As infants, we become familiar with the sounds of a language long before we learn the meanings of words or, for that matter, how to pronounce those words ourselves. It is a very useful exercise, when learning any foreign language, to listen to the spoken word as much as possible just to get a sense of the sounds and cadence of the language. It is now possible to stream audio from around the world to your home computer. YiddishVoice.com is just one of dozens of online sources for streaming audio in Yiddish. There are many English words that have Yiddish origins. Listen carefully to see whether you can identify any in context.
Get in the habit of browsing a dictionary. There are plenty of free online Yiddish dictionaries. Some work with both standard and Hebrew keyboards. One example can be found at YiddishDictionaryonline.com. Also have fun with sites such as DailyWritingTips.com. There you will find resources like a handbook of 40 common Yiddish expressions. Visiting sites like this is a fun way to pique your curiosity and explore the language in a nonthreatening way that feels more like play than work.
Take some lessons. As with most languages, Yiddish is taught online, one-on-one, for a fee. Investigate some of the programs, take a free sample lesson wherever one is offered, and choose the program that is right for you. With the help of a camcorder or webcam, you may be able to communicate visually with your tutor, making your sessions far more productive. Free visual communication programs like Skype make this possible.
Arrange a language exchange. Online services like MyLanguageExchange.com make it possible for you to get in touch with another individual motivated to learn or to teach Yiddish. With the help of this service, you can arrange chats and written exchanges or find more than one pen pal with whom to share the learning experience. There are also learning games available at MyLanguageExchange to help you practice and test what you know in your spare time.
Learn some songs. Learning simple children's songs in any foreign language, including Yiddish, is a surprisingly effective way permanently to memorize words and phrases. Purchase CDs or download some of these songs, then look up the lyrics at sites like Zemerl.com. Listen to the songs and follow along with the written lyrics until you can begin to join in. Not only will this help with memory of the vocabulary, but it will improve your reading skills as well. Zol zion mit Mazel!--Good luck!