How do I learn a new language?? Introduction

Language is in fact a skill. It's a habit you picked up from your childhood. I don't believe that people are "good" or "bad" at languages, because if you are able to communicate in your mother tongue, then you are, in essence, a successful language learner*. Keeping that in mind, picking up the habit of a second, third or even fourth language isn't so daunting, considering you succeeded so well at it the first time!

Bearing that in mind, it is useful to break language down into four separate areas. Thinking about your mother tongue, let's assume it's english, try and think of all the ways in which you encounter language...Speaking to people, listening to music, reading the paper or books or road signs, texting friends, writing emails etc. All these activities in which you encounter language can be divided into four specific skill areas, or four different things you are doing in each activity: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Breaking the entire concept of "learning a Language" down into these four areas makes planning to learn it a WHOLE lot easier!!

You will find that resources may or may not be geared towards all of these skill areas. For instance, a comprehension based text book with lots of passages and questions is useful for developing reading skills, yet not so helpful in practicing Speaking. Many textbooks come equipped with audio CDs and speaking exercises incorporated. These are most useful as general opinion is that learning is most effective when most senses are engaged**. In this sense, an activity where you saw some of the language written and read it outloud, listening to your own voice as you speak each word, and then wrote down answers to the questions or perhaps a summary, would be the most effective of activities in that it involves all four skills tasks AND your senses of sight, sound and touch (whilst writing).

Breaking language learning down into these four areas allows the learner to plan for their learning. Whether you are in Primary, Secondary School, College, working full-time, part-time or not currently employed, it is important to monitor each of the skill areas to ensure they are recieving the attention they need. Find ways of challenging and excercising each skill area and practice, practice, practice!

In order to learn new material to practice with and progress in your language learning, use already designed resources such as textbooks, online course materials or the school or course curriculum. These will give you a clear projection of how you are expected to progress in your language learning over a period of time. HOWEVER, do not rely entirely on any single resource. Supplement your learning with as many authentic resources as you can! The internet is a wealth or resources from online news channels, newspaper websites, tandem partner exchange programs, music videos, films and TV programs etc. Try meet native or very fluent speakers and practice with them. If you're in school then your teachers and language assistants would probably be more that happy to sit and have a conversation in the language with you. If you go on holiday, try not to speak English to the local people, try ordering food, asking directions, talking about the weather and making enquiries all in the native language. This is probably the best way of all to learn language.

This is just a short introduction into thinking about learning a language. I will shortly post more specific ways of learning and practicing each of the target skill areas: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking.

*There is debate about language learning vs language acquisition but for the purpose of this post, all that is FAR too complicated!
**This is true for any subject, not just language!!