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but that almost makes it better, in my opinion. You put some words into an excel file, export it, and you have your cards on your iPod. Simple.

4. No matter what you do, put in the time! Learning a language is a lot like exercising. You'll have to put work in to see results. If you're limiting your study time to a few hours on a Saturday, and not spending a few minutes during the weekdays, you'll most likely lose all the vocabulary and grammar rules that you learned, and start all over again the next week.

5. Don't ignore grammar! When I went through school for Arabic, I didn't concern myself with grammar at all, since my teachers said that it wasn't a big deal. I ended up learning that grammar was a huge issue, and that had I spent a week learning some basic rules at the start, I would be much better at the language today.

6. Make a training plan for yourself. The military is big on mapping out training. And for good reason. If you set individual goals for yourself, and try to attain each goal, you'll know your strengths and weaknesses in a language much better than if you're just studying without any measurable goals.

7. Get a study buddy, but not until you know a little about the language. Many people suggest a study buddy or language exchange early in the learning process, if not at the very start. A language exchange (especially between two people, neither of whom know the other's language) can slow down the learning process in many cases, so avoid it until you're able to introduce yourself and have the grammar and vocabulary to describe a bit about yourself and your day-to-day life.

8. Keep a language journal. This cannot be emphasized enough. Track exactly what you're doing, for how long, and when. This will help you keep track of what does and doesn't work for you.

9. Make sure that you spend the right time studying. The first 15 minutes of the morning and the last 15 minutes before you go to bed are the optimal times for getting that language to stick in your head by reviewing what you plan to study for the day in the morning, and reviewing what you've studied in the evening.

-and finally-

10. HAVE FUN!

There are so many methods and tricks out there that are supposed to help you learn a foreign language, but there honestly is no way to become fluent in a foreign language in "less than a month" or master a language by buying a software program that is basically a set of vocabulary words. Trust me.

Well, good luck, buena suerte, hudh sa'id, and bonne chance. May your learning take you around the world!

Learn more about this author, Vanessa Weyland.
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