Have your dreams of learning a second language been curtailed by a tight budget and an overpacked schedule?

Now you can school yourself on your own time for free, thanks to the British Broadcasting Corp.’s Languages Web site at www.bbc.co.uk/languages.

The site offers lessons in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Greek – even Urdu. To start, just log on and choose your language. A variety of interactive beginner’s courses are offered, and you will be routed to ones appropriate to your knowledge level.

If your high school French or Spanish starts flooding back, you may get bumped up to the intermediate courses right out of the gate.

There is also a “quick start” option for travelers who need a crash course in common phrases.

You can choose to focus solely on speaking the language, or concentrate on learning how to read and write fluently as well. You can also play a number of language games designed to augment your study and sign up for a weekly e-mail offering tips and encouragement.