Note: These guidelines should be rigorously followed, even if you are taking a language course.
Learn a Foreign Language
1) Spend the time!
By far the most important factor is how much time you are immersed in the language. The more time you spend with the language, the faster you will learn. This means listening, reading, writing, speaking, and studying words and phrases. This does not mean sitting in class looking out the window, nor listening to other students who do not speak well, nor getting explanations in your own language about how the language works. This means spending time enjoyably connected to the language you are learning.
2) Listen and read every day!
Listen wherever you are on your MP3 player. Read what you are listening to. Listen to and read things that you like, things that you can mostly understand, or even partly understand. If you keep listening and reading you will get used to the language. One hour of listening or reading is more effective than many hours of class time.
3) Focus on words and phrases!
Build up your vocabulary, you’ll need lots. Start to notice words and how they come together as phrases. Learn these words and phrases through your listening and reading. Read online, using online dictionaries, and make your own vocabulary lists for review. Soon you will run into your new words and phrases elsewhere. Gradually you will be able to use them. Do not worry about how accurately you speak until you have accumulated a plenty of words through listening and reading.
4) Take responsibility for your own learning!
If you do not want to learn the language, you won’t. If you do want to learn the language, take control. Choose content of interest, that you want to listen to and read. Seek out the words and phrases that you need to understand your listening and reading. Do not wait for someone else to show you the language, nor to tell you what to do. Discover the language by yourself, like a child growing up. Talk when you feel like it. Write when you feel like it. A teacher cannot teach you to become fluent, but you can learn to become fluent if you want to.
5) Relax and enjoy yourself!
Do not worry about what you cannot remember, or cannot yet understand, or cannot yet say. It does not matter. You are learning and improving. The language will gradually become clearer in your brain, but this will happen on a schedule that you cannot control. So sit back and enjoy. Just make sure you spend enough time with the language. That is the greatest guarantee of success.
Steve Kaufmann is a former Canadian diplomat, who has had his own company in the international trade of forest products for over 20 years. Steve founded The Linguist Institute Ltd. in 2002 to develop a new approach to language learning using the web. The new LingQ system for learning multiple languages is now available in Beta. Steve speaks nine languages fluently and is currently learning Russian using LingQ. Steve maintains a blog on language learning.
I’ve started watching some of my favorite movies in foreign languages (which is made simple due to DVDs being multilingual), and this has a double effect of:
1) Introducing me to thousands of words I already know the meaning of
2) Doing it in conversations, yielding an authentic presentation of spoken word
I think it’s true. The most important factor while doing all of this is to enjoy yourself. As this gives you the strength and motivation to continue. But the right combination of recources is necessary to enjoy yourself while learning that language. So I suggest finding the right offer of such a fun tool.
read and translate books
watch movies
hear music
Thanks for this article. I went and signed up and have started using the LingQ software. It’s great! Thanks
[...] Wesley presents The 5 Keys to Success in Foreign Language Learning posted at Pick the [...]
[...] The 5 Keys to Success in Foreign Language Learning – [PickTheBrain] digg_url = ‘http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/5-keys-to-mastering-a-foreign-language.html’; ( function() { var ds=typeof digg_skin==’string’?digg_skin:”; var h=80; var w=52; if(ds==’compact’) { h=18; w=120; } var u=typeof digg_url==’string’?digg_url:(typeof DIGG_URL==’string’?DIGG_URL:window.location.href); document.write(”"); } )() Author: Craig Childs Posted: Friday, September 7th, 2007 at 7:00 am Tags: communication, languages Bookmark or Share this with a friend! [...]
[...] Pickthebrain.com - “The 5 Keys to Success in Foreign Language Learning“ [...]
Excellent article, I’m studying English, and I’ll use it to speed up my learning. I translated the text for Portuguese and I published in http://oskarcosta.blogspot.com/.
Thanks…
Thanks! I’m homeschooling a 9 year who wants to learn Greek and this is something I think I need to print out and stick on our fridge as a guide!
Wow, a 9-year-old interested in Greek. That’s remarkable!
