The Methods of Learning a Language

There exists any number of methods for learning a new language, and this is something that can be confusing, and down right frustrating. Some of the typical methods for learning a new language include reading books, watching videos, or listening to audio cassettes/ discs. Students should incorporate all of the aforementioned into their studying habits.

However, there comes a point when the student of any foreign language will have to start practicing with real live people. This may come as a shock to some professors, but the fact remains that the rules in any language are broken by those who speak the language fluently. In other words, you won’t learn to speak a foreign language at school. You’ll just have to make friends who speak the language you’re interested in mastering.
Keep in mind the possibility that a text book may contain misconceptions about the way phrases or questions are executed in the target language. For example, while living in Japan, I learned that the phrase “Doo itashi mashite” was an inappropriate response to an apology, although my college text book clearly stated the opposite to be true.

The trick here is to correct your misconceptions of a foreign language as you gain more experience, and practice the correct phrases.

After spending some time listening to a foreign language from native speakers, you’ll soon realize that you no longer have to translate the phrases or questions you hear in your own language in order to communicate. The language becomes natural over time. Initiating a conversation in a foreign language can be more difficult, however, as opposed to simply answering questions or blurting out phrases. Therefore, studying the foreign language, I’m afraid, will be a life-long necessity, even after you’ve mastered the language to some proficiency.

Advice on Foreign Language Learning

The best advice for a student is to go out into the world and start learning to communicate with real people. That’s not to say that books and audio cassettes aren’t worth investing in, but rather that such tools should be used in the beginning of learning a language, and then again as a supplement to real life communication in the target language. The point here is to immerse the student in the language and culture. Consider the basic text books and audio lessons to be the groundwork or preparation for speaking with native speakers of the target language. 

Keep in mind that effectively communicating with speakers of a foreign language is your ultimate goal; and remember that the best way to reach that goal is to start communicating with people who speak the language you want to learn.

Resources:

• Research Methods in Language Learning (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) 
• A New Practical and Easy Method of Learning the Greek Language, After the System of F. Ahn. 1St Course Games for Language Learning (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) 
• A Dynamic Approach to Second Language Development: Methods and techniques (Language Learning & Language Teaching) 
• Spanish With Ease: Day by Day Method (Assimil Language Learning Programs, English Base) (Assimil Method Books) 
• Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling (Wiley Desktop Editions) 
• Principles of Language Learning and Teaching (5th Edition) 
• Balancing Reading and Language Learning 
• Second Language Learning and Language Teaching 
• Scaffolding Language, Scaffolding Learning: Teaching Second Language Learners in the Mainstream Classroom 
• New Method of Learning ... Spanish Language ... 
• A New Practical and Easy Method of Learning the Spanish Language, After the System of F. Ahn [By D. Salvo]. (1St, 2Nd Course). 
• A new method of learning the German language: Embracing both the analytic and synthetic modes of instruction, being a plain and practical way of acquiring ... of reading, speaking, and composing German 
• Steiger's Colloquial Method of Learning the German Language: For Schools, Number One 
• German Conversation-Grammar: A Practical Method of Learning the German Language 
• A New, Practical, And Easy Method Of Learning The Latin Language: After The System Of F. Ahn ... Second Course 

 
Unusual Language Books:

• The Works of President Edwards, in Eight Volumes - Volume III (3). Containing The Life & Diary of Rev. David Brainerd, Mr. Brainerd's Journal in Two Parts (etc) - With the 2nd Appendix Containing an Account of His Method of Learning the Indian Language &c 
•  The Logodaedalian's Dictionary of Interesting and Unusual Words 
• The Word Lover's Dictionary: Unusual, Obscure, and Preposterous Words 
• Very Nice Ways to Say Very Bad Things: The Unusual Book of Euphemisms 
• Cruel and Unusual [In Japanese Language] 
• The Adventures of Dr. Alphabet: 104 Unusual Ways to Write Poetry in the Classroom and the Community 
• Very Nice Ways to Say Very Bad Things: An Unusual Book of Euphemisms 
• Owen & Mzee: Language Of Friendship 
• The All-Breed Dictionary of Unusual Names 
• Mrs. Byrne's Dictionary of Unusual, Obscure and Preposterous Words 
• Another Word A Day: An All-New Romp through Some of the Most Unusual and Intriguing Words in English 
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