Many of the messenger or online chat systems now have language specific rooms. This can be a great way to get a chance to both hear and practice the language from the comfort of your own home. It is also possible to get support and assistance from people worldwide in learning your new language.
Remember that reading a language and speaking the language are two separate skills. A language course that focuses on the spoken word will likely provide little information on written language, but it is often easy to pick up written language once you understand the spoken.
Taking a language course is a wonderful way to expand your knowledge as well as learn about a culture. You may just have an interest in a group of people or a culture, you don't need to be planning a trip or vacation to choose to learn a new language.