There seem to be no shortage of sites offering online language courses, and the stiff competition has given students great new options in taking on the challenge of learning a new language.
I have found learning Mandarin to be quite convenient with the excellent podcasts available these days ( like http://www.chineselearnonline.com)
If you have an MP3 player, I would recommend giving it a try.
Not so remarkable.
She, like a lot of kids, loves Greek myths so when I suggested she try another language it was Greek that caught her imagination.
[...] list from Pick the Brain of the five most important considerations in learning a foreign [...]
[...] How to Learn a Foreign Language (tags: howto lifehacks) [...]
[...] LifeClever: Collection of tips for design and life How to organize your cluttered desktop and regain your sanity How to procrastinate more productively The perfect way to parallel [...]
[...] Wesley presents The 5 Keys to Success in Foreign Language Learning posted at Pick the [...]
Y’know, I’ve followed advice like this in the past and it hasn’t worked. Dedication is one thing. Dedication + ability = success in language learning. There’s no escaping that. Let’s be honest here: knowing a few phrases and speaking a language fluently (or better) are very different things. Most people can do the former; not everyone can do the latter.
no, youre wrong. everyone CAN learn a language fluently. we ALL do it. even developmentally disabled people. the question is HOW to learn a NEW language. we do all have the ability. its innate.
[...] Ways to Learn a Foreign Language [...]
[...] found this really cool article about how to learn a foreign language. I think the steps that guy writes about not only helps you learn, but help you learn it faster [...]
Great Post !!!
Learning english here
[...] PickTheBrain teaches you How to Learn a Foreign Language: 5 Keys to Success. [...]
Great article!
[...] Learn a Foreign Language: 5 Keys to Success [...]
Hi everyone!
I love the new way of learning a new language that the site http://www.lingofriends.com has to offer. -You find a guy/girl that you like and then you chat until you drop.
It’s pretty revolutionary.
Best, Fredrik
Steve,
Great post! I very much agree with all your points. I’ve been teaching Spanish for twenty years and whenever my students follow this type of advice, they really progress a lot faster. I’ve now got a free podcast called Spanish Podcasts for Beginners (http://www.spanish-bookworld.com/spanish-podcasts.html) where I’ve developed a method that resembles what you talk about here. Thanks for the article.
Hello,
If you want I will send you some good websites for learning languages…
maida
I like the part 4 when you say “take responsibility for your own learning!” … Some people tend to rely on a teacher/a guide/a method … all that are tools but success depends on oneself. They want to be fluent in a language but they don’t want to pay the price. We are responsible of our success and our failure and we can’t blame a method or a teacher. A language learner has do go beyond his classroom and seek a way to improve his fluency in his target language … he has to be able to use all the new technologies to reach his goal.
To improve his fluency in his target language, a language learner has to listen to it, read it, write it, and talk with natives … be completely immersed in the language.
I talk from experience … I blog my insights on: http://www.languageslovers.blogspot.com. English is my third language. Actually, I speak 7 languages.
Found this really cool article about how to learn a foreign language.
The best way to learn language is where it is spoken. Only by interacting with native speakers in their home country will you be able to adapt to and discover an entirely new culture. It’s also the best way to practice the language at the same time that you are learning it.
Studying abroad strengthens your self-confidence and sharpens your intellectual skills.
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Great ideals , for my 2008 new start,
Never to late to learn If there is a will,
Thank you
Tracy ho
wisdomgettingloaded
ye,i think you are totally right
[...] Pick the Brain blog published 5 keys to the success of how to learn a foreign language. They also mention the use of LingQ, an online learning system and The Rosetta Stone, my all time [...]
My favorite language learning software is valodas at http://www.valodas.com because it’s free an easy to use. There are many dictionaries, now I’m learning French.
Great tips. I would like to add one more.
6) Use It!
Language learning programs work great at the beginning, but they can only prepare you so well for the real thing. It is absolutely vital to put what you are learning into practice in real life situations, ideally with a native speaker.
[...] 7, 2007 by sumardika Inspired by this article, I will put some notes on English learning collected from various [...]
i am iranian .im 16 years old and im so happy that i find the best way to learn foreign language . thanks for this topics .
