Learning a foreign language is a big commitment. If you consider all the options and set goals before you start, you’re much more likely to have a successful transition from a simple “Merci!” to enjoying a French film without subtitles. Checking your motivations, choosing the right language, and deciding what methods you’ll use to study and perfect the new tongue are all important steps.

Why learn a foreign language?

There are dozens of different reasons why people decide to learn a foreign language. Getting your reasons clear in your mind will help you keep focused on a goal which can seem far away when you’re struggling to get past “uno, dos, tres."

When I knew I was moving to Japan to work, I took my first Japanese course. I never intended to be able to read a Japanese newspaper, but I hoped that during my stay in Osaka I’d be able to ask directions, shop with ease and make a little small talk. In my continuing Japanese classes in a community hall on the way to Kyoto, I met other foreigners with varying reasons for choosing to grapple with Japanese. Robert, married for several years to a Japanese woman who spoke perfect English, wanted to understand his wife and their future children when they spoke together in Japanese. Kylie had worked her way up from a typical English teacher’s job to the brink of a promotion into a publishing firm, as long as her Japanese skills got up to scratch.

For travel, romance, work, or simply to keep your brain active: your reason is unique for you, but it’s important that it’s clear. Do you need to be a fluent reader and writer or will everyday conversation serve your purposes? Think about this and set an appropriate goal defining the level you want to reach.

Which language?

Depending on your motivations, the choice of language could be entirely clear: if your future husband is Italian, learn to speak what he speaks.