The Best Language Learning Resources: A 30 Year Journey

Over the past three decades, I’ve explored countless language learning resources to build my multilingual journey. 

From deconstructing German cases to comprehending the complexity of Chinese characters, these tools have not only helped me master new languages but have also brought cultural insights and unforgettable memories.

These are the most impactful resources I’ve used to learn various languages since 1996. 

Each one tells a unique story and offers valuable lessons for anyone passionate about learning languages.

1. German and Spanish: The Early Days with De Agostini (Language Learning Resources)

I began my German adventure in 1996, followed by Spanish in 1998, using a resource called De Agostini (which is one of the best resources that I have ever used but unfortunately out of print as of now). This course stood out for its comprehensive structure.

For German, it included dialogues, vocabulary sections, and grammar exercises, while the Spanish advanced course went a step further with movie scripts, colloquial expressions, and even bilingual literature. It was basically the go-to resource for me before ASSIMIL hit it big on the European market. 

Lesson Learned:

Structured courses with a variety of content—from dialogues to cultural insights—can make language learning engaging and practical.

2. Dutch and Swedish: Love and Scandinavian Dreams (Language Learning Resources)

My Dutch journey began in 1999, driven by a summer romance with a girl from Sardinia. Fortunately, there was a bookstore in Rome which featured books about learning foreign languages.  It was there that I discovered quite a helpful language learning resource. 

Teach Yourself Dutch was perfect for my needs and I appreciated its simple yet immersive dialogues and audio. However, when I started using ASSIMIL Dutch alternating between Dutch and Flemish pronunciations in some resources made the learning experience confusing.

With Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish making a home for themselves it was time for yet another wonderful language to enter my life. 

With Swedish, I started in 2002, inspired by my love for Scandinavian culture. I relied on Teach Yourself Swedish and ASSIMIL’s Le Suédois Sans Peine. ASSIMIL  stood out for its pronunciation and intonation guidance, with stressed syllables clearly marked, making it easier to understand intonation. This was my first taste of ASSIMIL’s glory and it has stuck with me ever since. 

Lesson Learned:

Choose resources that align with your level and prioritize clear, consistent pronunciation to avoid confusion.

3. Russian: The Restart That Changed Everything (Language Learning Resources)

I started learning Russian in 2004 but faced initial discouragement due to its complexity. It wasn’t until 2008, after sharing my journey on YouTube, that the enthusiasm of my audience reignited my passion. Using Assimil’s Il Nuovo Russo Senza Sforzo, I embraced its bilingual dialogues, grammar explanations, and cultural insights to build a strong foundation.

Note to anyone out there wanting to break down Russian’s grammar — don’t! Initially, I went through page after page of the thickest grammar book you could possibly imagine and it was a nightmare. Find content you love and look up the grammar only when needed. 

Lesson Learned:

Community support and enthusiasm can be a powerful motivator to overcome challenges in language learning.

4. Portuguese and Chinese: Dual-Language Experiments (Language Learning Resources)

In 2010, I learned Portuguese from Portugal using (surprise, surprise) Assimil’s Portuguese with Ease, (here is a link to Brazilian Portuguese - French Version) which I found to be an excellent resource. Many Brazilians questioned my choice of European Portuguese, but I loved its unique pronunciation and rhythm. It’s the language I managed picking up the quickest, but that was thanks to my in-depth knowledge of Italian, French and Spanish by that point. 

Chinese, on the other hand, presented a completely different challenge. Assimil’s Chinese with Ease introduced me to tones, characters, and grammar. While the content was great, it felt limited compared to European language resources. In fact, because it introduced so many brand new concepts, one book wasn’t enough.  

Therefore, I leaned heavily on Steve Kaufmann’s wonderful LingQ App , downloaded all the audio files and transcripts and started reading and listening to the podcasts like a maniac.

I had a blast!

Lesson Learned:

Tailor your learning to your interests and cultural preferences. Even a challenging language like Chinese becomes manageable with the right tools and mindset.

5. Japanese and Romanian: A Tale of Motivation (Language Learning Resources)

Learning Japanese alongside Romanian turned out to be one of my most ambitious—and humbling—language learning experiences. I started with ASSIMIL Japanese (Affiliatee Link). This language, with its subject-object-verb structure and complex grammar, proved incredibly demanding.

