How to learn a foreign language - on your own. Independent study of a foreign language.

How to speak your chosen language today? How to achieve fluency in just a few months? How to pretend to be a native speaker? And finally, how can you learn several languages ​​and become a polyglot in just a couple of years?

Many people think that every person either has the gene for learning languages ​​or does not. But there are techniques and tricks to learn them faster. Let's get started!

1. Learn the right words with the right method

To start learning a new language, you need to learn new words. Lots of new words. Of course, many people think that they are bad at remembering new words and give up before they even start. To learn to speak, you don't need to know all the words. If you think about it, you don't even know the entire vocabulary of your native language.

In learning languages, you can use Pareto's law. The 20% of effort you spend on memorizing new words will provide you with 80% of your language understanding. For example, in English, only 300 words make up 65% of all written material. We use these words very often. The same thing happens in any other language. You can find ready-made “stacks” of cards with the most frequently used words (or words on topics that you will talk about most often) in the application Anki app. This application is located in free access and suitable for everyone operating systems and smartphones.

All good flashcard study methods use a spaced repetition system (SRS). Anki applies this system automatically. Instead of going through the same list of words in the same order every time, you see the words at regular intervals before you have time to forget them.

2. Learn words of common origin: your friends in any language

Believe it or not, you already – right now – have a huge head start in learning the language of your choice. Before you even start learning the language, you already know some of its words. It is impossible to start learning a language from scratch, because you most likely already know a significant number of words of common origin. These are words that have the same spelling and meaning in your native language and the language you are learning.

For example, Romance languages ​​such as French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian have many words that are similar to English. English “borrowed” these words during the Norman Conquest of England, which lasted several hundred years. “Action”, “nation”, “precipitation”, “solution”, “tradition”, “communication” and thousands of other words are written the same way and have exactly the same meaning in French. And you can adapt to the new pronunciation very quickly. By changing the ending –tion to –ción , you will get the same words in Spanish. In Italian the ending is -zione, and in Portuguese -ção.

Many languages ​​also have words that share a common (Greek/Latin/etc.) root. These roots may have different spellings, but it will be very difficult for you not to recognize them. These words include hélicoptère (French), porto, capitano (Italian), astronomía, and saturno (Spanish). German goes one step further: it has many words that it shares with English.


To find related words in the language you are studying, just try typing “[name of language] related words/loanwords/words of common origin” into a search engine. All this is perfectly suitable for European languages.

But what to do when learning more distant languages? As it turns out, even in languages ​​as far from English as Japanese, there are entire groups of words familiar to us. Many languages ​​simply borrow English words and adjust them to suit themselves, changing pronunciation or emphasis.

3. Use a new language every day

People often say that they don't study languages ​​because they can't travel to countries where those languages ​​are spoken. They don't have money for it, don't have time, etc. You can believe that there is nothing in the air in other countries that will suddenly magically help you speak their language.

Living abroad and immersing yourself in a language are not the same. If, in order to immerse yourself in a language environment, you need to hear and use the language all the time, then why not immerse yourself in it virtually? Thanks to technology, the language environment can come to you—you don't even have to buy a plane ticket.

  • To hear the language, try using TuneIn.com– this site gives you access to a huge number of radio channels from any country of your choice. Free app also gives access to a list of radio channels, divided by language.
  • To watch programs in the language you need, look at what videos are currently the most popular on Youtube in that country. Go to that country's Amazon or Ebay website and buy your favorite TV series in your preferred language, or find another popular local show. You can save on delivery if you find a series with voice acting in the desired language in your city or on the Internet. Many news channels such as France24, Deutsche Welle and CNNEspañol provide online programs in their respective languages.
  • To read the language, try using news sites. Visit the website Alexa and find out which blogs or sites are currently the most popular in the country you need.

And if complete immersion in the language environment is not yet for you, then install a translator plugin on your browser. It will help you tune in to the wave of a new language by translating some parts of sites that you usually read in English and gradually introducing new ones foreign words into your daily reading.

4. Talk and practice on Skype every day

So, you've already started listening, watching videos and even reading in the language of your choice - all from the comfort of your own home. It's time for a big step forward. You can start talking to a native speaker. If you want to speak a language, start speaking it from the very first minute of learning. There are seven days in a week, and "someday" is not one of them.


For your first conversation, you only need to learn a few phrases. If you start using them right away, you will immediately see what is missing and can add to your list. If you study alone, you will never feel ready to have a real conversation. In the first few hours, learn the most commonly used phrases, like “Hello,” “Thank you,” “Could you say that again?” or “I don’t understand.”

But where can you find a native speaker if you are not in the country where the language you are learning is spoken? Today this is not a problem at all! Thousands of native speakers are ready and waiting to talk to you right now. Exist social media, where you can get private lessons for a small amount. For example on italki.com.

