subject: Six Quick Tricks for Learning a Language [print this page] Six Quick Tricks for Learning a Language Six Quick Tricks for Learning a Language
Stop at the library for a grammar book and some reading material. The grammar book will be an infrequent guide through those rough spots when the target language grammar differs substantially from English. But don't overburden yourself with grammar and rules. A copious variety of entertaining magazines exists in most major languages and unless you're learning Cochimi or Kukapa, you should be able to find something. A newspaper, general interest magazine, the bible, brochures, even comics can help you along. Short articles are best at first. Although you can wade through one or more of those in a matter of minutes, your personal satisfaction at doing so will be boundless. Try http://www.amazon.com for hard-to-find titles.
You can't pick your family; but you can pick your friends and you can pick conversations with native speakers of your target language. In the supermarket, in the mall, in the park, a restaurant or a convenience store - almost anywhere you happen to meet or run into a native speaker of your new lingua franca, don't just stay there mum - say something. People are generally flattered that you're trying to meet them on their own terms or in their own language and are usually more than happy to chat. Surely, you can say "Buenos Tardes" to someone passing down the aisle in the supermarket. It's also great practice for breaking the ice when you finally light out for foreign soil.
These quick tricks in conjunction with a short language course will make your language-learning efforts less painless, more interesting, more pleasurable and much easier. Try to do something each and every day. Just think how green with envy your friends are all going to be - and start packing your bags.
Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free.
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