The best way to study a new language?
825349
You're probably in school so this may not work, but seriously if you really want to learn a language inside out, get a one-way ticket to the land where the language is spoken, and make it very hard to get back to where you originated from.  You will learn the language from the ground up, like children do.  "I'm hungry!" "How much does this cost?""Where's the bathroom?""How do you say...?" It's humbling to always be asking and learning.  Sometimes you have to say a word or a phrase over and over before you get it.  Try not to associate with English speakers, because it is easy to get lazy and just fall back on your native language.  Living in a country you learn the accent and the slang--more authentic.\nComo sta lei? Multo bene?  I learned that through language tapes--and that is about all I learned.  I learned Spanish by living in South America for two years.  I am fluent in Spanish.  So much depends on your motives for learning a language.  If it's just to get a "C" and get a language requirement out of the way, it's going to be different than if you are planning to go to Italy this summer and you really want to see the sights and taste the real authentic food  and meet people your age.  Usually if they see you are attempting to speak their language and not expecting THEM to automatically speak English to you, you will find most people are remarkably helpful.  I did learn some French in high school using conventional methods--so that does work--but it's that principle of the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it. Flash cards, writing vocabulary out over and over, listening to tapes, watching films--you can even listen to radio from Italy on Internet.  Go to an Italian restaurant and try your Italian on the waiters and waitresses. If you can find a student from Italy trying to learn English, you can help each other, and by listening to the way they put sentences together in English, it will give you insights into Italian grammar--because it is not the same, as you know, as English.  Your choice: get a C or travel the sea.  <smile> .  &8^ } 3\nCiao,\n-Spec
665552
I found the 8-CD course by Michel Thomas to be fantastic. From zero to conversational Spanish in a week - just playing the CDs in the car on my way to and from work.\n\nEven the 2-CD basic course gives you enough to get by on holiday (with a bit of arm-waving, pointing and English thrown in)\n\nHe also does German, French, Italian,...
1157449
Look online for a program that has you read it, hear it spoken (like a CD rom or regular CD for your car) and also, if possible, one that can hear you say the words and correct your pronunciation. I've found the best way to learn a language is to have one that you can just listen to in the car that says it in English and then in the foreign language and you can repeat along. Makes car trips go so much faster and you can repeat the "lessons" as many times as you need to. You could always enroll in a community college course, but I haven't heard of Greek being offered really, so I'd look for a CD program.
175028
The best way is to talk with someone who speaks that language.\n\nOther things you can do:\n\nWatch a language DVD/video.  The ones we like are the Muzzy series and also the Standard Deviants series.  For French, there is a great series of videos called "French in Action."\n\nYou can also try listening to the Berlitz audio tapes.  We have used those in both German and Italian.  You can listen while driving/riding in the car or while relaxing or whatever.  they really are great for learning pronunciation.\n\nYou can also enroll in a language class but that would be the most expensive.\n\nIf you are on a low budget, try getting audio and video tapes at your local library.\n\nOr ask friends or family who have taken a language class. Most likely they have materials collecting dust that they will give you.
839607
Total immersion is the best way....have you considered stuy abroad or an exchange student program?\n\nRosetta Stone\nDo you live somewhere were there are a lot of spanish-speaking people? Ask one of them to help you, and maybe you can help them with English.
741795
Between the two of them, I would choose the interactive software.  Most of your interative software includes pictures (which are very helpful) and real life situatiions and provided extra vocabulary .  Most of these programs also include progress quizzes.  Most of these software programs also put the language in a context that you can understand.  The few audio programs I've listened to give you a phrase to listen translate and repeat.  If you are building towards fluency, this is not the way to go.  \nThere's no harm in listening to an audio cd (it gives you a model of the language being spoken), but I wouldn't rely on it solely.\nGood Luck on your language learning!
435015
To learn well enough to read signs with a phrasebook, and know some basic phrases ("Where is a bathroom? "Where is the museum?" How much does this cost?") I would study an hour a day, at least 3 days a week, for about 20 hours total.\n\nTo learn well enough to have a good conversation with someone, you need to keep up that schedule for a year or more, and spend time "thinking in Spanish".  Go through your day, and as you talk, constantly think and write down sentences that you say and hear, and later look up the words  and phrases to keep you learning.