If you still think you're not ready for a one-on-one conversation, think again. Lessons via Skype will allow you to gradually immerse yourself in the language environment. During a conversation, you can keep the list in front of your eyes keywords(for example, in Word), which you can refer to until you know them by heart. You can also use Google Translate or any other dictionary during a conversation to immediately learn new words that you may need. Can this be called “cheating”? No. Your goal is to learn to act functionally, rather than follow traditional methods.

will help you find speaking clubs in your city, and Couchsurfing, meetup.com, And Internations will tell you where the next meetings of language learning enthusiasts are taking place. Such meetings provide an excellent opportunity to meet both other people who are studying languages ​​that interest you, as well as native speakers. And that is not all. There are other completely free supporting resources:

This may seem like a long process to you. Try learning words this way just a few times and you'll immediately realize how effective it is. Plus, you only have to use this hook a few times. After this, the word itself will become part of your vocabulary.

Part 1. To be continued...

If you are studying English language, then, of course, you’ve heard about polyglots who managed to learn 5/10/30/50 languages. Which of us doesn’t have the thought: “Surely they have some secrets, because I’ve been learning one and only English for years!” In this article we will present the most common myths about those who successfully learn foreign languages, and also tell you how polyglots learn languages.

A polyglot is a person who can communicate in several languages. Some of the most famous polyglots in the world are:

  1. Cardinal Giuseppe Mezzofanti, according to various sources, spoke 80-90 languages.
  2. Translator Kato Lomb spoke 16 languages.
  3. Archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann spoke 15 languages.
  4. Writer Leo Tolstoy spoke 15 languages.
  5. Writer Alexander Griboyedov spoke 9 languages.
  6. Inventor Nikola Tesla spoke 8 languages.
  7. Writer Anthony Burgess spoke 12 languages.
  8. Luca Lampariello
  9. Sam Jandreau
  10. Ollie Richards is a contemporary and speaks 8 languages.
  11. Randy Hunt is a contemporary and speaks 6 languages.
  12. Donovan Nagel is a contemporary and speaks 10 languages.
  13. Benny Lewis is a contemporary and speaks 11 languages.

It should be said that basically all polyglots know 2-3 languages ​​at a high level, and speak the rest at the “survival” level, that is, they can communicate on simple topics.

Another interesting feature is that the first foreign language It is always the hardest and takes the longest to learn, but subsequent ones are mastered much faster and are easier. It is especially easy to learn languages ​​of one group, for example: Italian, French and Spanish.

7 common myths about polyglots

Myth #1: Polyglots are people with special abilities for languages.

Some people believe that polyglots do not need to strain at all: the languages ​​themselves are absorbed in their heads without effort or practice. There is an opinion that those who know many languages ​​have a different brain structure, they easily perceive and reproduce information, grammar is given to them without studying, on its own, etc.

Is it true:

Polyglot - a common person, who enjoys learning multiple languages ​​and puts all his effort into it. There is no such person who could not become a polyglot, because this does not require any special knowledge or mindset. All you need is work and passion.

Don’t be in a hurry to be fluent (you’ll frustrate yourself). Just enjoy the process. It’s slow and not always easy, but it can be enjoyable if you take the pressure off yourself.

Don't rush to fluency straight away (you'll only end up frustrated). Just enjoy the process. It will be slow and not always easy, but it can be fun if you don't push yourself.

Myth #2: Polyglots have unique memories

There is an opinion that all polyglots have a phenomenal memory, so any languages ​​are easy for them. People believe that polyglots remember the meanings of absolutely all unfamiliar words and grammatical structures from the very first time, so subsequently they can easily speak the language they are learning.

Is it true:

Polyglots really have good memory, but many people confuse cause and effect: it is the study of languages ​​that develops memory, and not unique innate abilities that make it possible to learn a language. Indeed, there are people who can boast of a unique memory, but this does not make them polyglots. The fact is that simply memorizing words or phrases is not enough to fully learn a language.

Myth #3: Polyglots start learning languages ​​at a young age

Another popular myth goes something like this: “Polyglots are people whose parents took them to language courses since childhood. Children find it easier to study, so today these people easily speak several foreign languages.”

Is it true:

For the most part, polyglots are people who are in love with foreign languages. And this love came already at a conscious age. Those who learned foreign languages ​​as children do not have any advantages over adult learners. Most linguists and psychologists are convinced that languages ​​are even easier for adults, because an adult, unlike a child, consciously takes this step and understands why he needs to read texts or translate sentences. Read the article “”, you will see that adults have their own advantages over children in learning foreign languages.

