| Depending on the language you want to learn | | | | also. It's best to use headphones because you |
| there may be thousands of books, CD's or | | | | get the full effect of a native speaker |
| tools out there (if you're lucky) to help you | | | | speaking into your ear. Furthermore, with |
| learn the language. Don't run out and buy | | | | headphones you hear the nuances of the |
| anything just yet.1. First you should do some | | | | language alot better. In addition, if you |
| research. Research the books, and materials | | | | decide to leave the room (or go outside) the |
| best suited to your needs. How do you do | | | | headphones will still be on your ears and the |
| that? Well the easiest way is to go online | | | | speaker will still be talking directly into |
| and visit the largest shopping sites that | | | | your ear.5. Alot of the above methods |
| sell books, CD's and multimedia; customers | | | | involve listening materials. Listening and |
| often leave feedback on items they have | | | | imitating is the way you learnt your native |
| bought. Read the feedback and quite quickly | | | | language as a child and is therefore one of |
| you should be able to determine what books or | | | | the best ways to become proficient in a new |
| materials are best suited to your needs. On | | | | language. But there are other materials you |
| the other hand, you may not need to buy | | | | should use to complement your rigorous |
| anything at all. Some libraries have a | | | | listening exercises. These could include |
| foreign language section and they will let | | | | books, flash cards, computer software. Books |
| you borrow their material for free. In | | | | are especially important when the language, |
| addition, some websites such as can also give | | | | you want to learn, does not use the English |
| you a free head start in the language or | | | | alphabet (Roman alphabet). The written word |
| dialect you want to learn. If you are a | | | | would help in instances when there are words |
| student, who is in high school or plans to go | | | | you have difficulty pronouncing, deciphering |
| to college, (or are already in college) you | | | | or understanding.6. As mentioned earlier, |
| can ask a teachers' opinion on what books | | | | another aid to learning a foreign language |
| materials are best suited for learning your | | | | are movies. Foreign language movies with |
| foreign language (of choice). Students could | | | | english subtitles are preferred. If you can |
| also consider taking the foreign language, of | | | | turn the subtitles off (as you can on many |
| interest, as part of their curriculum.Another | | | | DVD titles) then you can watch the movie with |
| very important point to remember when | | | | and without the subtitles to test your |
| learning some foreign languages is that there | | | | knowledge.7. To learn a foreign language |
| are dialects and forms of the language and | | | | you have to completely immerse yourself in |
| they vary by country or by region. You should | | | | that culture for periods of time (whether |
| decide which dialect you want to learn to | | | | through music, movies, television or by |
| speak. Here is a simple example: a dialect | | | | visiting a friend who speaks the language).8. |
| from "country A" may not be understood in | | | | Visiting the country where the foreign |
| country B, C or D even though it is | | | | language, you want to learn, is spoken is |
| classified as the same language. On the other | | | | also a very good way to learn the language. |
| hand, another dialect spoken in "country E" | | | | Quite logically, the longer your visit the |
| may be understood by all other countries. | | | | more you will learn. If you surround |
| What's a common reason that the dialect of | | | | yourself with others who mainly speak the |
| "country E" is widely understood (by other | | | | foreign language then you will be forced to |
| countries)? Well it may be widely understood | | | | learn and communicate in the foreign |
| because all or most of the movies, music or | | | | language.9. Some foreign languages use a |
| entertainment might be produced in that | | | | different alphabet system, different |
| country (country E), therefore the dialect is | | | | phonetics and the arrangement of the letters |
| widely understood in all the other countries. | | | | do not always follow the A to Z formula. |
| A foreigner wanting to learn the language | | | | Therefore, by learning their alphabet, |
| might be better off learning the dialect of | | | | phonetics and alphabet order you'll not only |
| "country E" since it is more widely | | | | improve your pronounciation but also be able |
| understood. Another thing to remember is | | | | to use a dictionary.10. In time after |
| that, in some foreign languages, a huge | | | | studying intensively, you'll begin to ask |
| variation in dialect should not be an issue | | | | yourself "what is the word for such and |
| because learning the standard form of the | | | | such". At this stage a small pocket sized |
| language should ensure that you are | | | | dictionary becomes an essential tool. With a |
| understood by all native speakers.Ok other | | | | foreign language dictionary, you'll be able |
| tips for learning foreign languages are:2. | | | | to quickly find the word, commit it to memory |
| Listen to foreign language music and watch | | | | and satisfy your mind's curiousity.11. Go |
| foreign language television, even if at first | | | | over the basics from time to time. Never |
| the language all sounds like "one big long | | | | assume or tell yourself "I already know that |
| word." By watching the programs, you'll learn | | | | so I can skip it." You may be surprised to |
| new words. Some words have a way of jumping | | | | find that by looking at things from a new |
| out at you and sticking with you even if you | | | | perspective you'll gain new insight on |
| initially have no idea what they mean. With | | | | something you thought you had already |
| time, you can learn what these words mean by | | | | mastered.12. Take breaks when necessary but |
| asking a native speaker, asking at school or | | | | don't stay away too long because it's easy to |
| through self study. If you keep listening to | | | | forget what you have learned.13. Friends who |
| foreign music or watching foreign language | | | | are native speakers of the foreign language |
| television, in time the "one big word" will | | | | are also an essential resource. Try to be |
| begin to sound like "smaller word chunks" and | | | | around them especially when they are |
| eventually you should be able to tell where | | | | conversing with others in their native |
| one word begins and another ends even if you | | | | tongue. Even if you don't understand |
| don't understand what the word(s) mean. Later | | | | initially you'll be improving your listening |
| on, you can investigate their meanings.3. | | | | skills. One important thing you might come to |
| Most people spend their time listening to the | | | | realize when learning a foreign language is |
| sounds of their native language whether it's | | | | that some words even though they are spelt |
| the news, music or by chatting with friends. | | | | with a certain letter, that letter may fall |
| That's how you learned your native language; | | | | silent when spoken in some countries while in |
| by listening. Spend less of your time | | | | other countries it is pronounced. Another |
| listening to your native language and try to | | | | important thing to remember is that although |
| fill as much of your world, as possible, | | | | a word may be spelt with a letter and that |
| with the sounds of the foreign language you | | | | letter has a particular sound in english, in |
| want to learn. You can do this by | | | | another language that same letter may have a |
| listenening to language tapes, over and over | | | | different sound. Those are a few of the |
| again in the car. Try to be interactive and | | | | reasons why being around native speakers can |
| actively participate by repeating what you | | | | help improve your foreign language skills by |
| hear on the tape. Repeating the words helps | | | | leaps and bounds; not to mention the cultural |
| both with pronunciation and memorization. | | | | tips you'll learn which a book, CD, cassette |
| The key is repitition. If you take a bus or | | | | or teacher probably won't cover. Friends are |
| taxi, invest in an mp3 player (tip: you can | | | | also great resources because they can give |
| fit more mp3 material on a single CD) and | | | | insight and help you with the meanings and |
| make your own mp3's if possible. If mp3's are | | | | usuage of words.14. Don't tell yourself |
| out of the question then opt for CD's, | | | | that you are too busy to study or learn your |
| computer software or cassettes.4. Try | | | | new language. Make the time. Excuses, excuses |
| listening to foreign language tapes at home | | | | will get you nowhere. |