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.

What about if you’re learning for work, study or travel reasons? Sometimes the choice might seem obvious, but be careful and do your research! Let’s say you’re going to spend a year studying in Barcelona. Should you learn Spanish – widely understood in many countries across the world – or Catalan, arguably the more local language? Or imagine your employer is sending you to their Chinese branch for a couple of years – will Mandarin suffice for everyday needs like shopping and chatting with the neighbors, or might you want to learn one of the dozens of other languages or dialects spoken in China?

When your motivation is more related to fun and intellectual exercise, choosing a language related to a culture you’re really interested in will keep you motivated when the verb conjugations get you down. If you’re obsessed with eating souvlaki and drinking ouzo, for example, then try Greek! An alternative is exposing your ears to a range of different languages – on a foreign movie channel perhaps – and finding a language that sounds good, literally. A Japanese friend of mine visited Bratislava a few years ago and fell in love with the harsh rolling sounds of the Slovak language – so much so that he moved there to study Slovak language and literature.

How to learn a foreign language

Now comes the hard bit. There are numerous ways to actually learn a language, and a combination of them – depending on what’s available to you and how much time you can put aside – will help bring linguistic success. Let’s look at some key methods for studying a foreign language.

From the bookshop

Self-study textbooks and CDs are good for busy people and to give anyone an introduction to a language. If you’re highly motivated, and especially if you have experience with learning other languages, you can get a long way on your own. What you’ll miss is critical feedback on small errors or pronunciation, and the chance to interact in the language. And if you’re like me, after a couple of excited weeks there’s a strong chance the books will be left on a desk corner to gather dust.

On the Internet

This can be a similar experience to studying from a book, but with the bonus of interacting with other struggling language learners. At a minimum this could be in writing, but in a more involved online course, this might involve live conversations, too. Ranging from simple, free resources through to fully-fledged university-level courses, the online world of language learning is worth exploring for those needing a flexible method, and for everyone as a supplement to all other methods of language study.

Face-to-face – at home

Some people – and I definitely fall into this category – need a regular commitment and a face-to-face situation to make significant language learning progress. Through adult education classes or sometimes private language schools or teachers, search for a class that seems right for you – not too many students, convenient class times (beware of late evening classes after a long day at work) and a usefully clear textbook. Be aware that not all native speakers of a language make good teachers (imagine trying to explain a few things about English grammar to someone else, and you’ll realize why) – check if they have teaching qualifications, or ask their previous students. In reverse, non-native teachers may not be able to teach you the most natural, common phrases, or perfect pronunciation. Weigh this up with your goals, too.

Immerse yourself

The most rewarding way to learn a language, but also usually the most expensive, is to take an immersion course in the country where the language is spoken. Spending several weeks in Paris, or better still several months, homestaying with a local family and attending daily classes taught only in French – this is the ultimate crash course. Not everyone can afford such an experience but it’s a great goal to aim for.

Practise makes perfect

As you make progress beyond a basic conversational level, an important consideration is how to keep practising and improving the language. Getting beyond the classroom is especially important then, so try some of these ideas:

• watch foreign movies on DVD using the subtitles – depending on your level, you could use the English subtitles to help understand the content you’re listening to, or view it with the foreign language subtitles if you can understand the gist of what they’re saying but need help with fast speakers or difficult accents
• listen to popular foreign music, and try to understand the lyrics
• meet up with a language exchange partner – check websites or local papers to find people who want to improve their English. Chat for an hour in a café – half an hour in English, half an hour in their language
• consider studying towards a recognised language proficiency exam (for example, Goethe Institut examinations for German, or Japan Foundation tests for Japanese) - a local embassy would be able to provide information relevant for your language
• if you’re able to visit a country where the language is spoken, even just for a short holiday, take every opportunity to speak with the locals – perhaps by staying with a local family, browsing and chatting in small shops or spending time outside the usual tourist areas. Collect newspapers or brochures in the local language to take home and practise reading in the future.

Gambatte!

“Gambatte” is a handy Japanese phrase I learnt which doesn’t translate perfectly into English, but means something like “Do your best” and “Go for it!” When trying to remember new vocabulary or struggling to understand a difficult grammar point, just remember to “gambatte,” and don’t give up! Once you start communicating in another language, the possibilities are endless, and the personal satisfaction is enormous.