Well, first of all, thank you for the blog, because you have very much said the opposite of what the major money players in the foreign language market would have one believe…that they can learn from a book, of a $600 cd set that actually only has 500 words (i.e not even close to being enough)…and then when you are done, they claim you are now intermediate, but in truth you cannot even conduct a simple conversation.
But, now some criticism, you don’t really help a beginning student understand how to go from beginner to someone who can make any sense at all of an MP3 recording, or a book written (for example) in Russian.
And to the person who said you really have to have skill in it…not true. Sorry, but not true. Everyone learned their first language, and nearly everyone would learn a 2nd as well…if they had no choice.
But I digress. I spent several years watching Russian TV, and picked up nothing from it. Now I watch Russian TV and I can understand most of it. The breakthrough came when I realized that simple immersion, when its too far above your head, and when its tied to no references…doesn’t work.
Immersion, like drop me off in the middle of Russia, would work…but for a surprising reason…the people around me, would have no choice but to speak to me simple…in single word sentences at first, until my knowledge built up. TV doesn’t have to do that, neither does an MP3 recording…it has no knowledge or care if the listener understands anything.
I’m long winded…sorry, but I’ll make my point, you have to start simply…and TV probalby isn’t simple enough, and a regular book, not simple enough.
Start with the simplest of stories…before you watch a movie, rip the subtitles and translate all the words.
To get the first hooks into the language, you have to memorize at least 3 or 4 thousand words by brute force.
Then when you watch tv and understand about half of it, it can start to be a learning experience…especially if your ear is trained, and you can pick out new words and look them up in the dictionary.
[...] I strongly believe in something I found on a great site called PicktheBrain and that is you need to listen a lot to improve your language skills. So along with studying in a [...]
奶奶的，不早说，晚了啊！！！
Pick the Breain is great. And right on target, need practice practice practice, and much immersion.. learning a language need not be so tough.
Great info.
What everyone should get out of this is to most of all just relax and let it come natural.
Dont always get nervous like i did when i first moved abroad! hehe
I owe my own career to learning a foreign language.
Like it or not, the globalization tend is here to stay. It doesn’t make sense to fight it. Everyone interested in reaping the benefits of global markets needs to find a way to learn a foreign language the fast and easy way to get ready for international opportunities for employment, trade and business.
[...] advice I gave him was similar to advice I found on PicktheBrain’s site about learning a foreign language . I knew he didn’t have the money to pay for a private tutor, nor to go to a school. So I [...]
Comida = food
Com = come
i = eat
da = the
FOOD!
Tienda = store
ti = tie
en = in
da = the
STORE!
[...] can adjust the words depending on the age, language skills and interest of your child. Other suggestions for secret words include: “fruity,” “juicy,” [...]
Very interesting
In my blog http://kliktrans.com i try to follow your tips.
I agree with your post, it’s like a gem! I’m learning Chinese and Spanish now, while teaching Filipino.
Cheap language learning software – over 115 languages available!
go to eurotalk.com today!
Cheap language learning software – over 115 languages available!
go tp http://eurotalk.com today!
Thankyou for the good simple tips!
It will help me lots on my website, I’m trying to teach Arabic to adults without lots of frills, just simple and straight to the point. Its a new website so this advise will come to be very handy.
Many thanks.
good good good!!! i think this will be very handy, i havent actually tried it out yet. i am learning Norwegian on my own and i am only 13, so thank you very much
Great ideas! Thanks so much! I have been a language enthusiast all my life and a language tutor for almost 10 years now, these are very good tips! Way to go and thanks for posting them!
Back to the basics… as you put it, the things you mentioned help you learn well independent of the specific methodology you are using… may forward to some of my students.
I have recently used what I believe to be the VERY BEST language software. I have tried using Rosetta Stone before but I did not like it… I used the software and learned German in only 8 weeks which was awesome. They offer 7 languages total and I am debating on learning another one. I bought it after getting a referral from a friend, and then I found this website to be very helpful. http://www.certifiedlanguagesoftware.info so I hope it can be useful for you too.
