What is the best way to learn a language in foreign country?

Answer 1

I can only speak for French, but here are some tips:

1) Take a course at the Alliance Francaise. It is full immersion and will help you to learn the language quickly. In other countries, there may be something very similar.
2) Don't spend your time around tourist areas or just among people who speak your language. Get out to the areas where the natives are, whether it is a local cafe, a bakery, or just at a gathering. It's where you'll get the feel for the accent.
3) Don't be afraid to speak the language. The only way you'll learn is to do, and to make mistakes. But if you try to speak the language (and do it as properly as you can), the native speakers will help you along. Don't worry...laughing at your own mistakes will endear you to the native speakers.

Answer 2

This is a great question and is asked many times by many people.

The best way, in my humble opinion, is to attack the language from 3 fronts:

1. Listening Comprehension
2. Speaking
3. Memorizing default/common phrases

There are some "tricks" that can help in this. For example, to improve listening comprehension you'll need the help of a native speaker who can repeat phrases to you. The option is to get a CD/DVD course (the best are Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone) and "write" down what you hear on the CD. Even if you don't know how to write the language, practice writing the sounds in English (maybe come up with your own writing system).

Why do this? Because hearing the phrases and "writing" them down creates a more positive impact on the learning process in your brain. For some reason, the physical act of writing makes the neurons build faster.

Now, learn some grammer (but not too much as it makes it all a chore). But don't learn all the grammer just the following:

1. learn the shortcuts to create future and past tenses. For example in Spanish (and other romance languages) there exists cominbination of verbs with infinitives to create "past" and "future" tense:

For example, in Spanish:

I will go to the store today - Yo voy a ir a la tienda hoy

I went to the store yesterday - Yo fui a la tienda ayer.

So, memorize the very basic things that will allow you to "cheat" a little and not have to memorize how to conjugate every verb in every tense. You only need to learn:

I am going to swim
I went to swim
I go to swim

See what I mean? You only have to memorize the conjugation of the verb "to go". This will allow you to communicate quickly in the necessary tenses.

Now, since you're in another country already you have an advantage. You can enroll in classes. BUT, only enroll in a morning class. Don't be tempted to enroll in a whole day class. The reason is that you won't learn because you're tired. To learn quickly you have to have lots of fresh mental energy.

Many countries have languages schools. Here in France we have several (alliance franciase, sorbonne, cathlolic univ). In Spain we have many was well.

So, get into a course for no more than 3 or 4 hours a day. Learn the grammitical "shortcuts", find lots of people to talk to. Stay away from other English speakers!!! If you start hanging out too much with them you'll never learn. Even if you speak the language with them it's still not as good as conversing with natives.

Maybe find a tutor? (CL, yahoo, google). And finally: Rent DVD's in the language, but turn on the subtitles NOT in English but in the language! (if it's french turn on french subtitles, etc.). Why? Because this will allow you to associate the sounds you here with the words you have already learned. It works wonders...

Answer 3

Living in that foreign country for a considerable time.
The younger you are the more rapid is the learning.
Children are known to sweep up foreign languages like high powered vacuum cleaners.
Adults have a more difficult time, although there are exceptions : those who pick up music easily, playing an instrument for example by ear . . also show the tendency to quickly pick up another language.
And having plenty of patience, especially if one is an adult.
Children just simply respond to the wish or need to communicate in another language, especially if they live in foreign places.

Answer 4

I agree with CulturalWiz's answer. You could also watch movies or TV from that specific country and try to understand what they are saying. By watching movies, you learn their everyday talk. Of course, you shouldn't just watch movies, a book or some kind of course will help too, and definately try speaking with the people from that country. Like people say, practice makes perfect. Good luck!!! :0)

Answer 5

Live there if possible. Also a crash course in the language wont hurt either.