ChickSpeak

I’ve always wanted to be fluent in French. Heck, I’ve always wanted to be fluent in multiple languages. But when it came to paying attention in my high school and college language courses and excelling, I didn’t do so swell.There were activities that worked better for me and ones that were too hard to comprehend.  Sometimes I understood and sometimes I was completely lost. Was it that the classes were too fast paced?

Probably not. Could it have been that I needed a different learning method to truly pick up the language? Most likely.

This summer I’ve made it my goal to begin relearning French on my own. It may seem daunting, involving myself in all that hard work and practice while the sun is shining and the beach is only a few miles away, repeatedly calling my name, but I keep thinking of the long-term rewards: being able to go to a foreign film and focus on the story instead of reading the subtitles; being able to go to a foreign country and focus on talking to the cute French guy instead of reading my translation book.

And the little tricks I’ve picked up have helped make the transition from unilingual to bilingual less difficult and more fun!

If you have a language you’re dying to learn, then try these tips! Whether you’re a complete beginner or sprucing up on what you already know, these techniques are destined to help you in your quest to become more cosmopolitan.

Podcasts

Language tapes and CDs are nothing new. They have been around for years, attempting to help people learn a difficult language conveniently. The only problem is you either have to be in your car or near a stereo in order to listen. What about the multitude of hours in which you’re nowhere near one of those? What are you supposed to do then?

Luckily, podcasts have come to our rescue. And what’s even better: they’re free! Simply download them to your iPod and start learning a language any time of day, no matter where you are. There are several different varieties of podcasts at varying levels of intensity for almost every language available on iTunes. Some are even video podcasts, which makes your learning even more interactive.

For example, the Coffee Break French and Spanish podcasts have corresponding websites in which you can download more activities to further your knowledge. And with the number of podcasts increasing daily, it’s likely that you won’t run out of lessons for a long, long time.

Literature

To sharpen your reading and writing skills, there may be no better resource than resorting to books. Professors often have their students read literature in class, but these works are often too “academic” or too difficult to really be any good. Instead, treat learning another language as if you’re learning to read for the first time: go simple.

Buying books in another language and reading them side by side with ones in English will help you distinguish phrases and words without having to consult a dictionary over and over.

But don’t attempt to start reading Hugo right off the bat! I recently ordered some Dr. Seuss and Madeline books in French, found their English counterparts in a discount bookstore, and have been reading them side by side. I can already see a difference in my reading abilities. I even ordered Alice in Wonderland in French in preparation for a new level of reading comprehension!

Movies

You may not realize it, but all those Disney DVDs you have come equipped with Spanish and French language tracks and subtitles. In fact, most of the DVDs in your collection have different language tracks and subtitles, accessible from the set-up menu.

The great thing is that you can either listen to the language track (which doesn’t include English subtitles) and practice your listening comprehension, or put on the subtitles and read the different language along with the English.

Perhaps the best way to start is with children’s movies, especially the ones that you are most acquainted with, and then work your way up to movies that use more advanced speech. If you’re looking for a language other than Spanish or French, try searching the web for different language editions. YouTube is a great source for finding scenes from movies (especially Disney movies) with scenes that are dubbed in different languages. What could be more entertaining than watching Aladdin in German?

Culture

Perhaps the best way to learn a language is to become immersed completely in a country and its culture. However, if you are unable to spend a few months overseas, you may try creating your own version of the country.

For example, if you want to learn Italian, start working your way through Italian newspapers, visit Italian websites, listen to Italian music, and of course, eat Italian food (you need nourishment after all that learning!)

It won’t be as authentic as actually living among Italians, but it will clue you in to the version of the language they speak everyday and what is going on in their country. Learning the customs and manners that the country abides by will also help you understand the language better, as custom has so much to do with the way people interact and even how speech is delivered.

There are plenty of resources all over the web that will deliver this precious information to you, helping you become a full-fledged citizen (sans the actual citizenship) in no time!

Language Software

If you feel as though you need extra help or that you need a more structured, classroom-like format, you may want to try a language software program. The most obvious choice seems to be Rosetta Stone. However, there is software that ranks above Rosetta Stone in consumer reports and is also significantly cheaper: Tell Me More.

Though it doesn’t offer nearly as many languages as Rosetta Stone, the program promises to be even more productive as a learning tool. There are also several other programs that have great reviews and may be more tailored to your particular learning style. Simply check out marketplaces like Amazon.com for a survey of programs, prices, and reviews.

Keep in mind that language software can be pricey and often require a lot of work. If you’re willing to invest the money and devote the time though, the results will be well worth it.

Learning a language is never easy and it is definitely not an overnight accomplishment. But imagine the joy you will feel when you’re able to converse freely with someone in Japanese or German! If you have the time this summer and the drive to do something a little out of the norm, try these tips.

They are sure to help you learn a language without all the pressure or cost of taking various language classes. And once you learn another language, you have a more than valid excuse to travel abroad, buy some cute shoes, and meet an even cuter, foreign guy!

Kate Oncken is a graduate student at the University of Southern California in the Professional Writing department. She hopes to one day write a novel, own an estate in England, and travel the world.

Photo by Rachel Noel. Rachel can be reached at noelra@appstate.edu.