The BBC began providing material for language learners on radio in 1924. Structured courses followed on radio and later on television, becoming multimedia in the 1970s with accompanying print and recordings.

Today's resources are provided on the BBC Languages site, which has interactive content in over 40 languages for learners of all abilities. This ranges from Quick Fix holiday phrases to the Steps beginners' courses to the popular Ma France series for post-beginners. The site also features the BAFTA-award winning Mi Vida Loca, a Spanish course devised in the form of an interactive thriller.