Learning a foreign language can be easy for some people but not for all. The best way to learn a foreign language is to tailor a custom program for the individual. Visit my website
http://vandoornslanguagetechnique.com
for details on how to custom your own language learning program based on the Proto-Indo-European Language Family Tree.
Побольше бы таких тем!
[...] Beginnen möchte ich mit dem BraveNewTraveller. Dieser informiert gleich in mehreren Artikeln: “7 Tips For Learning a Foreign Language on the Road“, “How to Learn Chinese: Student vs. Teacher” und “8 Free Online Resources for Learning a New Language“. Auch PickTheBrain beschreibt, was man alles tun kann, um einer neuen Sprache mächtig zu werden: “How to Learn a Foreign Language“. [...]
Стопудово!
How to Learn a Foreign Language…
These guidelines should be rigorously followed, even if you are taking a language course….
[...] Texto original em inglês, escrito por Steve Kaufmann, traduzido por Mairo Cavalheiro Vergara [este que vos fala] [...]
I read Steve’s blog regularly and enjoy his insights. One thing I definitely agree with him on is that language learning takes time. Too many people have that instant gratification attitude when it comes to learning a foreign language.
Depending on a lot of different factors it can take 6 months to 5 years to learn a foreign language. However, you’ll be able to use and enjoy the skills you learn as you achieve your ultimate goal of full fluency.
great tips, only thing i would add is:
6) Go visit the country and start speaking the language
and its easy to study abroad too:
http://www.eurolanguages.com
Very helpful advice. I have studied Russian for a while and find many courses are very dry and forget about the ‘enjoy’ part. Some online sites bury you with grammar rules. Would recommend http://www.dotty-dingo.com
I agree totally that learning words and building vocabulary is important! Myself, I use a method that allows me to memorize 100 words in just 40 to 60 minutes every day, with pretty much a 100% recall rate.
The system is mnemonics, but I have refined it, and if you like you can have a look at how I do this at my website.
I love your last tip the most: relax and enjoy yourself. Too often we make ourselves miserable. But when having fun, that’s when you learn almost without effort.
well I am a spanish speaker I learned english by myself but I don’t find easy to learn a foreing language in a country like mexico, I am learning maybe I don’t have the best grammar or pronunciation but I am trying, it is hard to have a good grammar and good punctuation, neither in my first language I have good punctuation and to speak with native speakers is hard because there are nobody in this area of my country mexico, of course I agree with the topics that you like.. yes I know.. but I would like to find good websites and to hear good pronunciation.. in my case I can’t avoid thinking in my first language despite I have 3 or 4 years learning english.. anyway I hope to see answers from another experiences and native speakers.. I speak spanish btw.. bye for now.. I like this website..
[...] Wesley presents The 5 Keys to Success in Foreign Language Learning posted at Pick the [...]
[...] advice I gave him was similar to advice I found on PicktheBrain’s site about learning a foreign language . I knew he didn’t have the money to pay for a private tutor, nor to go to a school. So I [...]
[...] I strongly believe in something I found on a great site called PicktheBrain and that is you need to listen a lot to improve your language skills. So along with studying in a [...]
Right on target, need practice practice practice, and much immersion. Learning a language need not be so tough.
I strongly agree with what you have written. These pieces of advice are worthy if taken into consideration while learning a foreign language. Learning a foreign language is not a matter to know about the language, but most importantly to know how to use the language in a real situation. It is language use not language recognition.
mwe-bale kuyinga kusoma lulimi. waliwo amanyi enimi zo’mu southern africa nadal e’za khoisan people. ba khoi khoi and the san people of south africa. hhahahaahha
“Take control” Good advice. I’m studying Japanese and I made a neat Google gadget for random flash cards that I use. You can find it in the flash card section of my website if you’re interested.
[...] How to learn a foreign language: Pick the Brain offers straightforward tips for learning a new language. [...]
[...] How to learn a foreign language: Pick the Brain offers straightforward tips for learning a new language. [...]
[...] The Best Way to Learn a Foreign Language (tags: English language learning) [...]
