//Speak a New Language

How to learn foreign languages?

Many ways to learn

There are many ways to learn a language. These are just a few of them:

• Use a self-teaching course; these may include CDs, videotapes or audio-cassettes as well as text books and exercises; you follow the course on your own and assess your progress as you go along. Courses are available for most languages and most levels from beginners to advanced. They are available from many bookshops, and sometimes can be hired from your local library.
• Watch TV! Many broadcasting companies offer language courses via television or radio programmes.
• Surf the web! There are more and more Internet sites offering lessons in foreign languages, often with sound and pictures. 
• Learn with a teacher. In most parts of Europe there are language classes available for adults. Classes often take place during the evening. The advantage of taking lessons with a group of other learners is that you have friends to encourage you in your learning and a teacher to guide you according to your specific needs.
• Learn at work. More and more employers are recognising that foreign language skills are vital to the success of their business. Many of the larger companies offer free or subsidised language courses. 

Of course, you can combine some or all of these methods, or use different methods at different stages in your learning. You can choose the way to learn a language that's most suited to you, depending on your learning style and your personal circumstances such as:

• where you live (e.g. whether there is a language course nearby)
• how much time you have available
• what languages are you interested in
• what your reasons are for wanting to learn a language

Here are some tips and ideas that you should bear in mind as you plan your language learning. 

Your reasons for learning

This is an important question: why do you want to learn? And what do you want to learn?

If you have a clear reason for learning a language, you will be more motivated to succeed. 

Maybe you want to be able to understand local people when you go on holiday abroad, or maybe your job brings you in contact with people from other countries, or maybe you just want to be able to make friends with people from other backgrounds than your own. These are all good reasons for learning a foreign language! But don't forget that there are plenty of other reasons too:

• More and more companies are investing in staff training in foreign languages, or are looking to recruit people with language skills. It needn't just be the top level staff who learn - shop floor workers can also be involved. Language learning can improve your career prospects. 
• Learning a language can increase your self-confidence and help you speak more clearly - so it can help you express yourself better in your own language as well. 
• Speaking someone else's language helps you to understand that person's culture and their outlook on life: the more people who do this, the more we can break down the barriers that divide people.

Whatever your situation, if you are aware of your reasons for learning a language and you remind yourself of them during your studies you will be more focused on your objectives and be able to keep up your learning momentum. 

Useful experience

• If you have an interest in languages in themselves, including your mother tongue, you'll make a good language learner. 
• Previous experience of language learning also helps. If you've already learned one language, you will have picked up some techniques which you can apply to a new language. This is because you need to learn how to learn a language. 
• If you've never learned a foreign language before: don't worry! Anyone can do it!

Study skills

Like anything else that's worthwhile, you need to invest a little time and energy in learning a language - but it's also fun! Here are some ideas to help:

• How quickly you progress will depend upon you, but it helps if you can set aside a regular time each day or each week to study your language.  In 2-4 hours per week you can make good progress.
• Keep a check on your progress. Many courses now include tests to help you see what you have learned, and what you need to concentrate on. 
• There are many things you can do to reinforce what you learn on your course, such as listening to foreign radio or watching films in their original language, even reading children's books is useful! 
• Remember that everyone learns in a different way, so try out out different approaches and see which worked best for you. 
• Don't be afraid to try out your new language whenever and wherever possible. You may be able to meet people nearby who speak the language you're learning; or you may be able to exchange letters or e-mails with someone abroad. 
• Foreign travel is, of course, where foreign languages come into their own and your new skills enable you to make contact. See if you can plan a trip abroad - even a short one - as something to aim for, and whilst abroad use every chance you can to practice your skills. Generally, people are pleased to hear you trying to speak their language and will make allowances if you don't exactly get it right. 
• Enjoy learning!