Myth #4: Polyglots can learn any language in 3-5 months

The issue of the need to study English and other languages ​​is especially relevant today, so almost every day we read another article or watch an interview with a polyglot. These people sometimes claim that they learned a foreign language in 3-5 months. At the same time, many polyglots, in their interviews or articles, immediately offer you to purchase for money a language learning course that they themselves invented. Is it worth spending money on this?

Is it true:

In fact, polyglots rarely clarify what they mean by the phrase “I learned a language in 5 months.” As a rule, during this time a person has time to learn the basics of grammar and basic vocabulary in order to explain himself in everyday communication. But to talk about more complex topics, for example about life and the structure of the Universe, any person needs more than 5 months. Those who speak several languages ​​really well will tell you that they have been studying them for years and are constantly improving their knowledge. Therefore, if you plan to advance beyond the level of “reading, translating with a dictionary,” prepare not for 3-5 months, but for at least 1-2 years of studying your first foreign language “from scratch.”

Myth #5: Polyglots have a lot of free time

When we read articles about polyglots, it seems that all they do is give interviews from morning to night and tell how they managed to achieve success in the field of learning foreign languages. This is where the myth arose that those who don’t work learn languages; they say they mastered English simply “out of nothing to do.”

Is it true:

To confirm our words, watch this video by polyglot Ollie Richards, he talks about life hacks that will help even the busiest people learn a language:

Myth #6: Polyglots travel a lot

Many people believe that you can “truly” learn a foreign language only abroad, in the country of native speakers of that language. There is an opinion that abroad you can completely “immerse” yourself in the subject you are studying, create an ideal language environment, etc. It turns out that in order to become a polyglot, you need to constantly travel around countries.

Is it true:

In fact, most polyglots say that they communicate a lot with native speakers of the language they are learning, are interested in their way of life, culture, etc. However, this does not mean that people studying foreign languages ​​travel 365 days a year. Technologies allow every person to communicate with people from any country without leaving home. Visit the language exchange sites listed in this article. On them you can find someone to talk to from the USA, Great Britain, Australia, and any other country. Polyglots take advantage of this same opportunity and successfully learn new languages. In the article "" we provided 15 tips for creating a language environment for learning English in your native country.

You can recreate an immersion environment at home, by streaming movies, listening to podcasts, playing music, and reading in your target language... all you need is an internet connection.

You can immerse yourself in a language environment at home by watching movies, listening to podcasts and music, reading in your target language... all you need is an internet connection.

Myth #7: Polyglots have a lot of money

This myth is closely related to the previous two: people believe that polyglots do not work, but only travel. Besides, people think that polyglots constantly spend large amounts for educational materials: they buy tutorials and dictionaries, take expensive lessons from native-speaking teachers, and travel abroad for language courses. People believe that polyglots have a lot of money and therefore opportunities to learn foreign languages.

Is it true:

At the time of writing this article, “millionaire” and “polyglot” are not identical concepts. As we have already found out, polyglots are not on a continuous journey and among them there are many who are just like you and me, ordinary working people. It’s just that those who want to know many languages ​​use every opportunity to gain knowledge. It should be said that we have a lot of such opportunities: from all kinds of courses to thousands of educational Internet resources. For example, you can learn English on the Internet completely free of charge, and to make it easier for you to find the sites you need, we constantly write articles with collections of tips and useful resources for developing certain skills. Subscribe to our newsletter and you won't miss important information.

Secrets of polyglots: how to learn foreign languages

1. Set yourself a clear goal

Learning a foreign language "because everyone else is learning it" won't last long, so decide why you need to know it. The goal can be anything: from serious, for example, to get a position in a prestigious company, to entertaining, like “I want to understand what Sting sings about.” The main thing is that your goal motivates you and in every possible way strengthens your desire to learn English. To strengthen your desire to learn a language, we advise you to read our articles “” and “”.

2. At the beginning of your studies, take at least a few lessons from a teacher

We've all read about how polyglots master any language on their own. However, many polyglots write blogs and often indicate that they started learning the language with a teacher, and after learning the basics they moved on to independent learning. We recommend doing the same: the teacher will help you lay a solid foundation of knowledge, and you can build subsequent “floors” yourself if you wish. If you decide to follow this advice, we suggest you try it with one of our experienced teachers. We can help you “promote” English to any level of knowledge.

3. Speak out loud from the first day of learning a new language

Even if you are learning your first ten words, say them out loud, this way you will remember the vocabulary better. In addition, you will gradually develop correct pronunciation. From the very first day, look for interlocutors to communicate with. For beginners, the ideal “partner” for developing oral speech would be a professional teacher, and at a higher level, you can look for an interlocutor on language exchange sites and hone your speaking skills with a native speaker. Please note: almost all polyglots claim that the most effective and interesting method of learning a new language is communicating with native speakers. At the same time, polyglots say that during communication, words and grammatical structures are easier to remember: you do not force yourself to study them, but remember them during an interesting conversation.

