How to Learn a Foreign Language at Home

There are over 6,000 active languages in the world today, yet it's rare to find Americans who can speak more than one or two. Even President Barack Obama, during his candidacy, said he's embarrassed that he doesn't speak a foreign language. Learning a foreign language can benefit those who want to advance their careers in a global economy, expand their knowledge of another culture, increase cognitive skills or become a polyglot. Several options for learning a foreign language are available and allow you to find the method that offers you the greatest chance at success. Conveniently, Internet and computer-based language learning systems allow you to learn a foreign language at home.

Instructions

    • 1

      Immerse yourself as much as you can into the language you are learning. Spend the time to learn the language. The more time you spend in reading, writing, speaking and studying your new language, the more apt you are to truly absorb it.

    • 2

      Join an online language learning site. These sites are a great way to exchange languages with people from all over the world. Sites such as Livemocha.com are user-centered with native speakers helping each other learn. At Lang-8.com, you learn a language by writing it and exchanging what you write with other users.

    • 3

      Invest in a computer-based learning system such as Rosetta Stone or Transparent Language. These programs are more expensive than other options, but they offer variety and real-life situations in foreign countries. They give you more structured work and provide feedback so that you can progress in your new language with vocabulary as well as practical application.

    • 4

      Expand your vocabulary. Vocabulary is an important aspect of learning a new language, and using the vocabulary correctly (grammatical structures) develops as you invest more of yourself into the learning process. Memorization and repetition are popular methods of retaining language. Memorization tools such as flashcards and word association games are helpful. Use mnemonics to link words. Link a word in English with its equivalent in the other language.

    • 5

      Practice the language. Have conversations with people who are natural speakers of your new language. Having a microphone connected to your computer can allow you to converse with native speakers online. If no one is readily available, use newspapers, movies, music and magazines written in the language.

    • 6

      Feel comfortable making mistakes while learning a language; this is called language exploration. Children learning their first language are allowed to explore the language, experiment and make mistakes. They develop a mastery of the language, in part, from feedback. Learning a new language as an adult is no different.

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