumes, designed as a
progressively-graded series including Threshold, Lower Elementary,
Elementary, Upper Elementary, Lower Intermediate, Intermediate,
Lower Advanced and Advanced. The title of each series indicates the
teaching level. Each series is designed with corresponding level and
vocabulary so that learners can choose the right series that suits them.

New Practical Chinese Reader

Published by Beijing Language and Culture University Press
New Practical Chinese Reader is a new series of textbooks designed
for native English speakers to learn Chinese. It consists of 70 lessons
in six volumes, covering beginning to intermediate levels for three
years of instruction. It has been compiled under the guidance of the
new the HSK Guideline and in consultation with NOTCFL Syllabus.
The objective of this series is to develop the student’s ability to
communicate in Chinese through the study of language structure,
language function, and related cultural knowledge along with the
training of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

Essential Chinese Dictionary

Published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
Price: ￥45.oo
Essential Chinese Dictionary is a practical dictionary designed for
overseas Chinese learners. The objective of this dictionary is to make
Chinese learners master Chinese language quickly through learning
the most common Chinese characters.

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3.2 Audio

http:// chinesepod.com

http://melnyks.com

http://chineselearnonline.com

http://www.un.org/chinese/radio

http://hua.umf.maine.edu (Click Ting)

3.3 Softwares and multimedia-systems

http://wenlin.com

http://njstar.com

3.4 E-learning

http://www.chinesecom.eu

http://ninhao.com

http://activechinese.com

http://targetchinese.com

3.5 Websites

Chinese Central: http://www.chinese.cn

You can find almost anything and everything about Chinese culture
and language as well as tons of resources.

UNCLP: http://unclp.org
A good collection of resources for Chinese learning.

Steps of Chinese: www.stepsofchinese.com

Steps of Chinese is a non-profit professional Chinese language
learning website set up by the School of Chinese as a Second
Language at Sun Yat-sen University in China. It introduces Chinese
language and culture in a friendly and interesting way. Three steps
of lessons will take a complete beginner to elementary level and it is
free!

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These websites may help Francophones to learn Chinese:
http://parlezchinois.free.fr/index.htm
http://www.chine-nouvelle.com/methode/chinois
http://lechinois.com/coursnet/coursnettitre.html

Nciku: www.nciku.com
It is an online dictionary with abundant resources.

Chinese LPE preparation website

http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/sds/lcp/Chinese/clpe_prep.html

3.6 Chinese language schools

In New York:

China Institute: http://chinainstitute.org

New School University: http://newschool.edu

New York University Continuing Education:
http://www.scps.nyu.edu

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 4. English
4.1 Books

Well Said (with audio CD)

Author: Linda Grant / Publisher: Heinle & Heinle Pub
Level: High Intermediate - Advanced

Accurate English: A Complete Course in Pronunciation (with

Audio CD)
Author: Rebecca M. Dauer / Publisher: Prentice Hall

World English series (with DVD and audio CD)

Authors: Martin Milner, Kristin Johannsen, Rebbeca Tarver Chase
Publisher: Cengage Learning / Heinle & Heinle Publishers

4.2 Softwares and multimedia-systems

BBC Learning English

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish

LearnEnglish: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/about-us
LearnEnglish is the British Council’s website for learners of English. It
includes interactive features such as user comments, discussion forums,
content rating and polls, as well as media-rich materials including
podcasts, flash games and video.

4.3 E-learning

http://www.longmanenglishinteractive.com/home.html
This completely online programme provides pre-course assessment and
learning in four skill areas (listening, reading, grammar, and vocabulary).
It is well suited for staff at the beginner and low-intermediate level.

http://www.globalenglish.com
This product is currently used by UNICEF. Although expensive per
person, it is focused on business and professional language rather than
general/academic English. An online tutor is available for telephone chat
most of the time if this option is selected by the user.

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4.5 Websites

http://www.eslgo.com/classes.html
This is a free online course of up to 30 hours for intermediate users.

http://www.syntaxis.com/index.php/grammar_quiz
This fun website tests your grammar and explains your errors in a clear
and concise way.