312989
Hi,\nHebrew as a second language...interesting.  I am multi-lingual and have noticed things about learning new languages.\n\nYou have already been supplied answers like:\n\n1) study\n2) immersion!!\n3) CD's, books, teachers\n4) speak to survive!\n5) stoned?\n\nThese suggestions are rated here:\n\n5 is useless...it just makes you think you're learning something when you're just wasting time.\n\n1 & 3 have been know to work but not rapidly.\n\n2 & 4 both work and work rapidly.  \n\nNow how to get there.  The language you intend to learn is of no consequence;  that is these concepts work with any language.\n\nLearning through chat rooms will gain you nearly nothing.  \n\nBeing younger is a distinct advantage.  If you are between 5 and 8 you will probably learn faster than those of other ages. \n\nYou need to live daily with those that exclusively speak your intended (new) language.  Having a person that speaks your native language fluently around is as much a hinderance as it is a benefit.  Optimally you'll have limited access to this person but have constant access to those who are only familiar but not fluent in your native language.  This forces you to do some of the language thinking.  Thinking in the new language helps you learn.  If you think you can learn without speaking out loud you are missing a large portion of the language learning process as well.  You need to say things out loud to people who will be attempting to understand you.  If they do, then you have positive reenforcement that will reward your efforts...and negative reenforcement for confusing or unclear communication.  When you mangle a sentence in your new language (which you will) you may see the listener wince telling you that you made a mistake.  This immediate feedback is most valuable in your learning.  Acceptance of your sentence and understanding from the listener is both rewarding and immediate and helps you learn that much faster.\n\nAfter you find yourself thinking in your new language, you are on your way.  Speak out loud, practice saying things that you hear, these are the two things that children constantly do that adults find annoying but are necessary for rapid learning.\n\nOops...I didn't mean to write another book.\n\nGood luck in your Hebrew endeavor.  I hope you're not just entering this lightly (e.g. because this cute guy is taking Hebrew too xP ) but ready for a lifelong commitment to knowing and understanding a new language and culture.
244233
Here are some tips which may help you to master the English Language!\n\nSpeak without Fear \n\nThe 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. \n\nUse all of your Resources \n\nEven if you study English at a language school it doesn’t mean you can’t learn outside of class. Using as many different sources, methods and tools as possible, will allow you to learn faster. There are many different ways you can improve your English, so don’t limit yourself to only one or two. The internet is a fantastic resource for virtually anything, but for the language learner it's perfect. \n\nSurround Yourself with English \n\nThe absolute best way to learn English is to surround yourself with it. Take notes in English, put English books around your room, listen to English language radio broadcasts, watch English news, movies and television. Speak English with your friends whenever you can. The more English material that you have around you, the faster you will learn and the more likely it is that you will begin “thinking in English.” . \n\nListen to Native Speakers as Much as Possible \n\nThere are some good English teachers that have had to learn English as a second language before they could teach it. However, there are several reasons why many of the best schools prefer to hire native English speakers. One of the reasons is that native speakers have a natural flow to their speech that students of English should try to imitate. The closer ESL / EFL students can get to this rhythm or flow, the more convincing and comfortable they will become. \n\nWatch English Films and Television \n\nThis is not only a fun way to learn but it is also very effective. By watching English films (especially those with English subtitles) you can expand your vocabulary and hear the flow of speech from the actors. If you listen to the news you can also hear different accents. \n\nListen to English Music \n\nMusic can be a very effective method of learning English. In fact, it is often used as a way of improving comprehension. The best way to learn though, is to get the lyrics (words) to the songs you are listening to and try to read them as the artist sings. There are several good internet sites where one can find the words for most songs. This way you can practice your listening and reading at the same time. And if you like to sing, fine. \n\nStudy As Often As Possible!\n\nOnly by studying things like grammar and vocabulary and doing exercises, can you really improve your knowledge of any language. \n\nDo Exercises and Take Tests\n\nMany people think that exercises and tests aren't much fun. However, by completing exercises and taking tests you can really improve your English. One of the best reasons for doing lots of exercises and tests is that they give you a benchmark to compare your future results with. Often, it is by comparing your score on a test you took yesterday with one you took a month or six months ago that you realize just how much you have learned. If you never test yourself, you will never know how much you are progressing. Start now by doing some of the many exercises and tests on this site, and return in a few days to see what you've learned. Keep doing this and you really will make some progress with English. \n\nRecord Yourself \n\nNobody likes to hear their own voice on tape but like tests, it is good to compare your tapes from time to time. You may be so impressed with the progress you are making that you may not mind the sound of your voice as much. \n\nListen to English \n\nBy this, we mean, speak on the phone or listen to radio broadcasts, audiobooks or CDs i
85098
I'd say hang around people at school who speak that language. You can also take classes. Like Irish said, the older you are, the harder it is to learn.
