Do you have tips on learning a foreign language?

Answer 1

use flash cards
read this article for tips:
http://aaswebsv.aas.duke.edu/skills/ASIPwebsite/FLstrategies.pdf

Answer 2

the most important thing is to be disciplined.
One thing you can do is make flash cards with a word of the new language on one side and on the other side english. For example: "genki desuka?" (Japanese), when you flip the card it says the English, "how are you?"
You can take them everywhere and practice any time.

Another thing you can do is watch the movies! Find foreign films in the language you want to learn. Turn the subtitles off and watch the movie. If there is something you don't understand (maybe a lot of things), rewind the movie and turn on the subtitles.

Also, try to speak the language as much as you can... even if no one is around. When we think we often use English to formulate our ideas. Try doing it with what ever language you are trying to learn.

Answer 3

Probably the one thing that will make it MUCH easier to learn a foreign language is to learn the base. For example: If you want to learn Italian,French, and Spanish, the easiest thing would be to learn Latin, which is the base of those languages(and some others as well). I find it becomes much easier, and you will not only remember the languages a lot easier, but you will speak it much more fluently.

Answer 4

the best way is immersion, to live in a place where no one can understand you, and where you have to learn the language to get on with life.

Of course that is in most cases not practical, but we can learn from that fact. Do not learn long lists of vocabulary out of context, do not start with grammar rules. Learn sentences and phrases. Repeat them over and over. Then go look for new words and substitute them in, to create your own sentences. If you know a few phrases, then you can start thinking by yourself "how would I say this?", "how would I say that?". Try constructing the phrase, and then look up the words you miss.

This is the time to look up grammar. If you know a lot a phrases by now, you'd be able to think back, and say "ah, so that is why..that makes sense.". Continue with the "how do I say this", "how do I say that" strategy, and of course, if you can get hold of a native speaker it would be nice.

Do not stick to one source of materials. Get as many materials as you can. I don't just get one source and go from lession 1 to lession 20. Go through all of it in the first few weeks to get a glance. Make sure there are lot's of voice recordings.

And yes, it will help to analyse your own language well. This is actually your first step. Know how to describe words in terms of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions and articles. Know how to describe sentences in terms of actions, objects and subjects, and know the names of English tenses. You allready know how to apply the rules, of course, if you speak English, but now learn what the say. That really helps to follow a grammar explaination. Wikepedia explains these terms very well. It's also a good idea to read about the language before you start.

If you are armed with these, and motivated, then you can learn ANY language. On the motivation side, plan a holiday in an area where the language is spoken, a year or so in advance. While you learn it, think about your holiday and what you are going to say to the friendly locals. Think about how you are going to tell them what you do, why you are interested in their culture etc.

Good luck

Answer 5

Mostly depends on which foreign language you want to learn.

Naturally, the best source is a college course in that language.

If it is a Romance language, it helps immensely if one has already studied latin.

The further east one travels, the more difficult the langauges become.

Most languages of western Europe, are latin based. Those of eastern Europe, on Greek. When you get into the middle east, although the languages there were greatly impacted by the spread of Greek, they are still much more porfuse in their language base than those of the European languages.

After traversing the middle east, one comes to India where Hindi - based on Sanskrit - is the predominat language base of the traditional cultures. Naturally, following Britain's impact on it, English is now the most widely utilized language.

Beyond India, lie the Sinitic peoples: Indo-Chinese, China herself, and Japan.

The languages of this area of the globe, are ideographic based languages. The scripts are mostly pictorialy drawn, or ideated abstractly. They are scripted beginning at the right-downward(top to bottom) and progressing to the left.

Needless to say, they would be by far the most difficult to learn for one whose native tongue is English.

There are of course numerous offerings on the market for learning at home on your computer: DVD's; CD's; etc.

Whatever you choose, I wish you good luck and an enjoyable experience.

Wotan

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Well, the absolute best way to learn a foreign language is immersion. This means going somewhere where people speak that language and living with them, speaking your tongue as little as possible. There are also immersion camps and immersion schools.

Being able to converse with someone in the language you are trying to work is always helpful. Try to surround yourself with the language, even if you don't understand it. Listen to music recorded in that language, watch tv and movies in that language, etc.

Answer 8

Focus on connecting meaning with the language you are trying to learn. That is, don't just memorize dialogues and words that are meaningless to you. Always try to learn the language by using it for meaning. Make sure you get a lot of input in the language, and try to understand as much of the input as possible.

Answer 9

I find the most important thing is to sharpen your english grammar skills. Grammar makes it easy to go from one language to another because it has a stable form. Learn the grammar lingo. And obviously, if you can, immerse yourself in a place where the language is spoken. ANother thing I do to practice foreign language is watch movies in the language with english subtitles or vise versa. Good luck.

Answer 10

To learn the foreign language, you have to constantly practice it day by day. If your learning spanish for example, ask your friend who is a native speaker to talk to you in spanish for a day. Day by Day, you will slowly grasp it, and eventually, learn it.

Other languages may become difficult. I suggest using flash cards, or ask for a tutor.

Answer 11

it depends on what you're having trouble with.
If you are talkative and have no problem speaking then focus on learning the grammar first. and Do Read a lot.
then practice, practice, and practice.

english, spanish, italian speaker