I have a set of language tapes that I would like to copy to cd.I assume I need a lead (3.5mm?) to connect the tape player to the laptop but what program do I need?
You need something like Audacity that is a free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Pipe your cassette into the PC and Audacity lets you save it as a .wav, mp3, etc. file.
Then you need to burn those files to a CD. Your PC may have Roxio's Easy CD Creator, or itunes will work after you add teh files to your itunes library.