Learning a foreign language isn’t as difficult as you may think. By knowing how to go about it, you can easily pick up on any new language you choose. Following are some tips to get you started and help you to learn quicker and easier than you thought possible.
Immerse yourself:
This is the best way to learn any new language. Perhaps you have the opportunity to go to the country in which the chosen language is spoken (many times you can get volunteer work through Peace Corps and do just that!). Or, you can practice with someone who knows the language well. Either way, you’ll learn much faster and easier than if you were learning on your own. Sometimes, even a short vacation to another country can give you a huge boost in learning the language.
Use Post-its:
Write down the foreign word for everyday objects and stick them all over your house. For instance, if you’re learning Spanish you can write “la mesa” on a Post-it and stick it on your table, “el libro” and put this on a book, etc. It may look pretty silly, and your cat may not want to want to walk around with an “el gato” sticker on her back, but by seeing the words along with the item on a daily basis you retain the information more easily.
Go subliminal:
Many people believe that you can learn a foreign language faster if you listen to a subliminal program of it while you’re falling asleep. Although it may not work on everyone, subliminal messages have been shown to be very effective for some people. (note: Try this specific subliminal course about learning a new language)
Go online:
There are some great sites where you can learn a foreign language for free. At LiveMocha you can interact with people from other countries as you tutor them in English and they tutor you in their language. There are many interactive learning activities, and you’re also required to take various tests and even a recording of your pronunciation of words and sentences before you can move on to the next level. This is by far the best site I’ve found to learn a foreign language, and it doesn’t cost a penny!
It won’t happen over night:
Learning a new language takes time. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t try to do too much all at once. Whether you choose to learn through a tutor, online, or a program such as the Rosetta Stone, it’s going to take time and effort to pick up another language.
By putting these techniques to use, you can learn a foreign language a lot more quickly than if you just bought a textbook and studied on your own. You’ll be able to learn the new language well, and can even learn many languages over time if you so choose.
