How much do you spend on language learning?

[DaveBee]

I was just watching an old Steve Kaufmann video where he spoke about the various toys he uses for language learning (iPad, various iPods, books, audiobooks etc)

For french I've bought a copy of Assimil's New French with ease, a kindle dictionary (had an old kindle already), an iPod shuffle, ear phones, perhaps half a dozen french books and a comedy DVD. (I mostly use free classic ebooks ).

[Finny]

For Spanish, I spent almost exactly zero dollars, as I could watch as many telenovelas as I wanted through my laptop, hear radio whenever I wanted through the radio (or my laptop), and check out book after book through the library. I did buy a number of kids' books in Spanish so I'd always have things to read to the kids without being dependent on the library, but for personal learning, it was effectively free.

For French, television and radio continue to be free thanks to my laptop, but I have bought myself about 10 books so far (all aimed at elementary- to middle-school-aged kids) and I've bought close to 30 for the kids. This is the difference a library makes. I'm probably going to buy myself another dozen books next year, and all will probably continue to be from the young adult section. I might also get a paper dictionary.

Regarding books, I almost always buy used, but when there isn't a price difference between new and used, I'll buy new. This is usually the case when buying from Amazon France due to shipping costs being more expensive for used books than for new ones.

[Marais]

My main resources are free. I use the internet, which we would have whether i learned a language or not, and i also buy the odd book in French, but not 'language learning' material. Even though they are to learn French, i buy stuff i'm interested in reading too.

I also bought a French dictionary in paper format but my wife already had a few resources from her A Level days.

So, how much do i actively spend on language learning? Nothing. Not since i binned LingQ after a 3 month trial and went back to Learning With Texts.

I have never bought a course or anything like that, or attended any lessons, so i guess the total is under £100 if you include the McGraw Hill grammar and verb books i bought and the dictionaries/books i got.

My way of learning is to find native content and listen/read though.

[smallwhite]

Shall we also mention in our answers how long we've been learning for, to put our answers in context?

[LadyGrey1986]

Too much according to my husband

[sillygoose1]

$0

I download/torrent everything I need.

[LadyGrey1986]

Are some languages more expansive to learn than others? For example, I found Spanish tutors to be cheaper on Italki than Farsi Tutors. I guess there are more free resources available for the popular languages. Is this something you take into account when choosing your next language?

[tarvos]

Not really. I'll learn whatever I want. If tutors aren't so cheap I'll find a way around that.

How much do I spend? Not so much, most of my use is real-life language use.

[Xenops]

I think Assimil's French with Ease is the most I've spent on a course; I generally buy things used. The Internet also has an abundance of free resources.

Edit: I do have an ongoing membership with Audible, and this allows me access to Pimsleur for way cheaper than retail value.

[aokoye]

Does spending a year (well nine months) abroad count? It probably should in which case my answer is - a lot.