If we didn't speak English already, we would probably go to great lengths to learn the language because we would be constantly reminded of how important it is.

When it comes to learning languages, necessity is the real motivation and so much is happening through English globally that it's easy to be lazy and let the foreigners do the work.

But it is a serious loss not to bother as every language offers a unique way of thinking and a link with another people and culture. On a practical level, speaking another language creates work and travel opportunities.

Over the next few weeks, a new term in evening classes will begin around the State and language classes will be offered in hundreds of institutions. Many of us have a yearning to go back to a language that we studied in school. A neglected language never completely disappears and can be resurrected surprisingly quickly with a bit of effort.

The most commonly taught European language in our schools is still French but how many of us have kept the language alive? Alliance Francaise is the French cultural centre in Dublin city and provides French tuition for all levels and ages in group classes, in-company and privately. The group classes run over a 16-week term and prices vary depending on the number of hours per week. One class per week is £175 (€222) and the more intensive course with two classes per week costs £285. There is also a course in business French, three hours a week, which costs £240 and classes in legal French are available.

About 1,000 students attend the Alliance Francaise and all the courses offered are exam courses and are FAS approved and qualify for tax relief. For those who have an aversion to exams, they are by no means compulsory, unless you have your heart set on tax relief.

Ms Fran Fitzgibbon of the Certification and Standards Department in FAS, explains how the relief works: "Since the beginning of the last tax year, people who undertake approved courses in information technology or a European language qualify for tax relief. A small number of institutions have so far sought approval as course providers and we expect the uptake to increase."

Students must pay at least £250 in fees and have to sit exams and get a certificate of competence to qualify.

Of course learning a language is not all about the money. For some it's about opera, for others it's love. Ms Marguerite Duggan works at the Italian Cultural Institute and says the 350 students who attend courses at the centre are generally interested in Italian for cultural reasons.

"We find our students are passionate about the country and want to be able to communicate better when they visit. There's also a big increase in inter-marriage and people want to be able to get to know the in-laws," Ms Duggan said.

You can take the cultural experience a step further at the Spanish Instituto Cervantes. The institute runs tapas courses along with language classes for all levels and conversational Spanish, translation and business classes.

According to Ms Tanya Cooke, the Instituto Cervantes holds workshops in writing, reading, listening and literature. Language classes are held once or twice a week for two hours per class over 16 weeks. New students can enrol from now until the beginning of February. Charges for classes begin at £145 for one class a week for 16 weeks up to £230 for classes twice weekly.

It would be natural to think that after the initial enthusiasm wears off, students fall by the wayside, but Ms Aine O Cuireain of Gael Linn says this is not the case. "Because our courses are intensive, a real improvement is readily visible and we tend to have a very low drop-out rate."

Gael Linn is one of several organisations promoting the Irish language and its classes are increasingly popular as people take a fresh interest in the language in a non-compulsory setting. Gael Linn offers five levels from total beginners to fluent and classes run for 36 hours, two evenings a week for six weeks. There are usually 12 to 15 students in each class and the cost of the course is £135. The next term begins on January 31st.

Most third level institutions offer evening classes for adults and listings are available in the Guide to Evening Classes in Dublin (£2.50) or in local newspapers this month.

Attending evening classes is only one way of going about learning a language. There is also a wide range of self-study options. Linguaphone and Berlitz are two of the market leaders in language learning materials and they provide good practical language packs, especially for those who want to get a feel for a language or are looking to learn a cupla focal.

To get started there is the Berlitz Basic series - an audio course, composed of userfriendly lessons on three 60-minute cassettes and a 192-page study guide, which retails at around £27.50.

At the more ambitious end of the range is the Berlitz Think and Talk pack, starting at £145. It's a multi-media affair with a course book, six 60-minute audio cassettes, six 60-minute CDs, a PC diskette, dictionary and verb handbook. Needless to say, some dedication would be called for to successfully complete a language course alone.

In the private sector, some schools specialise in certain languages or business clients. The Sandford Language Institute in Dublin provides classes and individual tuition in all European languages (including Scandinavian and eastern European languages), as well as Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. The courses generally run for 14 weeks, 1 1/2 hours per week and cost £145-£150. Courses in language for the workplace cost £175. The institute has provided intensive training for aid workers and Army personnel about to be posted abroad. Private one-to-one tuition is at the going rate of £30 per hour.

Many of the students are retired people who like to travel or whose children may live abroad.

Learning a language can be made a lot easier with access to original source material, whether it be music, television or radio programmes or written material. The Internet is a great tool for language learning and, although there is a lot of rubbish out there, the superior products and services stand out.

Language enthusiasts can visit chat rooms, read foreign newspapers, enrol in online courses and download or purchase software. For a good example of how the Internet can assist in language learning, check out www.texthaus.com for an interactive approach to German.