Even though I used plenty of language learning resources, I simply couldn’t get a grasp on the language. My motivation was not in the right place and I let go of Japanese within a year of starting it.With Romanian, it’s the same story with a different twist.

Being that it was another Romance language, I went to my trusty pal ASSIMIL Romanian (here is the French Version Le Roumain Sans Peine) but I had lacked the cultural infatuation with Romanian much like I did with Japanese.  It was a much easier language to pick up, but I didn’t have any connections to it, so I called it quits within a couple of months. 

Lesson Learned:

Your “why” for learning a language is crucial. Without clear motivation, even the best resources won’t be enough to sustain progress.

6. Polish and Greek: Immersion and Personalization (Language Learning Resources)

Polish became a part of my life in 2012 after a trip to Poznań, where I connected with the culture and people, as well as with my friend and hyperpolyglot Richard, who was actively learning the language at that time. 

Using Assimil’s Polish with Ease (here is a link to Le Polonais Sans Peine, French Version (Affiliate Link)), I marked up the book with notes, personalized translations, and intonation patterns—a method I found incredibly effective for mastering the language.

Today, it’s one of my favorite languages and I’m so glad I get to spend my summers in Poland. 

Similarly, Greek became a passion project in September 2017, with resources like Il Greco Senza Sforzo (Affiliate Link)  helping me dive into its intonation and grammar. Writing notes and engaging multiple senses in the learning process made the language come alive. Unlike the aforementioned Japanese and Romanian, both of these languages gave me a resounding and emphatic sensation of pure bliss when I was learning them. 

Lesson Learned:

Personalizing your resources and actively engaging with the material boosts retention and understanding.

7. Danish and Hungarian: Challenges in Pronunciation and Consistency (Language Learning Resources)

I started learning Danish in 2014 because of a Danish girl I had met in Paris in 2013. 

Danish, with its tricky pronunciation, reminded me of English’s challenges in matching written and spoken forms. But it came after I had learned Swedish, so I didn’t feel as compelled at the time to learn such a similar language. I used Le Danois Sans Peine (Affiliate Link) and then Pod101 Danish.

As for Hungarian, a trip to Budapest in 2017 and then a few more the following years were the spark to start learning this amazing, unique language. 

Hungarian, being so “alien” to any language I had ever learned before, demanded consistent effort. Using Assimil’s Hungarian with Ease (Affiliate Link), I appreciated its focus on structure and grammar, even if some content felt dated. And to this day, I’m still improving on my Hungarian, because you can imagine the limited amount of language learning resources there were back then compared to now! 

Lesson Learned:

Languages with complex pronunciation require extra attention to spoken input. Immersion and consistent practice are key to overcoming these hurdles.

8. Turkish: Challenges in Syntax, the GoldiLocks Zone and When Life Gets inthe Way

I started learning Turkish in January 2024 because, well, Turkey fascinates me to no end. I haven't ever traveled to Turkey, but I plan to within the coming year! 

Even with all of my enthusiasm, I recognize that Turkish is quite the tricky language, with a complex syntax (similar to that of Japanese, no wonder Turks learn Japanese easily and vice versa). 

As always, I started using ASSIMIL Turkish (French Version), carefully applying my Bidirectional Transaltion Method but making sure to first learn how to get used to the SOV structure with short sentences first. 

Once I was done with 3 intense months of the Bidirectional Translation Method, I moved on to Easy Turkish Podcasts, but they were still rather challenging so I had to take a step back.

In the process of finding more suitable material, I stumbled upon Teacher Ali Yılmaz on YouTube, and devoured his content to get my Turkish comprehension up to par. Shortly afterwards, I got a subscription to the Easy Turkish channel so I could download all of the scripts to their lovely podcasts.

In addition to that, I focused heavily on their Super Easy Videos, which were more accessible given my A2 level.

Lesson Learned:

Pay attention to the language material that you use and make sure that it is only slightly challenging. This is the so-called Goldilocks Rule and it is one of the fundamental principles of language learning. 

IN THE END

Over 30 years, I’ve discovered that no single language learning resource is perfect, but every tool adds value to your journey. Whether it’s structured courses like Assimil and Teach Yourself or personalizing your learning materials, the key is to stay curious, motivated, and adaptable.

Every language tells a story, not just through its words but through the people, cultures, and experiences it connects you with. 

So, what’s your next language, and how will you make it your own?

Happy language learning!

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