How To Learn Any Language Brad Aiken Source:

1: Which language should I learn?! Utility People often talk about whether it’s more “useful” to learn Spanish or French or Chinese. The truth is, for a native English speaker, none. English is a global language, and most Spanish, French, and Chinese speakers are likely to at least know some English, and will probably prefer to use it with you (unless you speak their language very well). However, there are still some languages more useful than others. Studies show, for example, that students of Chinese or German are paid a higher entry-level wage on average than students of Spanish or French. Also, don’t forget about sign languages, which can always be useful. Availability Not all languages are commonly studied in the Western world. In order to learn some obscure language like Chichewa or Cebuano, for example, would have to do some serious research in order to find a teacher, much less any materials. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to study a rare language. The internet is a powerful tool, as are university libraries. Fun Learning a new language is a fun experience in general, but some may be more fun than others. Do you prefer learning the complex and intricate grammatical rules of Indo-European languages, or the relatively grammatically simple but difficult-to-write East Asian languages? Discovering your own personal preferences is important.

Most commonly studied languages by American students K-12 students ( ) RankLanguageEnrollmentsPercentage 1Spanish6,418, % 2French1,254, % 3German395, % 4Latin205, % 5Japanese72, % 6Italian65, % 7Chinese59, % 8American Sign Language41, % 9Russian12, % Others [2] [2] 255, % Total8,907,201100% The laws of supply and demand apply to language skills, too. The rarer it is, the more lucrative it probably is.

2: How should I learn a new language? Books Barnes & Noble usually tends to have a decent selection. When all else fails, there are other resources like Amazon.com and TeachYourself.com. When all else fails, many older college-level textbooks are in the public domain, and can be easily dug up with a few Google searches. Videos Many YouTube channels are also dedicated to language instruction. This is especially true of rarer languages, like Navajo for example. Videos are arguably a superior format for learning sign languages. Audio Podcasts are also a great way to build listening comprehension. There are a ton of podcasts available online that, for example, discuss the news and other topics in foreign languages. Many are targeted towards language learners, using slow speech and simple vocabulary. *Resource links will be forthcoming in a later post

3: Other Tips Don’t feel guilty for not keeping up with it every day While it is important to maintain a regular schedule of study, especially towards the beginning of your studies, it’s not essential, and you can take a break every once in a while. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE Practice everything. Reading, writing, listening, and yes, even speaking. Translate passages from your favorite book, listen to radio programs, TV shows, movies, podcasts, etc., read newspapers and stories, and either find native speakers who will talk with you, or just make up conversations and speak to yourself if you have to. Languages, much like riding a bike, playing an instrument, or math, are skills, not just information. In order to learn, you have to practice a TON. Stay interested Sometimes it can be difficult to stay interested in what you’re learning. Finding a good book or TV show in your target language to get interested in will help you keep your attention focused on learning the new language.