Language Tips

For some folks just being lingual is enough, but for anyone looking to add a Bi- or a Multi- to that lingual label, here are some friendly suggestions.

1. Take a structured course or lessons: A capable instructor and regular homework assignments will not only be helpful for proficiency in a specific tongue, but will also provide necessary skills for understanding the mechanics of language itself.  A general grasp on tenses, number and gender agreement, sentence structure, etc, will form a solid foundation for dabbling in any language.

2. Set realistic goals: Fluency takes years of practice or complete immersion.  It's going to take a long time to become comfortable with any new language, so start small.  Scoring well on an exam, understanding a foreign pop song, or looking across a restaurant table at a confused friend and saying "if you want chicken, go with the one at the bottom," are important steps.

3. Read the internet:  There are a lot of free resources out there to improve reading skills. Before coming to Italy, I checked out an Italian newspaper online or browsed Italian Wikipedia whenever I got a chance.  Learning about the life and times of a canine movie star might not be the most useful information in the world, but learning it in another language (even without understanding a great deal), will improve vocabulary, comprehension, and even writing skills.

4. Listen to the internet: Can't quite afford that $300.00 Rosetta Stone CD set?  Try a free podcast; all you need is iTunes and an internet connection.  http://www.apple.com/itunes/ is a good place to start.  

5. Be wary of online translators:  Yes, the internet does provide many free, useful language resources.  However, direct internet translators like Babel Fish don't know a thing about idioms or context; the true essence of communication.  Use them sparingly, like to translate a mystery word rather than a mystery sentence or paragraph.  

6. Find someone to practice with: A native speaker can help with correcting mistakes and teaching the things we can't learn in a structured class (yes this includes profanity, woohoo). Sometimes native speakers can be intimidating though; after all, they are fluent.  

Start with a fellow beginner, and even though mistakes will be made, progress is inevitable. Try mixing in food, drink, or sport to help the conversation flow.

7. Make lists: It's difficult to carry a dictionary around at all times.  Try a tiny notebook instead, or even jot down unknown words on the back of a business card or receipt. Looking their definitions up later will increase the size of the all important vocabulary, and the act of writing something down in itself improves the chances of remembering it.

8.  Leave the ego at home:  Anyone practicing a foreign language is going to say things like, "I don't want to pay higher taxis!" and "May I find a piece of your lasagna?" Laugh it off and try again; the mistakes are half the fun.

Any tips to add?  Share them in the comments section in whatever language you'd like.