My absolute favorite language learning activity is talking to people! And it turns out, that’s pretty convenient, because that’s the whole reason we learn languages ​​anyway, right? We learn the language in order to use it. And since language is a skill, the best way to learn it is by using it.

My favorite activity in language learning is communicating with people! And it turns out that this is quite convenient, because this is the reason we learn languages, right? We learn a language in order to use it. And since language is a skill, The best way improve it - use it.

4. Learn phrases, not individual words.

Watch this video by Luca Lampariello, he talks about how to learn new words (you can turn on Russian or English subtitles in the settings).

5. Don't get bogged down in theoretical grammar.

But this advice must be understood correctly, because lately the opinion that English grammar is unnecessary knowledge has been actively discussed on the Internet. Allegedly, for communication it is enough to know three simple tenses and a lot of words. However, in the article “” we explained why this opinion is fundamentally wrong. What do polyglots mean? They encourage us to pay less attention to theory, and more to practical exercises, the use of grammatical structures in oral and written speech. Therefore, immediately after familiarizing yourself with the theory, proceed to practice: do translation exercises, grammar tests, use the studied structures in speech.

6. Get used to the sound of new speech

I love to listen to podcasts, interviews, audiobooks or even music in my target language while walking or driving. This makes efficient use of my time and I don’t feel like I’m making any particular kind of effort.

I love listening to podcasts, interviews, audio books, or even music in the language I'm learning while I'm walking or driving. This allows me to use my time effectively without feeling like I'm making any special effort.

7. Read texts in the target language

While reading texts, you see how the grammar you are studying “works” in speech and how new words “cooperate” with each other. At the same time, you use visual memory, which allows you to remember useful phrases. On the Internet you can find texts in any language for beginners, so you need to start reading from the very first days of learning the language. Some polyglots advise practicing, for example, reading text in parallel in Russian and English. This way you can see how sentences are constructed in the language you are learning. In addition, polyglots claim that this allows them to wean themselves from the harmful habit of translating speech word for word from their native language into the target language.

8. Improve your pronunciation

9. Make mistakes

“Get out of your comfort zone!” - this is what polyglots call us to. If you are afraid to speak the language you are learning or try to express yourself in simple phrases to avoid mistakes, then you are deliberately creating an obstacle for yourself to improve your knowledge. Don’t be shy about making mistakes in the language you’re learning, and if you’re so tormented by perfectionism, take a look at RuNet. Native speakers of the Russian language, without a shadow of embarrassment, write words like “potential” (potential), adykvatny (adequate), “pain and numbness” (more or less), etc. We urge you to take an example from their courage, but at the same time try to take into account your own mistakes and eradicate them. At the same time, polyglots remind us of how children learn to speak their native language: they begin to speak with mistakes, adults correct them, and over time the child begins to speak correctly. Do the same: it's okay to learn from your mistakes!

Make at least two hundred mistakes a day. I want to actually use this language, mistakes or not.

Make at least two hundred mistakes a day. I want to use this language, with or without errors.

10. Exercise regularly

The main secret of polyglots is diligent study. There is not a single person among them who would say: “I studied English once a week and learned the language in 5 months.” On the contrary, polyglots, as a rule, are in love with learning languages, so they devoted all their time to it free time. We are sure that anyone can find 3-4 hours a week to study, and if you have the opportunity to study for 1 hour a day, any language will conquer you.

11. Develop your memory

The better your memory is, the easier it will be to remember new words and phrases. Learning a foreign language in itself is an excellent memory training, and to make this training more productive, use different ways language learning. For example, solving is a fun and useful activity for both learning and memory. - another good idea for training: you can learn the lyrics of your favorite hit by heart, this way you will remember several useful phrases.

12. Follow the example of successful people

Polyglots are always open to new ways of learning; they do not stand still, but are interested in the experiences of other people who successfully learn foreign languages. We have devoted several articles to some of the most famous polyglots; you can read about the experience of learning languages, or study.

13. Curb your appetite

The variety of materials allows you not to get bored and enjoy learning a foreign language, but at the same time, we advise you not to “spray yourself”, but to focus on some specific methods. For example, if on Monday you took one textbook, on Tuesday you grabbed a second one, on Wednesday you studied on one site, on Thursday on another, on Friday you watched a video lesson, and on Saturday you sat down to read a book, then by Sunday you risk getting “porridge” in my head from the abundance of material, because their authors use different principles presentation of information. Therefore, as soon as you start learning a new language, determine optimal set textbooks, websites and video tutorials. There shouldn’t be 10-20 of them; limit your “appetite”, otherwise scattered information will be poorly absorbed. You will find ideas for choosing materials that suit you in our article “”, where you can download a free list of the “best” materials for learning a language.

