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This list is for anyone learning a language on their own: English learners who want to speak with confidence or pass IELTS, and English speakers starting Spanish, French, German, Chinese or Japanese. Our language learning category lists 493 courses. These ten are the ones we would pick for each language and each goal. They have nearly 284,000 student reviews between them and are rated 4.4 to 4.8; seven were updated in 2025 or 2026, and the three older ones are flagged below.
Every rating, review count, length and last-update date on this page comes from our catalogue and is refreshed with it. The pros and cons are written by CourseDuck’s editors from the course syllabus and a sample of the written student reviews, and checked against both; no course pays to be on this list. Udemy prices move with its sales, so treat the price on each card as the current one, not a fixed one. A video course builds vocabulary, grammar and listening; for real fluency, pair it with conversation practice. The IELTS, JLPT and Goethe exams are run by their own bodies and have their own fees.
How to pick
- You speak some English and want to speak it better: English Grammar Launch, then Building Your English Brain.
- You want a broad English grammar course, topic by topic: The English Master Course.
- You are taking IELTS: IELTS Band 7+ Complete Prep Course.
- You are starting Spanish: Spanish for Beginners for a quick, spoken start, or Complete Spanish Course for the long road.
- You are starting French or German: 3 Minute French, or Best Way to Learn German Language.
- You are starting Mandarin or Japanese: Chinese language for beginners (HSK1 to HSK3), or Online Japanese N5 Course once you can read and write hiragana and katakana.
English and IELTS
1. English Grammar Launch: Upgrade your speaking and listening
Anthony Kelleher, an English teacher from London, teaches grammar for speaking: most topics get four short lectures with listening and speaking practice, MP3 downloads and PDF transcripts, in about 9 hours over 92 lectures. It has about 46,700 reviews at 4.7 and was updated in November 2025. Reviewers praise the clear explanations and everyday example sentences. It is aimed at pre-intermediate to intermediate learners, the topics are a hand-picked mix rather than a full grammar syllabus, and there are no quizzes to check your progress.
Pros
- Each structure gets four short lectures, so lessons stay focused and easy to fit in
- Listening and speaking practice for every structure, with MP3 downloads and PDF transcripts
- Reviewers praise clear explanations and everyday example sentences at a followable pace
- Strong ratings: about 58% of 46,657 ratings are five stars and 33% are four
Cons
- No quizzes, assignments or practice tests, so there is no built-in way to check progress
- Topics are a hand-picked mix, not a full A to Z grammar syllabus, and some repeat (Such, So and such)
- One reviewer reported breaks in the videos, and another found the start difficult
What students say
Anonymized UserThis course was such an amazing journey for me to enhance my English-speaking skills. I'll be rating this course a big5 star.
Daniela Tapia MartínezConsidero que pone ejemplos de la vida diaria y es muy objetivo en lo que está explicando, de una manera muy clara y entendible
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
2. The English Master Course: English Grammar, English Speaking
Scott Mendoza’s course is the long, grammar-first route: one rule per section, each with four lectures, a dialogue and a PDF worksheet, in about 82.7 hours over 726 lectures with 61 quizzes. It has about 37,500 reviews at 4.6 and more than 226,000 students, and was updated in August 2026. Beginners and non-native speakers say the slow, plain speech is easy to follow word for word. It is mostly grammar despite the speaking and accent claims, and you need to be able to read basic English first.
Pros
- Every grammar point gets its own section with four lectures, a dialogue, and a PDF worksheet
- Slow, plain speech that beginners and non-native speakers say they can follow word for word
- Updated August 2026, with 61 quizzes and two practice tests on top of 726 lectures
- 4.6 rating from more than 37,000 reviews, about nine in ten at four or five stars
Cons
- Tests are bunched at the end and one reviewer found the answer pattern easy to guess
- Mostly grammar despite the speaking and accent claims; one reviewer found no spoken practice
- A woman’s voice in some lessons grates on one reviewer, and an iPad user could not find the handouts
What students say
SHIPRA DEEPAKwonderful course,well explained and covers the minute details with superb examples,would recommend everyone to take up this course.will surely get benifited.
