One of the most popular requests we get at the Talking Book Program are from patrons who want to learn a language. We have several different self-instruction programs in our collection to help you dive right in.

Behind the Wheel: Behind the Wheel provides a flexible, solid, and universal foundation in speaking, understanding, and creatively expressing yourself in your chosen language. The program features an English-speaking instructor to guide you through the lessons and native speakers to aid with your pronunciation. Includes supplementary materials in Braille to reinforce and enhance the audio experience.

Languages in the TBP collection: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.

Berlitz Self Teacher: Braille language study guides designed for the student working alone.  Stressing oral practice, the guides present each lesson as a conversational dialogue incorporating vocabulary and grammatical points. Each sentence is followed by a pronunciation guide and English translation. Questions follow each lesson, and, where appropriate, tips on customs are given.

Languages in the TBP collection: English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

Drive Time: is a simplified program to learn the basics of vocabulary, grammar, conversation, and culture for a given language. The experts at Living Language have created a course that includes four hours of language lessons that you can use anywhere and anytime. It includes conversational lessons so you can practice listening and speaking a language naturally. The courses also have plenty of pronunciation exercises, simple explanations, examples, and real conversational practice.

Languages in the TBP collection: French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. We also have intermediate English. 

eTicket Audio Phrasebooks: Produced by Living Language, these audio phrasebooks contain simple and practical phrases, containing all the essentials for a trip.

Languages in TBP collection: Spanish and English for Spanish speakers.

Pimsleur®: is a way to learn a language through a program of short lessons using methods derived from research on memory and learning. The emphasis is on pronunciation and comprehension, and on learning to speak the language. Features native speakers.

Languages in the TBP collection: Albanian, Armenian (Eastern and Western), Czech, Dutch, French, Greek (modern), Haitian Creole, Hebrew (modern), Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Spanish (Latin American), Swedish, and Thai.

English for Arabic, Cantonese Chinese, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish Speakers

Further Study

Once you learn the basics, you may want to find materials to read in your language of choice. BARD is here to help!

BARD: Change your preferred language

Filter search results by selecting your preferred language.

BARD website

1. BARD Main Page – Account Settings – 4th item down “Select this link to change your language preferences.”

2. Check the checkbox next to the language you are learning.

3. Hit the “update” button.

BARD Express

1. Go to Search BARD

2. Select the “Filter” button.

3. Select the checkbox next to one of the following languages: Arabic China French Language Books, Fiction German Language Books Italian Language Portuguese Language Titles Spanish Language

4. Select the “Ok” button at bottom of the screen. Now all your search results will be in your chosen language.

BARD app for iOS and Android

1. Go to Settings Tab

2. Go to User Account Settings

3. Select “Language Preferences”

4. Tap the language you are learning. It will add books written in that language to your search results.

So, take this opportunity to learn a new language and let BARD help ease the way!