4 Tips to Master a Foreign Language

So you made a goal to learn a foreign language? I'm sure if you're like most people, you've given up on that dream after becoming frustrated with the learning process. This article will present 4 tips that helped me master the Spanish language in as little as three months.

Speak it!

This is the number one thing you have to do if you want to learn any foreign language. No amount of conjugation exercises will help you dominate a foreign language. If you want to become fluent you're going to have to speak. A lot.

Find people in your community that are native speakers to the language you want to learn and go talk to them. For example, if you want to learn Spanish, visit your local Mexican grocery store and ask the workers if you can practice your Spanish with them. Most people will be happy to help.

Be Bold With Mistakes

That's right. I'm encouraging you to make mistakes. What keeps many people from mastering a language is their fear of making mistakes and sounding stupid. The reality is you look more stupid trying not to make the mistakes. It's estimated that one must make over 10,000 mistakes before mastering a foreign language. If you want to become fluent in a foreign language quickly, make those 10,000 mistakes as soon as possible.

If you don't know a word, make one up! The native speaker to whom you are speaking will probably raise an eyebrow, but they'll be able to understand from the context of the conversation what you meant. They'll then correct you and you learn something new.

Carry a note card and pen

Always have something handy to write. If you learn a new word or phrase, write it down. You'll create daily lists that you can look at throughout the day and review. Try to incorporate the words you've learned into your conversations.

Buy a familiar book in the language you're learning

If there's a book or other piece of writing that you're familiar with, buy a copy of it the language you're trying to learn. Because you have an idea of what the writing says in English, you'll be able to understand it in the foreign language. For me, I used the Bible. Children books are great books to use.