496309
There are very good study tips already listed here. There are methods for different subjects and styles of learning. But one thing you might want to consider is how you learn. Are you a visual, auditory, kinetic, or mixed learner. If you are a visual learner here are some tips:\n- use graphic organizers (charts, maps, diagrams, etc.) to organize the information.\n- use pictures either in your head or drawn out. For example, If my students were studying culture, they might draw a bedroom with a poster of an artist on the wall, a shelf with books by famous authors, a cd player with cds of various musicians, etc. \n- use color. Perhaps you could put the major battles of one war in one color and another war in a different color. In foreign languages, try irregular verbs in red, regular verbs in green; Masculine objects in blue, feminine in pink, etc. \n\nIf you are an auditory learner try these tips:\n- have some one read it to you or read aloud and record it for play back at any time.\n- put it to music \n- say the important information aloud\n- put the information in story form (have fun with this: add voices, sound effects, accents, etc.) and tell someone \n\nIf you are a kinetic learner try this:\n- make up actions for important terms\n- act out or role play scenes and events\n- some of my students have made up cheers\n- just move around and find natural actions to match the concepts.\n\nMix and match - \nmake up songs with actions and picture the scenes in your head while you sing.\n\nMake it fun for yourself. I get bored easily. When I study I have to be creative and put it all in simplest form. Some of these things take time to do put you are learning and thinking the whole time. try the links below for more help.
279512
Depends on the type of language (the same language groups as yours or not), and on task you wish to accomplish.\nShould you talk or write more?\nIn some languages you need to start from scratch even in alphabet. \n\n * If you gonna be novelist, it's very tough.\n   Theodor Dreiser did it the whole life, and still \n   his German English was not perfect enough\n * do you need verbally communicate in very efficient way:\n   (for example, convincing others to give up their \n   money for some good/bad/unknown purpose)?\n * do you need just read technical manuals?\n\nThe best way to lean new language is to forget your native language for a while. For example, babies learn language fantastically quickly. \n\nConclusion: be baby! (seriously) Open your mind to new.\nOur problem with any education is that we're pretty much the grown-ups in all and stopped being surprised (part of mind job) and absorb new things in the easiest possible way.
182027
Study not for exams but for knowledge. \n\nWhen you study chemistry, biology - look for practical implementations of what you study. It will give your studies wider pespective.\nStudying history, compare present events with those hundreds of years old. People make often the same mistakes because they know nothing about history. \n\nThink that studying languages opens whole world for you. I was in China last July, without knowing little Chinese I would've never been able to talk with people there. Even Chinese is not difficult if you find a pleasure in learning it. And it's even bigger pleasure when you say few words and somebody understands it.\n\nRead. Knowledge makes you a better human. Especially when you find somebody you can share it with. \nGood luck! :)
1169522
u can learn portughese!! it's pretty similar to spanish!! // italian sounds good too/ FRENCH  it's like HARD GURL!! so stick to those 2!!:)
810103
Read as much as you can in the language you're trying to learn.  Don't pick anything too difficult, but with a few words in each page you have to look up.\nAnd don't give up!  Good luck.
25801
honestly I don't know why you would want to do this, but the best way to learn a language is to go live in the country. If you can't afford that, take some classes, listen to tapes in your car, and above all, watch as many movies in the language as possible...that's a great way to hear the language spoken colloquially and get as close to the real experience as is possible in the confines of your living room
1090908
study your vocab, speak more of the language