If you ask people why they discontinue studying a foreign language, the most common answer is that it was no longer required in their school. Sometimes one has a good defense such as the teacher was so terrible that one was glad to drop the class as soon as possible. Another excuse is that the language class was boring and quickly killed the enthusiasm that one had at the beginning. It could also be the difficulty of studying the page-long lists of vocabulary, which one forgets as soon the test is passed.
Everybody knows to some degree why studying a foreign language is good and advantageous. However, few put forth a lot of effort or take the time to study a foreign language to get proficient. The question which should be asked at this point is: Is there an easy and efficient way to learn a language? In my opinion, the best way to learn a language is to fall in love with a foreigner.
Why is that? First, language is oral. There is no better way to learn a language than to be “forced” to share your thoughts, feelings, and just about everything else in a foreign language with the one you love. Think about little children, toddlers, or even our ancestors back in history. They first communicated and then discover the alphabet. Therefore, having a relationship with a foreigner forces you to practice proficiency in speaking the language, and not concentrate too much on writing and grammar.
This is the opposite of what we are encouraged to do in most of foreign language classes. Everyone can remember those books with foot long vocabulary lists and sections stuffed with grammar. Students crammed the 100 words to write down on the test and forgot most of them immediately afterwards. What makes talking in a foreign language different with a partner is that even if you do not have the vocabulary to express yourself as you wish, you will be building your vocabulary more quickly. There is a continued reason for you to know the words. You do not study vocabulary for the one exam; instead, you study words you need and want to know, so you can say what you want.
In order to communicate, we need to have the same base of vocabulary. If you just started to study a language, you might not even have the vocabulary to explain what you did during the day. Does this fact bother a couple which feels the need to communicate? Not at all! They will try to describe the thing or thought in other words, using the vocabulary they already know. What makes studying a foreign language with your partner fun is that you do not need to look up all the words in a dictionary. Usually you can ask for a word using a description, or gestures, and then you can use it immediately. It can be helpful to not constantly feel the pressure to pronounce everything correctly. Your partner will never make fun of you. Your partner will make corrections and usually inform you of how cute your pronunciation is with your foreign accent.
You will also learn to write and read more quickly in the foreign language if you want to talk with your partner about the books and news you are both reading. It will be easier for you to learn how to write in the foreign language, after you are constantly exposed to the language. The grammar will not look like a magic mathematical formula which you have to study by heart. Because you are familiar with the language, you will almost intuitively see the sense of it.
Furthermore, a relationship with a foreigner prevents you from deciding to stop learning the language. This would make communication impossible, which would also contribute to the end of the relationship. Love is one of the biggest motivators to learn a language, in view of the fact that we are not willing to give up as soon as the first problem arises. What is most important is the amount of willingness to understand, listen, to have the patience, and to give time to each other. Being in such a relationship, you do not even realize how you are practicing and strengthening your foreign language skills because it happens with so much fun and excitement.
Another advantage of falling in love with a foreigner and learning a foreign language is that you learn to deal in a daily manner with the customs of another culture. You do not need to read, watch movies, or go to cultural lectures constantly. You can experience the differences and similarities between the new culture through everyday life. It can be exciting to realize that you do not have to eat pancakes or cereal for breakfast, because other things exist that you did not know about. These experiences not only help you stay open and sensitive to other cultures, but they teach you about your own culture as well. You will get a better insight in a foreign culture and language as well as a better understanding of your native language and culture in context of the foreign culture.
Nevertheless, what should one do if one has not fallen in love with a foreigner but is completely happy in a relationship? Should one give up before even starting? Is there another way to learn a foreign language? If you did not lose your heart to a foreigner, it does not mean other ways to have fun and learn languages do not exist.
Another way to learn a language is to participate in an immersion program. You can go abroad with all kinds of exchange programs. Most high schools and colleges have a partnership with a foreign school. These programs are always a great experience. In going abroad in an exchange program, you will have no other choice but to speak in a foreign language. You will frequently use and enrich your vocabulary and learn about the culture and customs.
A similar solution would be an immersion program such as the type offered by the Concordia Language Villages. You would live with other people who also want to learn the foreign language. You would be surrounded by native speakers, as well as people who studied the foreign language and can relate to your difficulties. What makes this program special is that the counselors always speak in the foreign language, and encourage you to speak as well. This is accomplished by doing everyday tasks, playing games, and solving problems that will help you to practice your language skills.
What should you do if you must wait for such a possibility or you simply do not have the money for a journey to another country or for an immersion program? I recommend listening to the radio and watching television in the target language - with access to the internet, it should not be a problem. Even if you do not understand much, get to know the melody of the language. After a while, you will notice that you pick up some words because you hear them repeatedly.
My advice is also to stay realistic and not set too ambitious of a goal in the beginning. Do not start reading classical literature in the target language before you have a profound knowledge of the language and vocabulary! Think of how long it took to learn your native language, and start with something “light,” like children’s books or comics. Never study vocabulary from a list; instead create your own flash cards and learn the vocabulary you think you would need to express topics that are interesting to you. Always study the vocabulary in context. Write them in sentences or expressions that make sense to you. Take into consideration that the vocabulary can have more than one meaning. If you are a beginner, you can put post-it notes everywhere in your house. You can learn and repeat the foreign vocabulary in the language whenever you do an activity or use something.
My last advice would be to never give up and do not let a bad teacher discourage you. Give yourself time and develop your own rhythm in studying. After all, studying a foreign language should not be hard, but fun and exciting like love is.