Bill Richard TabaresSuch a very interesting and understandable lecture. I find it great and awesome. Very good recommendation. Thanks.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
3. Building Your English Brain
Luke Priddy, founder of Cloud English, teaches a method rather than a syllabus: how to think in English instead of translating in your head, with drills and a daily routine, in about 3.1 hours over 15 lectures. It has about 37,600 reviews at 4.6. One reviewer says the drills switched their brain into English mode. It needs a working grasp of spoken English, there are no quizzes or assignments, and it was last updated in July 2024.
Pros
- Clear delivery on a blackboard, one idea per lesson; reviewers say the voice is easy to understand
- Concrete drills like four-word practice and variation that one reviewer credits with switching the brain into English mode
- A section on building a daily English routine that one reviewer singles out as her favourite part
- 27 caption tracks and a 4.6 rating from over 37,000 reviews
Cons
- Only about 3 hours and 15 lectures, with no quizzes, articles or assignments
- Needs a working grasp of spoken English; the instructor says very low-level students may struggle
- Last updated in July 2024, so the content has not changed in a couple of years
What students say
Rahul SoniI am able to connect with the instructor, like what he actually wants to convey is very clear till now. I am really very excited, how the course will move forward from here!!
Tauheed AhmaadThe content and the way how this guy described things to swim into and immerse your self was awesome. Definitely I will go for his next course.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
4. IELTS Band 7+ Complete Prep Course
Keino Campbell’s course is the most-reviewed language course in our catalogue: about 49,200 reviews at 4.5 and more than 268,000 students. It covers both the Academic and General IELTS papers, with strategy for every section, 48 quizzes, assignments, AI speaking roleplays and a section on the computer-based exam, in about 96 hours over 481 lectures. It was updated in August 2026. Reviewers report reaching Band 7 and 7.5. It is far too long for a short study plan, some practice audio is poor, and it requires intermediate English.
Pros
- Covers both Academic and General papers, with a Section 1 syllabus so students skip the track they don’t need
- Reviewers report reaching Band 7 and 7.5 after working through the drills and practice tests
- AI speaking roleplays for Parts 1, 2 and 3; one reviewer says they took the stress out of the real speaking test
- Updated August 2026, with a 22-lecture section on the computer-based exam
Cons
- At 96 hours it is far too long for a part-time, two-month study plan, per one low-star review
- Some practice test audio is poor, and a few reviewers dislike the instructor’s tone and pacing
- Writing and Speaking sections show answers more than they build them step by step, per a low-star review
What students say
Cintia Karisma DewiI got 7 on my IELTS. I was in rush, I thought If I finished this course, I could achieve up to 8 :" Thank you, Mr. I will always watch the learning materials, because I consider retaking IELTS when my current IELTS is expired.
Ahmed Raza Khokharthis course is amazing i prefer this course it has every single detail that a student need best course at such price buying this course was worth it! teaching of amazing strategies to clear each section special thanks to dear keino sir for such teaching!
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
Spanish
5. Spanish for Beginners. The Complete Spanish Course. LEVEL 1.
Peter Hanley’s course is a speak-along Spanish starter: 20 short lessons built on constant repetition, a word summary sheet after each one and a guitar chant at the end, in about 3.9 hours over 48 lectures. It has about 41,500 reviews at 4.7 and more than 166,000 students. Reviewers say the phrases stick without deliberate memorising. The pace is brisk, it is only the first of four levels, and it was last updated in August 2023.
