How To Learn A Foreign Language

Tips For Studying

I grew up speaking two languages, English and German, so when it came time for me to take a foreign language in school, I was surprised by how difficult it can be. I started taking Spanish, and it is much different to learn a language this way than to grow up speaking it. I had to get an "A" in the class, so I figured out the best way to do this:

1. The most important step is to LISTEN. Babies can learn to speak a foreign language. In fact they do! You might not remember, but you learned English and it was just as difficult back then. Listening not only means listening to your teacher (which is very important!!) but also listening to people who speak that language or trying to read a small book by looking at each word. 93% of the people who didn’t listen in my high school Spanish class had to repeat the year. This is because usually the only person who is going to be speaking to you in the language you are learning is the teacher. We all know how fun it is to goof around, but trying to teach yourself the lesson when you are doing homework is very difficult.
2. This brings me to the next point: HOMEWORK. I am one who thinks that homework should be abolished. In things like math and science, I find homework pointless, but for language the only way you can get it is if you practice and learn every single lesson. People who skip a night’s homework fall behind very quickly because they miss a concept or fail to learn the words.
3. So for all the people who don’t want to take three years of Spanish 1 (or whatever other language) they need to remember what actually should be obvious: 1) listen in class, and 2) do your work. This doesn’t mean guessing and letting the teacher correct you, but try to understand the concept and then relate it to your English class to see if there are any similarities.

   For example, "ensalata" in Spanish means salad. Using the obvious similarities here, the word becomes easier to remember.

   Another example is "comprender", if you know a synonym for understand is "comprehend" then "comprender’s" meaning is also easy to see.

   Find things around you that will help you study. If you need a pencil, then before you get yourself one think: what is pencil in Spanish? "Lapiz"!
    

4. These methods don’t always work so for people who are still struggling try:
   1. Language books
   2. Language Audio tapes
   3. Online websites
   4. Language video games