Thread: Tell me about good ways to self-teach a foreign language.

Learning a new language is difficult after the younger age (like 8), but still possible. I think, though, that the correct way to do it (so you don't forget) is really to either immerse yourself or pay for a good tutor. Immersion is the best option, but not always practical. You DEFINITELY need at least someone who can tell you what you're saying wrong, though. The problem with just tapes and stuff is that you don't get any feedback on your own performance...

Well, if you're determined to learn such an...unrenowned language, I guess the best you could do is go to Slovakia yourself. No better way to learn a language than living in the country.

But somehow I guess that's out of the question, heh. Not much to do with a notebook and a pen, I imagine. I'm no linguistics expert (though a creative writer and grammar perfectionist) so perhaps my advice won't be great but...

The Power of Google Compells You!

Search for online language study guides or whatnot. After all, this is...

Hehe, I have all the language stuff itself, and I am going there in 6 weeks.

I'm talking to slovakians every day essentially, and I have basic vocabulary and seech in my notebook, its just htte learning part.

You're probably on the right track then. Just keep at it, keep focused and keep trying.

It'll take time, but you'll improve. Especially since you're going there.

I agree with Merlock. I started learning French when I was 11, but very little was taught. I finally got serious about becoming fluent when I was 15. I realized the best way to become fluent is going to France. You have to be surrounded by the people who speak that language and stuff.

So as sson as I can, I plan to go live in France.

And hate all English people?

I think that the best way is to take a class or get some other form of instruction from a fluent speaker for the basics, and then just use newspapers, movies, music, webpages, novels... to progress. But yeah, nothing substitutes staying in the area where the language is spoken for extended amounts of time.

This reminds me, I need to get back into learning Esperanto.

I would say the internet is your friend as far as finding material in other languages. Just be careful with some stuff because of internet slang and improper grammar etc. To learn something like a language it has to be a main focus of your life, so just focus on it as much as you can. If you find yourself riding in a car or something or just bored somewhere, practice saying things about what you see or what you could say to someone else. You could also listen to people speak English and then try to translate some of what they say. At first it may only be basic words and then phrases and then whole sentences. Basically effort=improvement. More focused time spent means more knowledge.

Definfetly grab yourself a self help book. Also, look into some audio tapes, they'll get you accustomed to the sounds of the new language. I did this with Spanish when I was already decent in speaking it and it improved my skills. It's one thing to learn grammar from a book though, yes, you should do that to begin, and if you have any contacts at all who speak the language, ask them to come study with you...they'll correct you with the begginer stuff and will study the basics with you. Don't stress yourself out, because it's quite easy to get frustrated at an older age, but you'll get it. As some others already stated, it is a great idea to immerse yourself in the language and related culture. You'd be surprised how quickly and well you pick up the local tounge...I went to Costa Rica for only 3 weeks and improved my speaking skill by probably 40-50%...I can now get around though I haven't practiced in a while...

There's many ways, above all, don't get frustrated, enjoy it.

Er, from my experience, trying to teach yourself a language is like trying to cook without a recipe. I took spanish in grade 9 and 10, got straight As, then went to another school for grade 11 which didn't offer spanish in a class. My alternative was spanish through distance education, which was basically me reading from a textbook and writing down answers. I did not learn one thing; on the tests I never got anything higher than a very low B.

So now I'm back at my old school for grade 12, and am currently in spanish 11 and once again I'm at a high A. I found it's nearly impossible to learn by yourself without the help of a teacher or nearby influence. You can only read so much, and even then the information doesn't stick like it would if someone was telling you how or why.

My advice, pay for classes!

Flash Cards, are extremely effective.

Repetition will leave a subliminal imprint... you'll learn so fast

start listening to Slovakian music then try to translate the lyrics.

Originally Posted by ThePhobiaViewed

This reminds me, I need to get back into learning Esperanto.

i was fluent then i lost it all. o well, its not like it was useful.

Originally Posted by Mrs. Jones

i was fluent then i lost it all. o well, its not like it was useful.

I would like to know another language an e-o is the easiest to learn and I figure it will help me if I try to learn French or Spanish in college.

Esperanto only helps w/ other latin languages if ur learning vocab. esperanto's grammar is too simplified to be useful. but it's fun to learn nonetheless