Free & Discounted Language Learning for the Military
The majority of the world’s population speaks at least two languages. Do you fall in the majority?
Language Training for the Military: Free and Discounted
Whether you are a Special Forces soldier working toward a higher score on the OPI or a spouse prepping for an OCONUS move, there is a bounty of language resources at your fingertips.
There are many advantages to building language skills:
- For active duty – increase your Foreign Language Pay and bolster your OER/NCOER
- For job seekers – bilingual employees are in high demand and may earn higher pay
- For travelers – knowing the local language makes travel easier and far more enjoyable
- For everyone – foreign language skills lead to cultural opportunities and can create a sense of accomplishment and a new perspective
Discount and Free Language Learning Apps, Programs
Whatever your reason for learning a foreign language, multiple resources are available to military families and Veterans.
DuoLingo Military Discount
Free
Learn over 30 languages at your own pace using the DuoLingo language learning app. It’s free to anyone and easy to use. While the app is great for learning conversation, it doesn’t focus on teaching grammar rules. Please go here to get started.
Does DuoLingo offer a military or veteran discount?
While there is a free app version for everyone, DuoLingo does not offer a military discount for their paid upgraded version, called “Super.” You will receive a 14-day free trial, after which you will be charged an annual fee of $83.99 for their standard plan ($6.99/month), or $119.99 for their family plan ($9.99/month).
Mango Languages Military Discount
Free – to almost anyone connected to the US military.
Mango Languages does an excellent job of teaching grammar and culture points. It is similar to DuoLingo, in that it is an easy-to-use app. It is free through thousands of organizations, including MWR Libraries, making it free to nearly anyone connected to the U.S. Military.
Among the most popular languages – French, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Levantine Arabic, German, Russian, and Mandarin Chinese – completing 5 units of Mango learning content takes learners to a B1 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level.
Is Mango Languages free for the military? Do they offer a discount to military or veterans?
For active military – it depends. You will need to check to see if your branch offers it free. For info to see if your branch offers free access to Mango Languages, please go here. Mango Languages does not currently offer a veteran discount.
However, there is a free 2-week trial available to everyone. If you do not cancel within 14 days, you will be charged. You can purchase monthly or annually for a single language or all languages. Pricing is comparable to DuoLingo at $7.99 monthly, or an average of $6.67 / month if you pay annually.
For the Mango Languages official site, please go here.
Rosetta Stone
No discount
Rosetta Stone is one of the oldest computer-based language learning tools offering approximately 25 foreign languages. Rosetta Stone previously offered 10% discount to active and retired military, as well as students who are verified with UNiDays. In fact, their support website still indicates that they do in fact have a military discount, however the link is broken.
Does Rosetta Stone offer a military or veteran discount?
No, Rosetta Stone does NOT offer a military discount at this time. Their support website still indicates that they do, but the link provided does not work. Please check back here for updates.
Their pricing is higher at $15.99 per month for a 3-month plan for a single language. However, they do offer a one-time fee of $399 for a lifetime subscription that includes all of their languages. They also offer a 30-day money back guarantee if you want to test it out first.
Joint Language University
Free
Free to anyone with a .mil or .gov email address, the Joint Language University (JLU) is a language portal for U.S. Government employees and armed forces members who require language skills.
Once registered , all materials are free and available to federal and DoD employees.
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- Large catalog of over 10,000 items
- Includes language training, assessment objects and training for geographic areas and culture
- Easy accessibility to all resources
- You can maintain your user training history, as well as track your progress and course completion
- You will be provided with formal certificates of completion
Coffee Break Languages
Free
This podcast helps listeners learn a new language through lessons that build vocabulary and useful phrases gradually. In addition to podcast lessons in several languages, Coffee Break Languages offers supplemental materials, language courses, and reading materials. Highly recommended by this language learner!
For more info, please go here.
Babbel Military Discount
Discounted 60% off
Verified military and veterans can receive 60% off on Babbel. This comes out to $36 for a 6-month subscription. Please note that they only offer approximately a dozen languages for study.
Does Babbel offer a military or veteran discount?
Yes, the discounted Babbel rate is available to active military, veterans, National Guard, the Reserve, and their immediate family members. The current military discount rate is $36 for 6 months, a 60% savings off their regular price.
For more info, please go here.
Pimsleur Military Discount
No military discount
Does Pimsleur offer a military or veteran discount?
No, Pimsleur does not offer a military discount at this time. However, they do offer a free lesson and a 7-day free trial.
Talk To Me In Korean
This is a monolingual language learning program. This gives a more specific focus on one language and is provided by native speakers. For more info, please go here.
Does Talk to Me In Korean offer a military discount?
No, Talk to Me In Korean does not offer a military discount at this time?
italki
italki provides customized lessons in a 1-on-1 format. Teachers are certified and you can explore options for costs and scheduling fits. They offer more than 150+ languages.
Does italki offer a military discount?
italki does not currently offer a military discount.
Career Opportunities for Those Who Are Bilingual
Learning a second language can open doors to new career opportunities. Three such opportunities are Interpreters, Translators, and Teachers.
Interpreters and Translators
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, interpreter and translator jobs are rising faster than average. Make over $50,000 annually with a bachelor’s degree in these roles. Interpreters and translators can work for large translation services, individual organizations, or private clients in many settings:
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- Schools
- Hospitals
- Courtrooms
- Conference centers
- Remotely
Interpreters convert information from one language to another. Translators convert one language to another in written form. The goal of both is accurate communication. Both roles require fluency in two languages – one of which is often English.
Search Veteran and Military-friendly schools with degree programs in Cultural and Language Studies or International/Global Studies using the College Recon search tool.
Save big today with discounts for military & veterans!
Foreign Language Teacher
Foreign language teachers can teach at K-12 private or public schools with as little as a bachelor’s degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school foreign language teachers earn approximately $60,000 per year.
Foreign language teachers at the college-level generally require a master’s degree and typically earn higher salaries than those teaching in other education settings. All levels of foreign language teaching require fluency in a foreign language and related cultural knowledge. Fluency in more than one language may also afford the opportunity to teach English as a foreign language in another country.
Search Veteran and Military-friendly schools with degree programs in Language Teacher education using the College Recon search tool.
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About the author
Lori Waddell serves as Co-director of an emergency response COAD in Montana, a freelance writer, and an Air Force Key Spouse. She is passionate about empowering communities and individuals through knowledge and resources. She currently lives in Montana with her husband and two children.