There's no single universal foolproof method to learn a language. Try different ones and use the one that works for you, or a combination.
Little and often is best. Ten minutes every day tends to be more effective and manageable than a longer session once a week.
Mistakes are part of the learning process. Have a go and you'll learn much more quickly: most native speakers will already appreciate you making an effort.
Listen to language learning CDs or podcasts during idle times, such as when travelling to work.
Watch TV and video online in the language you're learning. You may not understand much of it but it will help you get used to how the language sounds and, with the help of the visuals, you'll pick up odd words and phrases.
Write words on post-it notes and stick them around the house.
Say phone numbers out loud, make shopping and other lists or memorise orders in a bar or restaurant.
Repeat activities to consolidate what you've learnt.
Visit to a place where you can use the language you're learning - if anything, it will keep you motivated.
Find a learning partner.
Go back every now and again to something you did early on. You may be surprised at how much you've learnt.
How to learn a language. There's no single universal foolproof method to learn a language. Try different ones and use the one that works for you, or a combination.
BBC Languages Free online lessons to learn and study with
Free online language learning: courses, audio, video and games, including the alphabet, phrases, vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, activities and tests
BBC Future How to learn 30 languages
When you consider the challenges for the brain, its no wonder most of us find learning a language so demanding. We have many different memory systems, and
"Why Should I Learn English?" 10 Compelling Reasons for ...
"Why Should I Learn English?" theres little point putting a huge amount of time and effort into learning a language that youll hardly ever have the
BBC NEWS | UK | Why Britons are 'language barbarians'
BBC News Online asks why Britons are failing to learn the lingo in a global community.
Why should I learn a language? - Omniglot
Why should I learn a language? but whatever your reasons, having a clear idea of why you're learning a language can help to motivate you in your studies.
Why learn Arabic? | OxfordWords blog
Why learn Arabic? To celebrate Arabic is a Semitic language, The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not
BBC NEWS | Health | Learning languages 'boosts brain'
The team took scans of 25 Britons who did not speak a second language, 25 people who had learned another European language before the age of five and 33 bilinguals
Which language should I learn? - Omniglot
Which language should I learn? If you're not sure which language to study, here are some factors to consider: Availability. Are materials and other resources
BBC - Culture - How the English language became such a mess
James Harbeck investigates how the English language became such a mess and why we Readers outside of the UK can see every BBC Britain Follow BBC Culture.