Pros
- Phrases are recycled lesson after lesson, so reviewers say they stick without deliberate memorizing
- A Word summary sheet after every lesson makes it easy to review what was covered
- The end-of-lesson guitar chants are catchy and reviewers say they cement the material
- Fewer than 1 in 100 of its 41,000 reviews are one or two stars
Cons
- The pace is brisk, and a few reviewers say the tongue twisters and drills leave them behind
- Under four hours and only level one of four, so covering the basics means buying more courses
- Not all lessons are downloadable for offline study, and there are no captions or quizzes
What students say
Akshita SharmaI enjoyed the session a lot. I didn't expected the lessons delivered in songs. its amazing.
Nitin SukumarThis is the most enjoyable , learning a new language can be! Highly recommended for beginners.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
6. Complete Spanish Course: Master Spanish Beginner to Advanced
Linguae Learning’s course is the big Spanish option: from the alphabet to the future tense, with regular review lessons, in about 152.3 hours over 360 lectures. It has about 13,000 reviews at 4.7 and was updated in May 2026. One reviewer singles out the explanations of why a word or tense is used. Reviewers say the teaching gets faster and less polished after the first chapter and the audio is uneven, and one wanted notes to download for revision.
Pros
- Step-by-step explanations of why a word or tense is used, not just what to say
- Periodic review lessons reinforce vocabulary and grammar before moving on
- 360 lectures and about 152 hours of content, refreshed in May 2026
- Captions in 20 languages and a 4.7 rating from nearly 13,000 reviews
Cons
- Teaching quality drops after the first chapter, with a faster, less polished instructor
- Audio is uneven: heavy mic breathing, stumbles corrected on the fly, and captions that need a human check
- Vocabulary is presented as text on a white screen, with no downloadable notes to review
What students say
Justin PalmerEach lesson so far (I just finished the alphabet lesson) is at a nice, easy to learn pace. It is nice to learn two different forms of Spanish but sometimes my brain confuses itself on pronunciation.
Corinne WagnerI took Spanish in High School 30+ years ago and didn't really use it, so I had forgotten much of what I had learned. This course is so much better than what I remember from High School. I highly recommend this course.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
French, German, Chinese and Japanese
7. 3 Minute French - Course 1 | Language lessons for beginners
Kieran Ball, a UK language tutor, builds French in three-minute lessons that keep bringing back earlier phrases, so your sentences grow longer lesson by lesson, in about 6.2 hours over 138 lectures with recap notes, vocabulary sheets and crosswords. It has about 21,000 reviews at 4.8 and was updated in September 2026. Reviewers report making sentences within a few lessons. Some find the pauses slow, there are no quizzes, and grammar comes only in small bites.
Pros
- Three-minute lessons fit into a busy day and give a quick sense of completion
- Earlier phrases keep coming back, so words stick without separate memorizing
- Starts with the most useful words, so reviewers report making sentences within a few lessons
- Updated recently, with recap notes, two vocabulary sheets and crosswords included
Cons
- Pace can feel slow, with long pauses between sentences for some reviewers
- One reviewer says the volume drops noticeably in the last few sections
- No quizzes or practice tests, and grammar is only touched in small bites
What students say
RANVEER SINGHAmazing beginner's course. The fact that the each lesson is just 3-5 mins, it really gives you a sense of completion.
Mohd Shadmaan KhanIt was an awesome experience as a beginner. The teacher is someone who makes you fall in love with learning . Must recommend to all.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
8. Best Way to Learn German Language: Full Beginner (A1.1)
Sandra of 11Percent teaches German in lessons mostly under five minutes, each followed by its own exercise, plus nine assignments she gives personal feedback on, building toward the Goethe A1 exam, in about 7.9 hours over 309 lectures with 74 quizzes. It is rated 4.8 from about 21,800 reviews and was updated in August 2026. Absolute beginners say her pronunciation lessons are easy to follow. Some find the intros and music long, and this course covers the first half of A1.
