What's the easiest way to learn a language by yourself?

Question

Any recommendations? Tips? Please help, because I really want to learn Norwegian.

Sorry I should've been more specific. I'm in Uzbekistan, where the language is not that important to me because I usually only communicate with foreigners, and I don't really need the language for my future as much as I do with Norwegian. Most of my family members speak Norwegian, and most of the Norwegian people I know can't really speak English that well. I do try to communicate in Norwegian with my dad, but he's very busy. I've tried studying by myself, and it does work, my dad says I've improved, but I really want to do better, or find the best way to learn the language. No, I can't just move to Norway or order Norwegian stuff in an instant. Everything moves very slowly here. I can only learn Norwegian when I finish with all of my homework, but I'm willing to learn it. Please give me internet related tips, because I'm only 14 and don't have my own credit card.

Answer 1

Since language is for the purpose of communication between two or more people, I believe learning with another is the most efficient way to go. But if you must learn the language by yourself, I suggest any learning book accompanied by CDs or cassettes. When you reach a certain level where you feel you could recognize words and grammar, start watching DVD's and foreign channels, and listening to music in the language you want to learn.

Answer 2

I've learned Esperanto, Spanish, and German from books & tapes. Here are some things I've learned:

Immersion in the language, living in another culture is, hands-down, the best way to learn a language. It's also the most disruptive to your life, and few can do it.

I used to know a couple (they moved away and we haven't kept in touch) who helped each other learn languages through immersion in their home. One knew Spanish and wanted to learn Esperanto, the other knew Esperanto, and wanted to improve their Spanish. They divided the week in half, and for half the week would only speak only Spanish at home, and for the other half the week would only speak Esperanto. They both improved rapidly.

If you can't go to Norway, and you don't have friends, fluent in Norwegian to room with, a audio or video based course is probably your best bet.

If you're learning on your own, some general tips for learning languages:

1. Look at people's reviews on Amazon to determine what are some of the best courses. Go to the library and check out (audition) different types of courses, and see what works for you best. The correct answer for you may not be one course, but a combination.

3. Put aside 30 - 60 minutes per day and study some each day.

4. If you get discouraged, take a couple of days off, but set your next time to study and stick to it. If you go too long (say a week) between study sessions, you'll start forgetting.

5. Go into the experience realizing that you'll make lots of mistakes, everybody makes mistakes, don't worry about them and keep going. In other words, don't let your mistakes discourage you, everyone makes them, you're no different.

6. Try to find someone better than you in the language to speak with. You can't learn to speak a language without speaking it. If you're trying to learn with someone else who is also learning, you'll lead each other into learning errors.

Answer 3

One way to learn a language is by constantly practicing it. Maybe you could get your hands on a few Norwegian books from your local bookstore/library. Maybe write all your diary entries in Norwegian so you are more confident and comfortable in the language.

You could also participate in language exchange sites like http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/, http://www.sharedtalk.com/, http://www.eslbase.com/language-exchange/, http://www.ccxccx.com/ & http://www.polyglot-learn-language.com/ .
Most of these sites, if not all, are free. You might want to register in a number of these sites and see where you can get a penpal. Your chosen penpal will be able to write to you and talk to you online (through MSN, Skype etc- but only if you want to use these media. There is an option to include or exclude communication through MSN, Skype & so on based on your own comfortable level of privacy.).

Hope this helps. All the best with your language study! =)

Answer 4

Try the Rosetta Stone cds. Lots of governments agencies use it.

Answer 5

Not....

You need feedback from other people in order to really learn.