My Favorite Language Learning Resources

No sponsored picks. No affiliate roundups I'll never update. Just the books, apps, and tools I reach for every week — and why I keep reaching for them.

By George Dick · Maintaining Greek, Spanish, French, Italian, and Catalan

I've tried a lot of stuff over 15+ years of language learning. This is what actually stuck. Resources here are things I own, use regularly, and would buy again without hesitation.

📚 Textbooks & Courses

The structured foundation of every language I've studied. These give me a curriculum when I start something new.

Pes to Ellinika (A1–A2)
Arvanitis Kleantis & Rosso · Deltos · 384 pages · Greek
Modern Greek textbook with dialogues, vocabulary, grammar exercises, and audio material. Covers the full A1–A2 curriculum.
Why I use it: It's what I work through with my Greek tutor every week. Structured enough to feel progress, practical enough to use real conversations.
→ See on Amazon
Greek
Assimil with Ease — French (or your target language
Assimil · Various publishers · Available in most languages
The gold standard for comprehensible input through natural dialogue. I used French with Ease for years.
Why I use it: The "less stress, more results" approach. Passive listening builds accent and intuition faster than any drill-based method I've tried.
→ Find on Amazon
All Languages
Glossika
Glossika Languages
Massive sentence audio library with spaced repetition and AI-generated recordings. Great for building fluency through pattern exposure.
Why I use it: The Glenn model — heavy repetition, natural sentences, no flashcards. I used it for Greek and Spanish building.
→ glossika.com
All Languages

🎧 Audio & Listening

Podcasts, radio, and native content that keeps my ears sharp between study sessions.

Coffee Break Languages
Radio Lingua / Globe Languages
Short, structured audio lessons (~15-20 min) in Spanish, French, German, and 10+ languages. Perfect for commutes.
Why I use it: I listen at 1.5× speed on walks. Structured curriculum keeps it from being random. Works for maintenance as much as new learning.
→ radiolingua.com
All Languages
Pocketalk Translator Device
Pocketalk
Real-time voice translator. Holds its own in conversations without needing a phone or internet connection.
Why I use it: At Greek family events with no wifi, this saves me. Not a learning tool, but a communication bridge that keeps me practicing in real situations.
→ See on Amazon
All Languages

📱 Apps & Tools

The apps I actually open every day — not the ones I downloaded and forgot.

Anki
Spaced repetition flashcard app · Free (desktop), $25 iOS
Open-source SRS flashcard app. Custom decks for vocab, verb conjugations, and any pattern I need to internalize.
Why I use it: For vocab drilling between lessons. The Greek verb conjugation deck gets daily use. Zero learning app replaces this for me.
→ ankiweb.net
All Languages
Speechling
Speechling Foundation
Native speaker recordings + shadowing platform. Submit your own audio for native feedback. Free to use, $5/month for feedback.
Why I use it: Accent training with real voices, not AI. I used the free tier heavily for Greek. Worth paying for the feedback once you're past beginner.
→ speechling.com
All Languages

💡 Tutors & Human Practice

Nothing replaces a real conversation. These are where I find practice partners and structured tutoring.

iTalki
iTalki Technologies Ltd.
Marketplace of freelance tutors and language exchange partners. I use it for Greek and Italian conversation practice.
Why I use it: My Greek tutor Maria has been weekly for 18 months. iTalki makes it trivial to find, book, and manage. Book a trial lesson before committing.
→ italki.com
All Languages

Some links are Amazon Associate links — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Resources I don't personally use or own are marked as such. This page reflects my genuine opinions.