14. Enjoy learning

Among the famous polyglots there is not a single person who would say: “Learning languages ​​is boring, I don’t like to do it, but I want to know many languages, so I have to force myself.” How do polyglots learn languages? These people enjoy not just the understanding that they know a foreign language, but also the learning process itself. Do you think studying is boring? Then use interesting language learning techniques. For example, or is unlikely to seem boring to anyone.

Languages ​​are not something one should study, but rather live, breathe and enjoy.

Languages ​​are not something to be learned, but rather something to be lived, breathed and enjoyed.

Now you know how polyglots learn languages. As you have seen, everyone can learn foreign languages, regardless of “giftedness” and the number of banknotes. There is nothing complicated in the advice of polyglots on learning languages; all techniques are accessible to anyone and are easily applied in practice. Try to follow these recommendations and enjoy learning.

Spring is a time of change. Some were planning to visit an unfamiliar country during their vacation, some were planning to change jobs, and some were planning to change their place of residence. And to implement your plans, you need to learn a foreign language. What to do? You can find urgent courses and sign up for them. But, one way or another, you will need considerable independent effort in learning a foreign language if you want to succeed in it. I think a few tips on how best to organize independent work on learning a foreign language will help you. Let's say right away that we are talking about independent study of European languages.

Not a goal, but a means

When starting to independently study a foreign language, first clearly answer the question – why do you need it? Firstly, the basic vocabulary that you will choose to memorize, and secondly, the amount of grammatical material that you will need when studying, depends on how exactly you intend to use your knowledge of the language.
For example, if the intention to learn a language arises from the need to go to the historical homeland of a future or already established foreign husband, then the goal will be to communicate with relatives, mastering life skills in a country where all the people around will speak a different language. Consequently, it is logical to place the entire emphasis in mastering new words on everyday, family and everyday vocabulary, so that the vocabulary satisfies the needs of everyday life. In this life, you need to talk about the weather and prices with neighbors, about the health of children with relatives, you need to do your own shopping in a store, know how to use public transport, know how to pay for utilities, get a transfer, contact emergency services...
In order to learn to speak a foreign language at this level, as a rule, about 40 hours of classes are enough for a student if the training starts from scratch. During this time, under the guidance of a teacher, it is quite possible to understand how to construct simple narrative and interrogative sentences, you can learn to freely use the most basic tenses of verbs - present, past, future and learn the 3-4 thousand words necessary at the initial stage.
If learning a foreign language is to seek a more advantageous professional position, a promotion, or work in a foreign company, then the requirements, of course, will be much more serious. The minimum will be about 20 thousand words, most of which are related to the profession and position, and it will take at least 100 hours to master the language. And the scope of grammatical rules will include complex sentences, and complex verb forms.
And the task is completely simplified if you are just an inquisitive tourist, and you want, while traveling, to feel confident, communicating with the people around you in their language. In this case, you can independently determine how deep knowledge of a foreign language you need.

Is it possible to learn a foreign language on your own?

If you have character and discipline, then learning a foreign language on your own is quite possible. Although at the initial stage, MirSovetov still recommends working with a teacher individually or taking courses. This will make it easier to master pronunciation, especially in languages ​​where it is difficult. Once you feel that you already have a base of pronunciation and grammar, you can set off on your own. Fortunately, in stores you can find audio courses in almost any language.
Any person can learn a foreign language, especially if he graduated from a regular secondary school, which means he has already mastered some basics of English, German or French at school. That is, there is an idea of ​​what a foreign language is in general. This is the main thing. Everything else is a personal mindset to win.
What does personal attitude mean?
First, and this is very important, try to love the language you are learning, love the process of learning it, then consider that half the work is already done. If you perceive language learning as a hobby, and classes as pleasure, your studies will be much more effective.
Secondly, you need to understand that you need to learn a language in order to use it as an important tool for a specific goal - significantly improving the quality of your life.
And thirdly, personal attitude means interest in the language. Try to first understand the logic of grammatical rules, the formation of words and sentences, and then engage in cramming.
Is cramming necessary?
Rather yes than no. Memorizing rules, words, and other language material is absolutely necessary if you want to have even a small but strong knowledge.

Where to start studying?

