Build an expansive vocabulary in a different language using index cards. If you are a beginner, write some of the most common words that appear in salutatory conversation on one side of the index card. For example, you might write the English words "hello," "goodbye," "good," and "bad" on one side of the card and their translations on the other. Use the index cards for food, which would be helpful when ordering in a restaurant such as "chicken," "fruit," "salad," and "fish."
Index cards are useful tools for remembering common and tough-to-learn phrases in a foreign language. Write one phrase in English on one side of an index card and its translation on the other. For example, if learning Italian you may write "Come stai?" on one side and its translation, "How are you?", on the other. Other phrases you might include may be, "What's your name?", "I'd like to order," and "Where's the restroom?" As you begin to memorize simpler phrases, transcribe harder phrases to your index cards to study.
The grammar of a foreign language will be different from the English language grammar with which you are familiar. Use index cards to help you remember different verb conjugations and case numbers. Pronouns in many of the European languages affect verb endings when used in a sentence. For example, in Italian "lavoro" means "I work," while "lavoriamo" means "we work." Use index cards to practice different case endings and conjugations in the language you are trying to learn.
Perfect the accent of the foreign language you are trying to learn. Write commonly mispronounced words in your foreign language on one side of the index card and its phonetic transcription on the opposite side. For example, in Italian "c" followed by a vowel is pronounced as the English "ch" sound. Understanding the nuances of pronunciation in your desired foreign language will enhance your speaking and reading skills. Sound like a local once you use your index cards to learn proper language pronunciation.