There exists any number of methods for learning a new language, and this is something that can be confusing, and down right frustrating. Some of the typical methods for learning a new language include reading books, watching videos, or listening to audio cassettes/ discs. Students should incorporate all of the aforementioned into their studying habits.
However, there comes a point when the student of any foreign language will have to start practicing with real live people. This may come as a shock to some professors, but the fact remains that the rules in any language are broken by those who speak the language fluently. In other words, you won’t learn to speak a foreign language at school. You’ll just have to make friends who speak the language you’re interested in mastering.
Keep in mind the possibility that a text book may contain misconceptions about the way phrases or questions are executed in the target language. For example, while living in Japan, I learned that the phrase “Doo itashi mashite” was an inappropriate response to an apology, although my college text book clearly stated the opposite to be true.
The trick here is to correct your misconceptions of a foreign language as you gain more experience, and practice the correct phrases.
After spending some time listening to a foreign language from native speakers, you’ll soon realize that you no longer have to translate the phrases or questions you hear in your own language in order to communicate. The language becomes natural over time. Initiating a conversation in a foreign language can be more difficult, however, as opposed to simply answering questions or blurting out phrases. Therefore, studying the foreign language, I’m afraid, will be a life-long necessity, even after you’ve mastered the language to some proficiency.
The best advice for a student is to go out into the world and start learning to communicate with real people. That’s not to say that books and audio cassettes aren’t worth investing in, but rather that such tools should be used in the beginning of learning a language, and then again as a supplement to real life communication in the target language. The point here is to immerse the student in the language and culture. Consider the basic text books and audio lessons to be the groundwork or preparation for speaking with native speakers of the target language. Keep in mind that effectively communicating with speakers of a foreign language is your ultimate goal; and remember that the best way to reach that goal is to start communicating with people who speak the language you want to learn.