I started to learn english when I was 10 years old and now I am 18 and I still go to that english private school. I am very interested in the language and I do some tests for examinations like FCE, CAE…etc. to practice my language skills and I listen to music, watch movies and sometimes chat with my friends in english. In one month I’m going to have CAE exam and I must do my best.
wow,really? but what is your nationality? and what is your original language?
I’m Serbian and my original language is Serbian
Thanks for the great advise! I’m more determined! I want to learn how to speak spanish before i leave my teen years which is a few years from now! but i try so hard to improve my accent though. my spanish doesn’t sound so good. I started with simple phrases and I’m examining the phrases word by word…. hihihihi.. no soy bueno en espanol, but i’m learning!
spanish is the easiest language to learn if you are fluent in english! Promise!
read this:
magnificent=magnifico
intelligent=inteligente
music-musica
student=estudiante
see? so many similarities!
ang the rules in learning spanish is very similar in english!!!
buena suerte!
ser bueno en espanol.. adios..
When I was younger I used to watch soap operas and the actors were speaking Spanish and I watched it so often that now I understand them without subtitle.
At school I learn Italian and it is easier to me as I understand spanish.
Good advice. I like it, especially the “relax and enjoy yourself” part.
I totally agree with that. I went through it and I know.
Just learn. You will be surprised by your progress some day.
My favorite way to learn a new language is by listening to (pop) music in my target language. Because you’re enjoying music, your brain is relaxing and subconsciously acclimating to the language. Then later, when you’re learning some new verb construction or whatever, you’ll realize “hey, I remember hearing that in such-and-such song!”
Excellent article. Its really great
If possible view my site for learning italian and spanish
http://rocketspanishfree.terapad.com/
http://rocketitalian.terapad.com/
Good site, admin.
Good site, admin.
6. And don’t forget to go abroad to speak the language!
Hi, thanks for useful advices! Below are the basic ways of how you may accelerate your language studying that worked personally for me:
http://www.myhowtoos.com/en/common-howtoos/57-how-to-learn-a-language-faster
Great post! Especially for me #2, do it every single day. Keep in the learning zone!
The biggest problem most people face in learning a new language is their own fear. They worry that they won’t say things correctly or that they will look stupid so they don’t talk at all. Don’t do this. The fastest way to learn anything is to do it – again and again until you get it right. Like anything, learning English requires practice. Don’t let a little fear stop you from getting what you want.
Marcel
Thank you for your clear and effective tips for learning foreign language. Recently I just start to learn Janpanese. As time goes on I eager to learn more foreign languages. With learning foreign language I feel so good about myself. I am an ordinary housewife with two lovely children..WHO CARES !
Great Article
i’m learning English and german and i hope this article would help me learn better and better
Here’s a great way to learn a language. no matter the language. http://urlm.in/cthq
This post captured a few important concepts. The most important aspect in language learning is consistency. It is about being in the language daily that will pull results. Sure, ones will, motivation, methods and practice will all play a part, but even the unmotivated person with a poor method will learn if he has a date everyday to learn the language. Of course a motivated person with a good method will learn better and faster.
I personally think that the new range of lexical courses that are being developed are amongst the most useful. I particularly like the one offered by these guys – http://www.paulnoblelanguages.com – though I’m sure there must be others.
this is very useful site to save new words easly http://www.wordchamp.com
There are thousands upon thousands of words in the English language. I have heard it said that the average person who grows up under the English language must learn an average of 20-30 words per day beginning with his or her first day in this world and continuing until the age of 18! Wow, how much we have learned and the majority of this learning was probably not in a formal teacher-student environment.
There is a lot to learn in a short amount of time. But one thing we can do to improve our growth in any language is to focus on those vocabulary words which are most commonly used. I found many sources online for free that feature lists of the most commonly spoken words in English. For example, the 250 most spoken words or the 1000 most spoken words.
If you have been studying a language for a while and would like to test your skill I would encourage you to take a look at one of these lists and see how many words you can translate into the language you are learning. This will provide you with a chance to not only test your skills but improve it as well.