If you start learning a language from scratch, then it is better to conduct such a “free course” of getting used to it. What does it mean? If possible, buy them in that language and listen to them in your free time. From time to time you can watch films in this language. Your memory, like a sponge, will absorb unfamiliar speech, and, watching the action in the film, you will intuitively understand even a little individual expressions and simple phrases.
Buy a phrase book and little by little choose and read the simplest phrases there, for example, forms of greeting, farewell, introduction, simple questions and answers. All modern phrase books, which can be bought in any large bookstore in any city in Russia, include a fairly wide list of such phrases for all occasions. Just read them, it's quite an interesting activity. At the same time, you seem to be preparing your visual memory to assimilate a new font, new phrases and structures. If you are still trying to mentally pronounce what you are reading, you are preparing your speech apparatus for the fact that one day you will speak this language.
When preparing to start learning a language on your own, you need to take care of a textbook. How to choose a textbook?!
It is interesting that very different people studying the same educational literature given language, there may be the most opposite opinions. Why does this happen? Because different people have different perceptions. Some people understand the rules better if they are explained in detail in the textbook, while others, on the contrary, quickly perceive the material in the form of diagrams and tables, accompanied by brief explanations. Even the layout of the material in the textbook and the sequence of studying grammatical forms and rules are perceived differently! Don't trust anyone else's review, trust your intuition. Therefore, MirSovetov can advise the only correct way in choosing a textbook - go to the store and start simply taking a textbook from the shelf, and, flipping through and reading it from the first pages, try to understand what is written in it.
When you “test” several textbooks in this way, it will become clear to you that in some of them it is easier for you to understand the text of the explanation, and in some it is more difficult, and in the third there is generally incomprehensible gobbledygook. Feel free to choose the one that seems clearer to you. This means that it will be easier for you to learn the language. Later, when you begin to study systematically, when you become familiar with the basic concepts of the language, you can, in addition, purchase as many textbooks as you need for more effective work, you will even be able to study different sections according to different textbooks. Let's say, the verb forms are from one textbook, and the declension of nouns by case is from another, and the texts for reading and training in translation are from a third.

Necessary tools for independent language learning

  1. The most important thing is the textbook! In the annotation to it, look to whom it is recommended. For your very first textbook, choose those that have recommendations “for independent learners”
  2. Audio course for the initial stage of language learning. There are now a lot of them in stores for almost all European languages. Be sure to look at the annotation to it, text accompaniment, volume and content of topics. Choose a topic that best suits your goals - everyday general vocabulary, tourism, or your profession. So that you don't end up accidentally buying a set of discs for younger children. preschool age!
  3. MirSovetov considers keeping a notebook mandatory. Yes, yes, if you want to take things seriously. It is necessary to take notes in a notebook, write down everything that you want to remember, draw signs there and write down the rules, as well as your own comments on what you have learned. Using your own notes, as a rule, it is much easier to repeat what you have covered than using a textbook.
  4. Dictionary. When you choose a dictionary, use the same approach as when choosing a textbook - first look through, read, check whether you understand what is written in it and whether the dictionary is convenient for learning.
  5. Your personal notebook-dictionary. It is absolutely necessary at the initial stage of language learning! You will collect new words in this personal dictionary, and it is better to do this on a thematic basis. Let’s say you write down words separately on the topics: “household items”, “food”, “feelings”, etc. Be sure to include topics related to your profession if you are learning a language in order to advance in or get a new job.

Organize your own personal “language environment”

It was noted a long time ago: repetition is the mother of learning. Ideally, you can afford to study the language for at least an hour every day. But, as a rule, working people with families cannot always find this hour of free time. What to do?
Surround yourself with “reminders”! An old trick is to stick cards with words in all places in your apartment where your gaze might linger on them. As options: on the mirror in the bathroom (while you brush your teeth, repeat the words written there), near the mirror (while you comb your hair, read the “reminders” for 2-3 minutes), on the wall or on the cabinet above the sink in the kitchen, above the work table, above the computer monitor... You never know how many places there are! By the way, a very effective thing for women is to stick such “reminders” in places where housework is boring. For example, if such cards hang above the kitchen sink, then washing dishes every day will be an excellent opportunity to memorize new words! And also ironing clothes, cleaning shoes, walking with a vacuum cleaner on carpets, curling hair curlers, not to mention working out on a home exercise machine! Even when you are working on a computer, you can easily take 5-minute breaks, diverting your attention from your work to repeating words and rules of the language. MirSovetov emphasizes that the main thing is to correctly place your “visual aids” in the right place. And at the right time, mobilize yourself to pay attention to them. Then you will see that, without straining, you calmly “gain” the required time for repetition.
In the same non-violent way, you can organize yourself to listen to audio lessons and other audio materials. For example, if you are working magic in the kitchen, preparing a delicious dinner for your family, it is difficult to be distracted by “reminder” cards. But this is the time to listen to an audio CD with a lesson. You peel potatoes, cut onions, make cutlets or cook - and learn the language at the same time!
It is very useful to organize a simple “immersion in the language” for yourself from time to time. Choose one of the days off, buy movie tickets for the whole family or send them to the zoo, visit grandma... in short, provide yourself with temporary solitude. Sit comfortably in front of the TV, placing your dictionaries and notebooks with lesson notes nearby. There is something tasty on the coffee table. Put on a disc with a movie in the foreign language you are studying. And just like that, in a relaxed atmosphere, feeding yourself with positive emotions, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the events of the film, looking at the dictionary from time to time.
Little tricks can be arranged at work. For example, keep a notebook where you will write down everything you need to remember - words, rules, etc. Repeat what you wrote down at every opportunity: at a boring and unnecessary meeting, during forced idleness due to, say, a lack of clients, etc. In this notebook it is very useful to write down aphorisms and sayings in the language you are learning, accompanied by a Russian translation. In aphorisms and sayings, memorizing words is easier.

