Finding Your Way to Languages

A look at six methods used in learning new foreign languages: Audio, Books, Classes, Software, Internet and Immersion. Material includes basic overviews, pros and cons, examples and anecdotes.

So you want to learn another language? Great! You've chosen the one you want, and are ready to jump in with the learning? Fantastic!

Now the REAL question: What is the best way to learn a language? This is one of the most asked questions by those in your position. It is also one of the most difficult to answer in a definitive, useful way. Most people who ask it are looking for the secret "trick" that will enable them to learn a language quickly and easily. They see the titles like "Mastering Ancient Tibetan in 39 Seconds" and are anxious to do just that! Those who have more experience (that is, have been learning languages for a while) are likely to answer with: it depends.

Since each person learns in a different way, is no method that works the best for everyone. This book is designed for those that don't yet know what their way is. It examines six common methods of studying a language: through audio, like audio courses and podcasts; by books, ranging from phrasebooks to full textbooks; classes, with a teacher and other students; software, using computer programs to help train you; internet, utilising the potential of some of the other methods on a global scale; immersion, in which a person is completely surrounded by the language and must learn it to survive.

This book won't teach you any secrets, any overnight paths to fluency. What it will give you is a solid understanding of what the strengths and weaknesses are of each approach, allowing you, the reader, to find your own way to languages.