English LPE preparation website

http://www.un.org/depts/OHRM/sds/lcp/English/elpe_resources.html

4.6 English language schools

British Council: http://www.britishcouncil.org

Worlwide non-profit organization: 70 British Council Teaching Centres
in 53 countries with more than 300,000 learners

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 5. French
5.1 Books

Exercices de Grammaire niveau A1, Collection « Je pratique »

Author: Christian Beaulieu / Publisher: Didier FLE / ISBN:
9782278058198
This book focuses on grammatical issues with corrections at beginner
level.

Exercices de Grammaire niveau A2, Collection « Je pratique »

Author: Christian Beaulieu / Publisher: Didier FLE / ISBN:
9782270058204
This book focuses on grammatical issues with corrections at intermediate
level.

Exercices de Grammaire niveau B1, Collection « Je pratique »

Author: Christian Beaulieu / Publisher: Didier FLE / ISBN:
9782278058211
This book focuses on grammatical issues with corrections at advanced
level.

5.2 Audio

LillePodcast French courses for foreigners:

http://houzekat.blogspot.com
This podcast is designed for all French people, non-francophones, who
want to improve their level of French. The language used is simple and
phrases explained in detail so that they are understood by all. Category:
advanced Learners

Le journal en français facile:

http://www.rfi.fr/lffr/statiques/accueil_apprendre.asp
Radio France International offers news in simple French, with news in
simple words and explaining the events in context with pod-casting.

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Le français interactif:
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/html/toc/01.html
Interactive French courses offered by the University of Austin, Texas.
Sequences from 30 to 60 seconds. No activity on the site from April
2006.

RFI listening exercises:

http://www.rfi.fr/lffr/pages/001/accueil_exercice_ecoute.asp
Progressive courses of listening spoken French. A shortstory about
cultural events form the starting point of a set of audiotracks
from tracking to understand the meaning.

5.3 Softwares and multimedia-systems

CNED: http://www.cned.fr/vie-active/formation-
professionnelle/fle.aspx
Offers different preparations for French tests (préparation au Dilf,
cédérom Dilf, préparation au Delf et au Dalf).

5.4 E-learning

TV5 apprendre le français / première classe:

http://www.apprendre.tv
Start learning French with on-line TV5 MONDE!

5.5 Websites

Le Point du FLE: http://www.lepointdufle.net

Large collection of links to Web sites/pages which deal with French
grammar, verb conjugation, vocabulary, activities, culture, etc.

TV5 – Apprendre.tv:
http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais

Bonjour de France : http://www.bonjourdefrance.com

Online exercises and news about the Francophonie world

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Guide Presse : http://www.press-directory.com
Liste of all available on-line newspapers in French

French LPE preparation website

http://www.un.org/depts/OHRM/sds/lcp/French/eal.html

For those interested in languages and crime stories (!):

http://www.missioneurope.eu/
http://www.polarfle.com/

5.6 French language schools

Alliance Française: http://www.fondation-alliancefr.org

Worlwide non-profit organization: 1 016 Alliances françaises in 135
countries with more than 490 000 learners.

http://www.qualitefle.fr
Directory lists of 81 language centres in France that have been
awarded the "Qualité français langue étrangère” (French as a
Foreign Language Quality) label issued by French government.

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 6. Russian
6.1 Books

GOLOSA. Basic Course in Russian. Book 1. 4th Edition.

Textbook.
R.Robin, K.Evans-Romaine, G.Shatalina, J.Robin. ISBN: 0-13-
198628-7. Published by Prentice Hall Inc./Pearson Education Comp.
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 07458. phone: (800)526-0485;
www.prenhall.com

GOLOSA. Basis Course in Russian. Book 1. 4th Edition.

Student Activities Manual.
(same authors; same publishers). ISBN: 0-13-198629-5.

GOLOSA. Basic Course in Russian. Book 2. 4th Edition.

Textbook
(same authors; same publishers). ISBN: 0-13-612737-1.

GOLOSA. Basic Course in Russian. Book 1. Fourth Edition.

Student Activities Manual.
(same authors; same publishers ). ISBN: 0-13-513494-3.

V PUTI: Russian Grammar in Context.

O.Kagan, F.Miller. ISBN: 0130282804. Published by Prentice Hall
Inc./Pearson Education Comp. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey,
07458. phone: (800)526-0485; www.prenhall.com

V PUTI: Student Activities Manual.

