How to learn a new language
- Use the language as much as you can.
- Spend at least 20 minutes a day learning the language.
- If you can listen to music while at work (and this is part of your workplace's policy), listen to online radio stations in that language if you can.
- If you can listen to music while at work (and this is part of your workplace''s policy), listen to CDs that help you learn the language.
- If you have something you are doing at home that does not require a lot of thinking, put on music in that language.
- Watch a movie with the subtitles (or audio) in that language. If it is not commonly put on movies, your local public library may have some movies in that language (and it would be free).
- Sometimes libraries have language-learning audio and software (like Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone) in the language section for free use.
- Put your Facebook settings in that language (especially if the language uses the main Roman alphabet, which is what the English language uses, or a close variant such as Russian's Cryllic).
- Join a social network that people who speak that language use (see the Chinese page for a link for the Chinese social network).
- Install a language pack from Microsoft (if you use Microsoft Office). You can buy language packs for a little over $10 (I think).
- Find a language partner for that language (either face-to-face or online). Some websites online have an ability to search for native speakers in your area. You can also help that person learn your native language.
- Spend a summer (or take a small vacation) abroad to a country where that language is spoken. Try to speak that language as much as you can.
Tips for more advanced speakers
- Record yourself reading a text in that language. Listen to it and try to perfect your accent.
- If you are good at song writing, start writing songs or poems in that language. I have personally found this a good method to practice my French.
- Read a newspaper online in the language you are learning.
- If you are fluent in the language and can teach the language, you may actually find being a language partner for the language will help you improve the language. If you detect errors made in that language, you will improve the ability to keep up the language.
Methods of Language Learning for Everyone
I have written a book that shows methods of language learning for people of every walk of life. The book is aimed at learners of the French language, but other langauges are mentioned and most ideas will work for pretty much any language. My website has an excerpt and a write-up about it. You can view the site right here.
This website is not created to advertise my book; I am simply letting you know that the book is available.
This website is not created to advertise my book; I am simply letting you know that the book is available.