Livemocha, Chicago

One of Time magazine’s 50 Best Websites 2010, Livemocha opens the door to multilingual mastery thanks to comprehensive lessons and a helpful online community that has grown to more than 15 million people. Through programs such as the popular Active course, students work to build conversational fluency in one of 38 languages, from French to Urdu. Courses include proven educational content from publishers such as HarperCollins. Cultural notes and practice with native speakers help students grasp conversational subtleties, such as the difference between a Spanish trill and the mating call of a blue jay.