by Eva Maler

Created on: June 04, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2011

There are as much best ways to learn a language as there are languages. My experience of learning a foreign language (English) and teaching a foreign language (German) taught me one thing: There is no such thing like a best way.

Each student is different, has different needs and another best way to learn the language. Should you know the grammar before you even attempt to go into conversation or brave the talk and learn the grammar as you go? Do you have to bother with grammar at all? Is it better to learn in a class or to have one- to- one tuition? Can I learn from a CD "German In 20 Units".

Again, these questions are very hard to answer. What is good for you might be completely ineffective for the chap next to you. You have to try, maybe several courses, teachers or books. I can only give you two very general pieces of advice here.

Know your learning style.

Have a good look at yourself, how you best process information and learn most effectively. If you know your learning style, you will be able to narrow your search to the courses that best work according to your style. There are three different learning style which I shall explain briefly.

I- The auditive style applies to people who learn best through hearing (and speaking). Verbal lectures, discussions, talking about things is how auditive learners remember stuff. If you are an auditive person, you might benefit from reading a text aloud, recording your vocabulary on tape and listen to it later are some techniques to memorize information.

II- The visual style: This applies to people who learn through seeing and reading information. They learn best if they see what they have to learn in front of them. Charts, vocabulary or making up picture in your head might help visual learners to learn a language.

III- The tactile/ kinesthetic style: The people are models to the learning by doing approach. To learn they need to physically experience their subject. People of this learning style might find it hard to sit still for a very long time listening to lectures or taking notes.

There are free learning type tests online, you might benefit from finding out how you learn before you start looking into courses.

Live your language

From the moment you start learning your language you should not only rely on textbooks and teachers but be brave enough to speak, write and listen outside the classroom. Start reading books(no your level, though- your first french author shouldn't necessarily be Voltaire. Start of with children's books and watch the films subtitled), watch films or take full advantage of Facebook and socialise with people who speak the language you want to speak. Organise a language exchange- meet someone who speaks the language you want to learn and needs some help with English for an hour or two : the first half of the meeting you speak English, the second half is devoted to your language.

There are so many ways to make language learning fun and it would be sad not to take full advantage of them.

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