Here you are, into your first few lessons of that language you've always wanted to learn, but everything seems to have bogged down. Your teacher seems to be teaching, but you don't seem to be learning. The fun is rapidly draining out of your classes, and you remember that someone wise once said, "Keep language learning FUN! If its NOT fun, you're doing something wrong!"
So you're looking for something right, right? Well, you've come to the right place. Here are some legal cheats that can put you ahead of the rest of your class, no matter what language you're studying.
1. Develop your own, personal, internal MP3 so you can record a 2-to-3 second sound patch and play it back in your mind, or out your mouth. Most discrete phrases and words are significantly LESS than 3 seconds long, so developing your ability to record them, on a little MP3 in your brain, is a great way to give a strong, supportive foundation to your language-learning efforts.
2. Develop your Parrot Technique: a parrot doesn't know the meaning that it squawks out, it just squawks out a word that it heard somebody say. Be like a parrot! Parrot the word or phrase, slowly at first, working on getting the sound right. Do this until your teacher indicates, "You've got the sound right!" THEN, and only then, should you shift your attention to the meaning. You can USE THIS SOUND, use this parroted phrase in situations until the meaning comes clear, and you understand how its meaning empowers you.
3. Use Flash Cards! By cutting 3" x 5" lined index cards in half, you have a nearly square card of sufficient stiffness (paper won't do the job) and sufficient smallness to fit into a shirt pocket or a small purse, to go with you, ready at a moment's notice to flip through them and review or memorize the target language word on THIS side (only one word or phrase) or the English-language equivalent of the word or phrase on THAT side. I suggest you get in the habit of flipping them vertically, not horizontally. This way you have ONE way of flipping them, and reading them.
4. Use Your Small Time! Small time is the 30-seconds you wait for an elevator, the 3-seconds you wait while your call is ringing out there, until someone answers and picks up the receiver. Small Time is in a line at the bank, or a few moments in the bathroom... By using your Small Time, you can spread your learning into the nooks and crannies of your everyday life, and convince your subconscious that you're SERIOUS about learning this, so your subconscious mind will shift gears in order to truly support you in your learning a second language.
Of course you can ALSO use an MP3 of songs in your target language, or lessons in it. These are some of the benefits of learning a second language with an MP3, but develop your OWN internal MP3, first!
And finally, remember what that Krafty Karridine said about the importance of learning a second language: "If it is important enough to learn, it is important enough to KEEP IT FUN! Take a break. Laugh, play word games, have fun! If you're not having fun, you're doing something WRONG!"