How long will it take me to learn?
There are, without doubt, difficult languages and easy languages, but I have never heard of a language which was impossible to learn, no matter what your age. The difference is the time it takes and the dedication you need to get to the point that your personal circumstances dictate. Whether you simply want to communicate whilst on holiday, or you have taken the huge step of moving abroad and you want to speak with the locals; if you are prepared to put some effort in...then you will learn, for sure.
If the language that you want to learn has more than 80% of "common" words with your mother tongue, then it can be done in only three months or so if you're able to pick things up quickly, or 6 months if it isn't something that comes to you so easily. Other, more remote languages, where you want to become more than simply conversational, can take you 2 to 3 years to reach a reasonable level. Anyway, one thing is for certain; people learning on their own will learn much more quickly than people taking classes or attending school.
What type of person can learn a new language?
Most people can learn almost any language if they work with a sensible method for a reasonable period of time (and work regularly too). Although it is true that some people are really bad at learning languages, there are actually very few of these. Generally speaking, it is people who were discouraged by bad experiences in school who believe that if they don't speak a language with any fluency after having spent 10 years in school studying it, this is because they are not gifted (after all, maybe their teacher was the one who wasn't gifted).
Most people can learn a new language if they do it the right way. When you think about it, everyone learns their mother tongue effortlessly. Of course adults learn differently than children, but the point is that it does not take special skills to be an efficient language learner, just an efficient method.
What can I achieve by learning another language?
Most people are able to speak like a native if they have lived in a country where they have to speak it all the time, especially if they were reasonably young when they arrived. For all the others, learning to speak another language can be very difficult, there are no two ways about it. It is, however, possible to learn a new language with a good level of fluency; to be able to express your thoughts and feelings, and understand all the intricacies in the speech of the natives without having to spend half your life with your head in a book or a classroom.
The most important thing is to set realistic goals (the first step is to understand and be understood) and don't be deterred at the first hurdle; persistence will pay dividends. This can be the difference between the mediocre and the outstanding language learner.
It is also important to realise that you will never stop learning a particular language and that there will nearly always be room for improvement. Try to improve your language skills whenever you can and never be satisfied with how much you have learned - keep pushing on.
The idea is not to work constantly in order to speak a new language (life is too short...). Instead, have an open mind toward learning, knowing that even if you speak really well, you can always improve; learn new words or new expressions or perfect your pronunciation. Aim for the sky, and you'll get it!
About the Author: Clare Innes has a number of health, fitness and general lifestyle websites, including one showcasing the USA's top selling method of exactly how to learn a new language...and in under 8 weeks! Visit http://www.firstforlanguages.com Look out for more websites in the First For....com' series that is currently under development. |
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