If you’re a first-time learner of a foreign language, you may find that the learning process is a frustrating experience. When you finally start to understand and speak a new language, it can be an exciting process.

10 Tips for Learning a New Language

Author:

MaximeMLT
If you’re a first-time learner of a foreign language, you may find that the learning process is a frustrating experience. When you finally start to understand and speak a new language, it can be an exciting process. However, if it takes a while for you to get it, you may feel lost and disappointed. The following 10 tips include time and research-tested tips that will help you understand a new language more quickly and communicate more effectively.

Be patient and set realistic expectations

Many new language learners end up setting themselves up for disappointment because they have unrealistic expectations. When you’re new to a language, it’s to be expected that you won’t understand much in the beginning and that you will make lots of mistakes. It will take a while for you to adjust to the sound and rhythm of the new language. If you’re taking an immersion course that is taught completely in the new language, you probably won’t understand much at all. Just remember that practice is the key to learning a new language. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because you can learn a lot from them.

Make your own flashcards

Making your own flashcards is a very effective way to learn vocabulary. Vocabulary is the most important element of learning a foreign language, so try to memorize as much as possible. The more words you know how to say, the more you will be able to speak and be understood. You can write words on the front of the cards and their definitions in English on the back.

Study for shorter chunks of time

Research shows that students learn more effectively and retain more information when they study for shorter chunks of time. So, rather than studying all at once and for a long period of time once a week, study several times a day in short chunks of time. Even squeezing in just a few minutes of practice time each day can make a huge difference.

Do exercises out loud

Rather than reading your assignments to yourself and pronouncing words in your head, do exercises out loud. When you recite words and passages orally, they tend to stick in your mind more.

Form a study group

When you study with your classmates and do homework with them, it gives you the opportunity to practice speaking the language and discuss the material you learn in class. The chances that you’ll remember the material will increase when you discuss it out loud with your classmates.

Borrow language tapes and foreign films

In order to get a better feel for a language and learn how to pronounce words properly, you have to listen to the language on a constant basis. Reading books and trying to pronounce words on your own is not nearly as effective. Immerse yourself in the new language by borrowing language tapes from your local library and renting films in the language you’re learning. For optimal results, watch movies in the foreign language with subtitles in that language instead of subtitles in English.

Form friendships with speakers of the language

You can increase your exposure to the language by befriending native speakers and practicing speaking with them. Talking in the foreign language in front of a group of native speakers can be a nerve-wrecking experience, but most of your awkwardness and shyness will melt away if you talk one-on-one with a native speaker.

Study abroad

Studying abroad at a language school is one of the most effective ways to learn a language because it immerses you in the language. You can immediately apply what you learn in class to your life outside of the school. From ordering food at restaurants to speaking with taxi drivers, you can practice the things you learn in class on a daily basis.

Live with a host family

When you live with a host family, you can practice the language constantly while learning about the local culture. Living with a host family allows you to learn a lot of words and phrases that are necessary in day-to-day life.

Take private classes

Private classes are far more effective than group classes because they allow you to learn at your own pace and use study materials that interest you. Private classes can be prohibitively expensive in some countries, but you can receive private classes for a very good price if you study in developing countries. For example, if you are learning Spanish, you can get a great deal on private classes if you study in South America rather than Spain.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/10-tips-for-learning-a-new-language-1698409.html

About the Author
Maxime Braire is passionate about education, and is totally absorbed by language travel, and immersion programs for students from all over the world. The immersion programs offered by MyLanguageTravel are some of the best in the world, and are much sought after. Log into http://www.mylanguagetravel.com to learn more.

You want to learn and want to know how to learn Spanish, French, German, Italian or Chinese.

Find the language you are looking for – the most common search words 2011 are:

Learn Spanish

To learn Spanish, free learn Spanish, learn Spanish online, how learn Spanish, how to learn, learn Spanish language, Spanish language

Learn French

Learn French language, French language, learn French online, learn French fast, learning French

Learn German

Learn German online, German language, learn German language, learn German free, learning German, learn German audio, bbc learn German

Learn Italian

Learn Italian online, learn Italian online, learn Italian language, Italian language, learn Italian fast, learn Italian phrases, Italian phrases, learn Italian bbc

Learn Chinese

Learn Chinese online, learn Chinese language, Chinese language, learn Chinese free, learn mandarin, learn Chinese mandarin, learning Chinese, learn Chinese characters

Want to learn how to learn - spanish - french - German - Italian - Chinese

Pages

Want to learn a new language - Speak the language

Want to learn a new Language - 10 Tips for Learning a New Language

10 Tips for Learning a New Language

Find the language you are looking for – the most common search words 2011