Vacation - language learning practice

Be sure to organize a vacation trip to the country whose language you are studying. Of course, it is better to plan this trip when a basic level of the study has already been completed, and you can understand and express yourself at the simplest level. Be sure to take a dictionary, your study book, and notepad with you. And it’s really great if you take your textbook with you!
If you have not yet had experience speaking the language you are learning, then in the very first days of being in a foreign language environment you may encounter a serious psychological problem - the fear of speaking. It is caused by the most banal fear: looking funny in the eyes of others, fear of saying something wrong or being misunderstood.
It takes very little to overcome this fear.
First, you need to understand that in any country, local residents are always interested in a person who studies the language of that country. And even if your incorrect pronunciation makes you smile, MirSovetov would not advise you to rush to conclusions, because this does not mean at all that they want to insult you. When your interlocutor sees that you persistently continue to try, he will begin to help you and suggest words. This has been verified by repeated experience. Of course, you come across clinically inadequate interlocutors everywhere and everywhere, but this is very rare.
And secondly, we must not forget that it is you who need the experience of learning a language in the process of a live conversation, and not your interlocutors. Therefore, talk at any opportunity - in a store, in a bar, in a market, wherever there is a reason for conversation. You will see the result will be impressive. When you realize that you can speak and that people understand you, you will have a powerful new incentive to continue practicing.

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Imagine the situation: you want to go on a business trip abroad that you can only dream of. But there is a problem. You need to speak a foreign language that you don't know. And time is not on your side. I have prepared some tips for you.

The task may seem impossible, but according to linguistic experts, basic communication skills can be mastered in a few weeks, and the basics of a foreign language can be mastered in a few months. You may not quickly reach the level that will allow you to understand the great classics of foreign literature, but you will learn how to quickly formulate phrases and use the terminology required by your line of work, regardless of whether you work in the diplomatic service or in a leading multinational company .

It won't take long for most people to start discussing news with a native speaker in Rome or exchanging views with colleagues in Paris.

Where to begin

Sometimes traveling the world in search of work forces us to find our own ways of mastering languages. Engineer Benny Lewis learned enough seven languages, including Spanish, French and German, to use them on the job, and achieved near fluency in several others, including Mandarin, or Mandarin.

Learning Spanish, the first non-native language Lewis took up, took a little over a year, but with each subsequent language, including Mandarin, things moved much faster. His secret is this: when Lewis starts learning a new language, he creates a kind of script in which he must learn to answer simple questions from strangers. Gradually, Lewis even acquired the ability to work as a translator of technical texts on engineering.

Phrase books and online courses, experts say, can be a useful aid at the initial stage, as they provide the necessary vocabulary and a certain confidence that will allow you to carry out simple dialogue with native speakers. This is the most important first step in learning a foreign language.

“The biggest obstacle early on was a lack of confidence,” says Lewis, “but it became easier and easier for me to speak up.”

Indeed, as experts confirm, all it takes is courage to force yourself to speak if you want to succeed in mastering a foreign language.

"A lot of people don't get ahead unless they open their mouths," said Michael Geisler, vice president of the school of foreign languages ​​at Middleberry College in Vermont, USA. "If you're not willing to express your individuality, progress will be slow."

Illustration copyright Thinkstock Image caption How quickly can you communicate with strangers in Chinese?

This means not being afraid to take risks and make mistakes. Lewis remembers that when he first started learning Spanish, he spoke like Tarzan - a man who grew up with wild animals.

"I was saying something like, 'I want to go to the supermarket.' But I reached an advanced level, starting from a beginner. My eureka moment came two weeks after I started learning Spanish. My toothbrush broke, and I managed to ask for a new one at the supermarket, Lewis recalls. “Everywhere you go, people are amazingly patient.”

