How I Learn a Foreign Language
I have done a few posts in the past about how learn Italian; however, for this post I’d like to revisit my methodology and summarize what had worked for me right from the beginning. Using Italian as an example, I did the following without attending any classes.
Listen to the sound. Like a child learning to speak, hearing and mimicking sounds are important. The main resources I use are:
YouTube: Children's stories; for example, this playlist is a great place to begin.
Netflix: I queued a few Italian movies for viewing.
CDs in Phrase Books: Lonely Planet and Berlitz are my default.
Books. I have a tonne of these ranging from basic to advanced. I bought a substantial lot of Italian reference books while I was in Italy. However, what had really worked for me in forming a strong foundation were the following examples, which I’ve standardized as my go-to books for the other languages I’m learning:
Phrase Book: Berlitz (and Lonely Planet)*
I carry the smaller volumes with me while commuting to work. The key here is DAILY exposure. While waiting for the bus to and after work, I just whip the book out for a quick revision. The thicker tomes are for studying over the weekends—I’d dedicate at least 4 hours for this from lunch time to coffee break.
Apps and websites. There are many free and cost-effective websites, but the following are my favorites. For those I paid either a subscription fee or for purchases, I mark them with a star.
News sites or online newspapers such as La Repubblica and La Stampa
*Zinio (This is a great way to read foreign magazines without bursting the piggy bank and cluttering your space with physical magazine copies.)
There you have it—this is how I learn any foreign language and is now my study formula. Oh yes, I changed my iPhone and iPad settings to Italian too.