(same authors; same publishers). ISBN: 0131917609

6.2 Audio

www.gwu.edu/~slavic/golosa/audio/audio
(mp3 files; progressive download)

www.un.org/russian/radio

www.un.org/russian/news

www.russianlearnonline.com

Audio CDs to accompany V PUTI: Textbook and Student
Activities Manual. ISBN: 013187991-X

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6.3 Softwares and multi-systems

www.learn-russian-language-software.com

6.4 E-learning

www.russiancomplete.com

www.busuu.com/ru

www.russianlearningonline.com

www.russiancom.eu

www.un.russianlessons.net

6.5 Websites

www.gramota.ru

www.ng.ru

www.multitran.ru

www.un.org/ru

www.lib.ru

www.1tv.ru

www.RT.com

www.RTVi

www.russianny.com

www.bbc.co.uk/russian

www.kremlin.ru

www.russefacile.fr (for French speaking students)

www.multitran.ru

6.7 Russian language schools

Russian language schools in Russia, Europe and Asia:

www.languagesabroad.com

www.lidenz.ru

www.ruslanguage.ru

www.studyrussian.com

www.studyglobal.net

www.russian.language.ru

www.mgu-russian.com

www.ruslan.co.uk/courses.htm#inrussia

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 7. Spanish

7.1 Books

Textbooks

Aula Internacional 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Difusión):

http://aula.difusion.com/?pg=inicio#

Bitácora 1 and 2 (Difusión):

http://www.difusion.com/ele/coleccion/metodos/adultos/bitacora/gen
eral/

En acción 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Enclave-ELE):

http://www.enclave-ele.es/web/serie/56

Etapas 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Edinumen):

http://www.edinumen.es/etapas

Protagonistas A1, A2, B1 and B2 (SM):

http://www.sm-ele.com/ver_libro.aspx?id=35585

Socios 1 and 2 (Difusión):

http://www.difusion.com/ele/coleccion/metodos/profesional/socios-
nueva-edicion/general

Sueña 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Anaya):

http://www.anayaele.es/es/html/index.html?menu=menu_metodos

Grammars

Gramática Básica del estudiante de español (Difusión):

http://www.difusion.com/ele/coleccion/gramatica/0/gramatica-basica-
del-estudiante-de-espanol/general

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7.2 Audio

Fonética. Nivel elemental A2, medio B1 and avanzado B2

(Anaya)
http://www.anayaele.es/ele_en/menu/index3.html

Práctica. Comprensión oral 1 and 2 (Enclave-ELE):

http://enclave-
ele.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=225&It
emid=225

Todo oídos (Difusión):

http://www.difusion.com/ele/coleccion/complementos/0/clase-
de/referencia/todo-oidos

RTVE.es
http://www.rtve.es/podcast

7.3 Softwares and multi-systems

See more information on the website below:

http://spanish.about.com/u/reviews/review1/reviews-of-spanish-
software

7.4 E-learning

Aula Virtual de Español (AVE): http://ave.cervantes.es

Hola, ¿qué tal?: http://www.holaquetal.com

SpanishVC:
http://spanishvc.com/aboutus.html

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7.5 Websites

AVETECA:
http://cvc.cervantes.es/ensenanza/actividades_ave/default.htm

Lecturas paso a paso:

http://cvc.cervantes.es/aula/lecturas/default.htm

Pasatiempos de Rayuela:
http://cvc.cervantes.es/aula/pasatiempos/pasatiempos2

BBC Languages-Spanish:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish

Practica español: http://www.practicaespanol.com

Preparación al LPE en español : http://unslp.org/LPE

7.6 Spanish language schools

Centros del Instituto Cervantes en el mundo:

http://www.cervantes.es/sobre_instituto_cervantes/direcciones_co
ntacto/sedes_mundo.htm
Spanish Public institution that promotes the teaching of Spanish and
spreads the culture of the Hispanic countries all over the world
(more than 75 centers in more than 40 countries).

Red de centros acreditados y asociados al Instituto Cervantes:

http://centrosacreditados.cervantes.es/Inicio.htm
Directory list of more than 140 language centres all over the world
that are expressly recognized as quality institutions by the Instituto
Cervantes.

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