Immersion in the environment

Geisler believes that total immersion is the key to successful and rapid mastery of a foreign language. The deeper you immerse yourself in a foreign language - by reading, listening to the radio or talking to people - the faster success in learning it will come to you.

Students at Middleberry College in the US state of Vermont are required to participate in extracurricular activities - from sports to theater productions - using the languages ​​they study. Middleberry offers undergraduate courses in ten languages, including French, German, Chinese and Hebrew.

Such immersion is actively encouraged at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, where American diplomats and employees of US missions abroad study foreign languages. Experts in 70 foreign languages ​​work here. Duration training courses can be up to 44 weeks. Their goal is to bring students to “level 3” language proficiency. This means that graduates will be able to read magazines like Time in a foreign language and have a substantive conversation on any topic.

Mastery of basic conversational skills is achieved in a much shorter time. Experts say it only takes a few weeks, especially with regular speaking practice. James North, director of academic affairs at the Foreign Service Institute, says students are encouraged to meet native speakers.

“You have to invest not only your mind, but also your heart,” says North. You can volunteer or get involved in your community, such as working in restaurants or organizing neighborhood events.

Illustration copyright Thinkstock Image caption The secret to learning a foreign language is to try to start “living in this language” as early as possible.

In large cities, meetings in “immersion groups” take place on a regular basis - several times a week. They involve people who master practical skills in a foreign language.

Let's go to the Internet

When you regularly communicate with foreign language experts or native speakers, you always have someone nearby who can check and correct, and this is very important for your improvement.

“Practice is the best method,” says North. “But if you practice without feedback, you may feel like you've mastered what you're practicing at. Naive students don't have the opportunity to gain outside perspective on what they're doing. It's important.” to have someone nearby who could say: yes, you are on the right path."

Be sure to ask those you speak to to evaluate your speech, and don't worry about offending you by correcting your pronunciation and grammar (though experts say there's no need to worry too much about correct grammar in initial stages language learning).

Start using the language, and then focus on the grammar, Lewis advises. When you feel like it's time to improve your grammar, use podcasts from resources such as radiolingua.com or languagepod101.com. According to Lewis, these are very useful tools for mastering grammar and organizing your knowledge.

“By this time, you already have enough baggage. And when I come across this or that rule, I can already say: this is why they say that way,” Lewis shares his experience.

As you learn a foreign language, pay as much attention to media in that language as possible. If you are a beginner, read children's books with pictures, experts advise, or watch films in a foreign language that you know well.

If you set yourself any specific goals, for example, to be able to communicate with a partner in a foreign language or use it at work, this can be a necessary and sufficient motivation for mastering oral communication skills.

But don't set yourself unattainable goals. If you say that you will be fluent in a foreign language in a few months, you will most likely be disappointed. And if your goal is to learn how to conduct a conversation, especially when it is required to complete a task at work, it is more than possible.

1. The first rule is to forget about how long and painfully you studied English at school and college. This, as a rule, negative experience can discourage you from learning foreign languages ​​for a long time, and also convince you that you do not have a predisposition for this.


2. Motivation. Maybe you want to sing songs in French, watch TV series in Spanish or read Paolo Coelho in the original. First of all, you should not only like the language, it should inspire you.


3. Get started. You don’t need to prepare for a long time, just start taking a small step every day - learn five new words, watch a training video. Don’t push yourself into limits and don’t set clear deadlines, because you won’t have to take tests or exams.


4. Start by studying words, do not overload yourself with grammar at first. Remember how children begin to talk: first they listen, then they begin to understand, that is, to associate a word with an object or action, then they begin to speak the first words, and only after that - to build a sentence. Do the same - first watch the video, listen to the recorded speech, do simple exercises to memorize words. When you acquire a significant vocabulary, then you can begin to build sentences and learn tenses.


5. Translate texts that interest you. The best ones are well-known songs, so you can memorize many words very quickly.


6. Many effective free training programs can be found on the Internet.


7. While you still cannot speak, correspond with native speakers. This way you can always use an online translator or dictionary to express your thoughts.


8. Once you can read and speak a little, look for opportunities to practice speaking. Even if there are no speaking clubs in your city, look for native speakers who live here and who need to learn Russian, post an ad on social networks that you are ready to give a free tour of the city for visiting foreigners. As a last resort, you can communicate via Skype.


9. Don't be afraid to speak with mistakes. Take an example from Italians who speak English. They speak extremely simply, sometimes with mistakes, but very confidently, and everyone understands them. Language is a means of communication, so the main thing is to be understood. Do not use complex grammatical structures, simplify everything as much as possible. The mere fact that you speak Spanish, Portuguese or Japanese will be received with delight by residents of other countries.


10. Remember that there are no people who are completely incapable of learning languages, there are those who do not even try to learn them.