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