Free & Discounted Language Learning for the Military
Free and Discounted Language Training for the Military
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 – bolster your off-duty education for performance evaluations
- 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
Whatever your reason for learning a foreign language, multiple resources are available to military families and veterans.
Berlitz
Berlitz offers language training for veterans at the same cost as for active-duty personnel. All rates are GSA-approved, meaning the fees conform to regulations established by the federal government. Berlitz has more than 500 language centers around the globe. Learn more at the official site.
Mango Languages Military Discount
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.
For the Mango Languages official site, please go here.
Joint Language University
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.
- 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
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.
For more info, please go here.
Babbel Military Discount
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. For more info, please go here. Verify with ID.me.
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:
- 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.
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 allow teaching 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.
