At first, learning a foreign language can seem very difficult, but if you are determined, you can succeed! There are several very fun ways to learn it in no time!
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Choosing the Learning Material
Step 1. Use language learning software
There are various programs for self-taught foreign language learning. Assimil is rather used in Europe, although it is less well known in America. This method provides audio dialogue accompanied by a book and a CD. Babbel is also another well-known method. All courses are divided into small teaching units, easy to integrate into your daily routine.
If your learning style is auditory, the best way to learn a foreign language is to listen to someone else speak it
Step 2. Choose the texts
Purchase a grammar book and a dictionary of the language you want to learn. You will also need a bilingual text to see the translations from your target language. Also buy works of literature or non-fiction written by native speakers.
If your learning style is visual, the best way to study is to read
Step 3. Immerse yourself completely in the language of your choice
In other words, you need to find an environment where only that language is spoken. You don't have to go abroad, but you could also go to a school classroom or even home if you have the opportunity to listen to songs and TV shows in the original language. If you have the opportunity, you can also take a tour of a neighborhood where the language you want to learn dominates (for example, if you live in a big city and are trying to learn Mandarin, spend a few hours in the areas inhabited by the Chinese who they speak it).
If your learning style is kinesthetic, the best way to learn a foreign language may be to be in close contact with the speaker
Step 4. Download an application
There are many applications that allow you to learn a foreign language. Read the reviews and pick a couple that you find fun and useful. That way, you can use it on the subway or train, during breaks at work or school, and just about anywhere.
Duolingo and Busuu are great. LiveMocha is a fun application that allows you to chat and open a profile on a social platform. Memrise uses mnemonic devices to help you learn it. Mindsnacks is an educational language learning game
Part 2 of 4: Learning the Basics
Step 1. Study the grammar rules
The syntax is likely to be very different from that of your native language. Thus, it will be helpful to understand how sentences are structured, word order, parts of speech and the agreement between verb and subject.
Step 2. Start with regular vocabulary
The words you would use every day should be the first to memorize. Start with personal pronouns (me, you, her, him, them, etc.) and common nouns (boy, girl, chair, table, city, teacher, toilet, school, airport, restaurant, etc.) before moving on to adjectives (green, thin, fast, beautiful, cold, etc.) or to the conjugation of verbs (go, do, take, leave, offer, know, etc.).
Step 3. Learn the simplest phrases
You will need to know how to ask some simple questions, such as: "Where is the bathroom / train station / hotel / school?" and "How much does it cost (the coffee, the newspaper, the train ticket)?". You will probably also have to learn to say: "My name is …", "What is your name?", "How are you?" and "I'm good / bad". Think of a dozen phrases you want to know and start with them.
Step 4. Make connections
One word might make you think of another. Try to construct mental representations or make illustrated connections. If they help you remember, ignore how weird or mundane they sound.
Step 5. Practice
One of the best ways to acquire vocabulary is to repeat. Create flashcards with the words you want to remember and review them every day. You can even put them around your bedroom or home to keep an eye on them. You can also use an automatic flashcard generator (like lingua.ly).
Part 3 of 4: Have fun while you learn
Step 1. Listen to foreign language songs
Listening to music can be a fun way to learn a foreign language. You may find a translated version of your favorite songs. With this system, you will have less difficulty distinguishing words if you know the texts by heart. You can also choose songs you've never heard, print the lyrics and translate them.
Step 2. Read the newspapers
Choose a topic that you are well informed about (for example, technology) and read some articles written in the language you are learning. Try searching through the various sections of online newspapers or blogs that deepen it. Try to keep up to date by reading only the news published in the original language.
Step 3. Listen to foreign language radios that broadcast online
BBC World Service is a great starting point for foreign language broadcasts. You can also tune into many TV stations and follow news and shows produced in another language. It can be a lot more fun than reading a grammar book.
Step 4. Watch movies or TV channels with original language audio or subtitles
You can decide to leave the audio in a foreign language and at the same time select the subtitles in your native language. Watch movies or broadcasts by reading the words in your own language while listening to them in the original. Alternatively, you can listen to them in your own language while reading foreign subtitles. After some time, try watching the same movies or shows in their original language, without subtitles.
Step 5. Check out foreign podcasts
The huge advantage over internet radio is that they are downloadable. You can listen to the same broadcast several times until you understand everything. Don't be afraid to deepen, especially if you have basic vocabulary and grammar notions. For example, if you like technology, podcasts on this topic are a great place to start because many words and definitions are adapted from English terminology.
Step 6. Play your usual video games in the language you are learning
Many online games and applications allow you to select the language. In these cases, choose the one you are studying. Since you have already acquired some familiarity with the game in question, you will be able to proceed intuitively. You also have the ability to regularly see new words and, in some cases, you will be forced to understand what is being asked of you to progress through the game.
Step 7. Meet native speakers or talk to them in chat or forums
This way, you can correct your mistakes and learn new tips and tricks to get to know the language you are learning.
- When you are able to speak almost fluently, create a profile on a social network in a foreign language, such as VoxSwap, Lang 8 or My Happy Planet.
- You could also change the interface language of your browser. This operation will automatically change the search settings of the sites: they will appear in a foreign language.
Part 4 of 4: Staying Motivated
Step 1. Varies
It can be boring to use the same material or method every day. Therefore, watch videos, read stories and play interactive games. Use the language you are learning in your everyday life, that is, whenever you want to read, write and have fun, in order to better memorize what you learn and speak it fluently.
Step 2. Set yourself goals
You may decide to learn ten new words or phrases a day, or read a few pages every day, watch a show or listen to some songs in the original language. You better talk about it every day for a little while. Be concrete and choose the goals to reach based on your learning style.
Step 3. Don't be discouraged
It is not easy to learn a foreign language. Don't scold yourself if you don't speak it fluently after a few months. Focus on what you have learned and keep trying. In order not to lose motivation, remember why you decided to study it.
