What is your strategy when learning a language?

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

Foreign laguages I have studied - Hebrew, Spanish, French, Russian, Mandarin Chinese.

If you are not in school or in an immersion program, find someone who speaks the language. Learn the essentials first you always need to know how to eat, drink go to the bathroom and tell someone off!. I learn basic vocab first, then sentance structure, I like to feel the language so I'll watch movies so I can hear actual people speak. As far as my fluency goes, well except for Mandarin and Spanish, The other ones I can speak enough to get by so people won't look at me funny! If you learn a language after age 11 you will have an accent but if you practice alot it diminishes somewhat.

Answer 3

Learning strategy? Well, first of all, you need to have plenty of drive, motivation and to like the language you are going to learn. If you feel that you are "forced" to acquire some knowledge in a particular language I doubt that you will realize it. It is often neglected aspect, but I would suggest as first step to learn enough about the people, who speak that language, their traditions, culture, etc. in order to feel influenced somehow by them, in reciprocity their language.

1) Choose good sources for self-learning ( Cd's, books, dictionary, etc.). It is of vital importance to feel free to learn with your individual speed and free time.

2) Try to get at least a couple of private lessons ( If you can ). That is extremely helpful in the beginning, because quite always there are things which are learnt , but are general mistakes.

3) Great would be if you find a native speaker to speak with. Or find a pen pal, chat friends, everyone could be of help.

Wish you luck!

Answer 4

If i know someone that speaks the language i will have him/her talk only in the language i need to learn. Otherwise, books with audio is the way i go.

Good luck

Answer 5

find somebody who speaks the language as well or better than you and hang out with them just speaking that language once in a while. this could be someone who is doing well in you class (assuming you are taking a class) or someone you randomly meet/know that speaks the language.

doing this often is better than studying frm the book, but obviously you have to read the book to get the vocab.

Answer 6

the best strategy is, here, i got two options.
1. the dirty way
2. the the cleaner way

1. dirty way, learn their foul language first, then you will slowly procede to the rest. it works on me while learning japanese. haha..makes me laugh thinking about it..

2. the other way is learn to speak the word that you mainly use in daily life. for example, good morning, how are you, where do you live, i need to go now, i'm home!

Answer 7

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