by Prin Dumas

Created on: January 20, 2012   Last Updated: June 03, 2012

Learning a new language is an exciting project in personal development.  In other words, it is fun.  To keep it fun and exciting, a beginner has to develop a plan for learning a new language, including time management and resources.  These are essential, especially for the adult learner who may be multi-tasking professional and family obligations while taking on a lingual quest.

It is important to understand the new language first.  This does not mean knowing how to read, write, or speak it.  On the contrary, the first step in overcoming any obstacle is identifying the problem.  In the case of learning a new language, it is important to identify what makes the language different and challenging when compared to one's native language.  A person's point of reference will always be their first language, their native tongue.  It is how people hear themselves think.  Achieving this comfortable level of fluency (not thinking in one's native tongue) with a foreign language takes time, but it takes some cunning research. 

Tim Ferriss hosts an amazing blog with a wonderful article dissecting the above strategy.  In order to know the new language, one has to ask questions and create some simple conjugation tests.  He uses the term "deconstruct," which is ideal in knowing what makes the new language different.  As he goes on to say, a person will learn the level of complexity in a new language while also understanding how much time he or she may need to learn.

Once the level of difficulty has been established, a new learner will embark on some highly motivated self-discipline - initially.  As is known to happen, peak interests wane and become routine or dismissed through time.  To avoid giving up on a new language, a beginner must set aside time, regular time, and devote a consistent level of effort to learning a new language.  There is nothing more important.  Even if a person only has thirty minutes once a week, it may be better than the person who plans to study daily and manages to only do so in the first two weeks before realizing that level of diligence cannot be upheld.  Realistic expectations and pacing are important.

It is also important to have good and reliable resources to learn the new language.  Some resources are online, media programs, learning systems, classes, and tutors.  All have pros and cons.

A personal

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