What do you think is the best way to learn a foreign language?

Question

I appreciate all of your responses, you are so very nice. I especially liked the one about marrying a woman who speaks the language I wanna learn. Regards.

Answer 1

Here are some ideas many second language learners don't normally realize.

FIRST: Completely eliminate idioms when you speak. We use a LOT of phrases that are not understood in other countries, and they use ones we don't understand. Examples: Get to first base. Flip the switch. Hitch a ride. Hit the road.
Put yourself in the place of a new learner of English and ask yourself if you would really understand the meaning of 'hit the road' when you heard it, or would you litterally try to 'hit the road'?
Even between England and North America, for example 'knock someone up'. In North America it means get someone pregnant. In England it means knock on their door. So you can see how embarrassing it might be should you stumble on an idiom that means something else.

SECOND: Realize that it is not ALWAYS a one-for-one word exchange when translating. Some languages can express an idea in as little as one word compared to a few, and vice-versa.
Hand in hand with this, understanding that the idea being expressed is what's important, not the way it's said. Just because the sentence wasn't constructed the way we would have said it doesn't make it wrong.

THIRD: Pronunciation can be improved by reciting the names of things you see as you walk about, and holding conversations with yourself in the absence of friends to practice with. (Warning! Don't do this in the vacinity of mental institutions.)

LAST: I cheated. I learnt the worlds easiest language first and now I find I understand English better (my native tongue) and I'm in a better position to learn more languages. I've provided a link below to better explain this.

That language was ESPERANTO. It is designed such that you MUST understand sentence structure, which helps to understand other languages. Plus you end up with a multitude of Esperanto friends; oh the burdens we bear.

Not to understate it of course, but listen to and read as much as you possibly can, whenever you can. Immersion, immersion, IMMERSION!

Gxis!

Answer 2

The best way to learn a foreign language is to immerse yourself completely in that language by living in the country where the language is spoken.

If that is not possible, then the next approach could be the following;
1. Get a work book that covers the basics such as greetings, telling time, numbers, the seven key questions (what, where how, why, when, who, and how much), basic grammar (conjugation of regular verbs, conjugation of common irregular verbs), the objects in a room, the members of the family (mother, father, etc.), etc.

2. With a foreign language dictionary and an on-line translator nearby, try reading a few lines from an on-line newspaper from the target country.

3. Listen to CD's from the target language every day for an hour. If possible, try to locate an on-line news station from the target country and watch the program.

4. Try conversing with someone fluent in the target language.
You probably won't understand everything they're saying, but if you do all of the above mentioned things it will help to train your brain to think in the language and get your ears accustomed to hearing the language.

Answer 3

Since you're a LOVER, find a woman who speaks that language and marry her. On the other hand, if you still want to play the field, and you have lots of money and time, study abroad in the country where the language is spoken. If you can't do that, I'd find a course taught locally by native speakers, maybe through Berlitz or an ethnic club (I took a German course through the local German-American club, for example).

If none of those appeal to you, buy a CD/lesson book set or get Rosetta Stone. Those will only get you to the most basic level, to go beyond that you have to find people to practice conversation with and get reading material in the language. Comic books and children's books are good because they are easy to read and have pictures.

Answer 4

Think about how you learned the language that you speak. What tool were provided to you at school.

That is the best way to learn any language.

Your real handicap is not being immersed in it daily, weekly at all times as the people of the country are, of the language that you want to learn!

Answer 5

To be in the culture. It is easier to learn a language when it is all you speak

Answer 6

i used "30 lessons in 30 days", a special audio- video facilty to learn italian it worked very good an dit wasn't expensive either.

but a recognised paper that you can "paste" to the C.V. must be gain just by special acredited agencies that provide lesson from good teachers.

Answer 7

Internet/books-that what i'm doing to teach my self Japanese(Nihongo)