I have recently discovered that the best way to learn a foreign language (in my case it was Portuguese) was to combine fun with learning, entertainment with focus. After becoming a member of http://www.fluentfuture.com, I am happy to say that this is possible. Not only that now I feel confident about my Portuguese speaking skills, but I also made a lot of friends on this website. I encourage you to try it, even for a short time. It is free of charge and very easy to use.
Good tips and suggestions! Learning a language is worthwhile, but it really does take a lot of work!
Great article, and yes in fact all you wrotte lines above clearly shows to learn any language you must be constant, practice and practice.
thanks
To do all the above, you need a platform which is available 24/7, adaptable to most learning styles and also can be done with enjoyment (games and fun quizzes with feedbacks!). Have a look at http://www.e-kata.com.my. This website is solely for learning Bahasa Malaysia. It is reasonably priced and meet most learners’ requirement.
Communication in a given language is just as important. I have worked with people whohad great listening skills, and when they went to another country they were almost lost because they were not prepared to use the language.
If it’s affordable, the best way to learn a foreign language is to actually leaving in that country. It is by far the most effective and the fastest way to learn a new language. That’s how I learned English. Well, I’m still learning I guess.
i think u r right maybe it takes time to learn a language but its lovely to learn a language that u dont know.im in the faculty of education english departmen nd i will be gappy if u put excersis for listening plz nd thank u
Try this software
http://www.lingua-soft.com
Listen and read every day! – It really does it.
I think number 4 is the most important. Taking responsibility for your own learning and choosing the content that is right for you is a vital step in learning any languages. You have to really want it.
Joining a language social network is a great way to help you learn language as well. Sites such as LiveMocha for example allow you to learn a language and practice it with native speakers all at the same place. You might even get to make friends as well
I’ve also find out that watching TV shows (if available) in the language you are studying helps. Sure you will not understand every single thing they say but you are learning. And it’s probably one of the fun ways to learn in my opinion.
Language Learning Programs and Ebooks
http://language-learning-program.blogspot.com/
Rosetta Stone, Tell Me More, Michel Thomas, Pimsleur, EuroTalk, Face2face, EFU, Berlitz, Oxford, Cambridge, Barrons, Colloquial, ESL, EFL, TOEFL, IELTS, LANGMaster, Rocket Languages, Teach Yourself, Touchstone and more…
I especially like points 2 and 3, which I have applied vigorously in learning my fourth language, I must say what Mr Kaufmann’s suggestions are very easy and effective!
I’d suggest saving up a little bit of money from each pay check, and getting Rosetta Stone, I have it for my iMac and I am learning Mandarin Chinese. It’s really easy to learn from this program!
[...] Source: http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/learn-foreign-language/ [...]
These are good tips. I’m studying French and reading every day definitely helps.
Here’s another video for tips for learning a foreign language as well . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWNXIx-p_os
Great post. I’ve been teaching ESL and I encourage my students to listen to http://www.eslpod.com. I think it’s a great site to learn English by listening to common day conversations.
[...] important skill to develop and yet not many lessons are focused on how students should do this. How to Learn a Foreign Language pretty much repeats the same suggestions I offered during my meetings with students. 20+ Ways to [...]
faggots
To really learn a language you have to practice with a native speaker. Check out http://www.exchangealanguage.com
Hi All
We have a mutual interest with PickTheBrain.
Our site http://www.lingodesigns.com is created from the languages from around the world!
Rule #1: Be fearless of making mistakes.
Rule #2: Practice speaking in the target language.
Rule #3: Use flashcards to build your vocabulary. Try using http://www.vocabfish.com. You can learn and practice over 2000 words in any pairing of English, French, Spanish, German, Polish, Arabic, Chinese an Vietnamese.
Nice Posting , it true about what you said , and I think patient to learn step by step is the key for break “the code”
Step one is by far the most important in my opinion. I can say that because I’m bilingual. English is one of the hardest language I’ve encounter but it was easy to learn because i was immerse in it for more than eight hours a day. I tried to learn Spanish in school with 50 minutes of interaction but that didn’t worked as as well. So one is really critical. When you want to learn a language, you have to be immerse.