Foreign Language Learning
Foreign language learning is a rewarding activity. It can offer new job opportunities, new friendships and the opportunity to travel to new places.
If you are into foreign language learning, you probably want to know the best way to go about aquiring a new second language. I have studied foreign languages for a long time and I want to pass on some information that you can use so that you do not lose any time studying like I did. Soon you will be learning a new foreign language very quickly!
Firstly, let’s see some common problems. I will go over three of them and then I am going to cover something that I think is the most important to keep in mind when studying a foreign language.
Problem 1: Word lists. Many foreign language programs, books and textbooks have long word lists at the end of each section. While it may seem like having a word list to memorize is what one should do to learn a language, it is actually a very large waste of your study time! Unfortunately, these word lists lose the context in which these words are used which is the very process by which humans best acquire new language and in your case, a new foreign language.
Problem 2: Foreign language grammar rules. Language textbooks love grammar rules. While these grammar rules are easy to teach, by learning them, you will not become a fluent speaker. More important is to learn real phrases that are used by native speakers. Learning grammar rules will only insure that you know grammar in the language. You will not gain fluency or the ability to really speak and understand the foreign language.
Problem 3: Useless sentences. Foreign language learning programs often try to get away with teaching you sentences that you probably won’t be using anytime soon. They give you sentences like ”The horse is in the barn” but do not teach you real sentences that you will use like ”Let’s go get something to eat after this.”
Now for the number one, most important point when foreign language learning: full, complete, natural phrases. Unfortunately, many programs and textbooks will teach you language that you will not end up using very often in real life situations. If you use these resources, you will find that you will be unable to understand the language when you go out into the world and you will only be able to say phrases like “The cat is large” or “How do you do? My name is Joseph Smith. I am pleased to meet you” which will have native speakers laughing at your stiltedness.
If your goal is to speak the REAL language, then you should focus your energies and efforts on the REAL language. Don’t waste any time on language that only exists in textbooks. Furthermore, do not waste any money on these textbooks or programs. Real, natural phrases will get you used to the natural rhythm of the language and immediately begin to condition you to sound like a native speaker.
I hope this article has helped you. There is much, much more to language learning and I share all of my tips, tricks, techniques and methods in the book I have written. If you want the fastest method to learn a language so that you will become fluent in a foreign language in a matter of months, learn thousands of words without worrying about forgetting them, master grammar and do all of this in an enjoyable, painless manner then you need to read Learn That Language Now!