5 Quick Tips for Learning a Foreign Language

To master a foreign language, you're going to have to put in a significant amount of effort, as well as many hours of practice. It has been proven that you need 700-1,000 hours simply to become competent in any worthwhile skill. But you can get a working knowledge of just about any foreign language in far less time.

The following five tips will streamline the process for you.

1. Clarify your purpose.
 
Are you learning for vacation travel? Business? Reading? Communicating with co-workers or employees?

In order to navigate the dizzying array of language programs available, you've got to know what your goals are. Some programs are more appropriate for certain purposes than others, and it's easy to become frustrated by choosing the wrong one.

2. Concentrate on verbs ... and a few prepositions.

The most essential verbs in any language are:

• to be
• to have
• to do/to make (the same in some languages)
• to go
• to come
• to want
• there is (a single handy word or expression in some languages).

As for the prepositions, you can cover your bases with this short list:

• to 
• from
• at
• in
• on
• next to
• behind/in back of
• in front of
• under
• with

The only additional vocabulary you need is a supply of courteous expressions

• Please
• Thank you
• Good morning
• Excuse me

For everything else (nouns, adjectives, and adverbs), just carry a little dictionary.

3. Learn how to ask simple questions.

Who ...? What ...? When ...? Where ...? How much ...? How do/does ...? Questions like these will get you any information you need.

4. Learn to pronounce words properly.

Pronunciation does matter. Your effort to sound like the people around you reflects your interest in and respect for their language. So do your best to imitate the sounds you hear. Practice with a tape recorder. And, if possible, listen to radio programs or films in the language you're trying to learn.

5. Read up on the culture.

The purpose of learning some Spanish or French, Chinese or Thai, is to interact with people. To communicate. By reading up on the culture, you will imbue your new foreign language skills - even if they're limited - with genuine interest, appreciation, and curiosity.