There is nothing like attending a class, taking a trip to another country, or buying professional software to help you learn a language. But sometimes you have to settle for what is cheap or free.

Here are some free resources I’ve been using lately.

• Livemocha: Practice Spanish (and other languages) with real people from around the world. They grade your Spanish, and you grade their English. It’s a lot of fun. Here is my profile.
• Coffee Break Spanish: This is a free podcast that covers the basic of the language. Each lesson is about 15 minutes long. The hosts are professional and fun. Download to your computer, or put it on your iPhone or iPod touch.
• Google Translate: Use this to quickly check your usage, learn new words and phrases, etc. Note: Sometimes it may not understand your usage correctly, and therefore can give a poor translation. But usually it is square on, and often lists alternate ways to translate the expression. There is a button that allows you to quickly reverse translating English-to-Spanish or vice versa.
• Free classes may be available in your area. I was happy when a free class was recently launched at my workplace. It is great to be in a classroom setting where your questions can be answered, and you can hear other people practicing. Check schools, classifieds, Google, grocery store bulletin boards, etc., to see what may be available.