Pros
- Sandra explains how to pronounce each letter in a way absolute beginners say they can follow
- Lessons are mostly under five minutes, each one followed by its own exercise
- Nine assignments where the instructor gives personal feedback on your work
- Updated in August 2026 and rated 4.8 across 21,818 reviews
Cons
- Music and long intros and outros around each lesson annoy some reviewers
- Lower-rated reviews want more worked examples and repetition inside the videos
- Reviewers ask for more PDFs and word lists, and it only covers half of A1
What students say
Ferencz RékaGreat course, I already learned German before, I just wanted to start again at the beginning. And yet, I could learn so much new informations about numbers and pronounciations. So, thank you, it is so much fun.
helia chaharmirEverything is great. Bite sized lessons and lots of practice material and quizes. Also very awesome links to songs and other great material that make learning a new difficult language much more fun and easier. Absolutely amazing.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
9. Chinese language for beginners : Mandarin Chinese HSK1-HSK3
Kamil Domanski, a tutor based in China, teaches three HSK levels in one course: each lesson runs new words, a conversation or story, review and homework, with downloadable audio, PDFs and flashcards, in about 26.3 hours over 152 lectures. It is rated 4.8 from about 6,200 reviews. One reviewer says HSK1 is explained word by word and suits true beginners. HSK2 and HSK3 move faster with less detail, it is mostly slides with voice-over, and it was last updated in October 2024.
Pros
- Each lesson runs words, then a conversation or story, then review and homework
- Downloadable audio and PDFs for every lesson, plus flashcards for review
- HSK1 is explained word by word, and the pace suits true beginners
- Three HSK levels in one purchase, 152 lectures and about 26 hours
Cons
- HSK2 and HSK3 get faster and less detailed than HSK1, per reviewers
- Mostly static slides with voice-over, with no demos of how to shape the mouth
- Some find the teacher’s accent non-standard and the lessons dull without extra study
What students say
Vyacheslav ZgordanThe course was very engaging, I like the fact there is a lot of speaking and listening practice and possibilities to build sentences yourself. The teacher answered tons of my questions in the QA section. Thank you.
Elaine RibeiroEstou gostando bastante do curso, tenho estudado todos os dias e aprendi bastante, agradeço muito a professora que se esforça bastante para ensinar o conteúdo, que é bem difícil por ser totalmente diferente das nossas linguas ocidentais. Agradeço muito pelo excelente trabalho!
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
10. Online Japanese N5 Course(All 15 lessons)
Attain Online Japanese Language School’s course follows the JLPT N5 level in 15 lessons, with daily-conversation video clips, English subtitles and 166 quizzes, in about 21.3 hours over 250 lectures. It has about 9,600 reviews at 4.4 and was updated in February 2026. Reviewers call the explanations clear and professional. It expects you to read hiragana and katakana already, despite the Beginner label, and one reviewer says you will need extra prep for the exam itself.
Pros
- Clear, step-by-step explanations that reviewers call professional and easy to follow
- 166 quizzes across 250 lectures give steady practice through all 15 lessons
- Strong listening focus, with daily-conversation video clips and English subtitles
- Updated in February 2026 and taken by about 65,000 students with a 4.4 rating
Cons
- Expects hiragana and katakana up front, despite the Beginner label
- A low-star reviewer says it doesn’t cover all JLPT N5 topics, so extra exam prep is needed
- Captions confuse some learners: no Japanese track, and Spanish subtitles reported as mismatched
What students say
Timothy ChapmanIn the quiz sections, I would have liked to see a full translation of the sentence and answer. There were several questions where I got it right by knowing the conjugation rules, but didn't remember the vocabulary.
James William LyleI have just started with this course, and have already absorbed more than with duolingo. I am retiriing to Japan next year, and am really hoping to be at least conversational at that time. Thank you for this course!
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
Where to go next
Every course above has a full page on CourseDuck with its syllabus, our take and more student reviews; the cards link to them. The rest sit in our language learning category, which ranks every course we list by student reviews. Related guide: the best communication skills courses, for when the words are there and you want to use them well.
