Learn by reading and watching current news

And then discuss that news with others
By exposing yourself to news that is happening now in the language you want to learn you have something interesting and topical to think about in that language. You can discuss it with others and communicate for real: what do you think about this topic?

Listen and watch this video and then see what you think.

Tip #17 - loadza music for languages

So, this language learning tip is real fun and easy. You can do it anywhere and try to learn vocabulary or think abour the grammar of the language you want to learn. Or simply repeat and sing your brains out: while trying to sing the song as perfectly as possible you get great pronunciation practice.

Or just listen to music in the target language and try to write the text on a piece of paper. Listen to the song over and over again until you are happy enough. There may be a couple of words or sentences you are not sure about but that's nothing to worry about. Then just keep listening and singing the song. A real painless way to learn a language easily.

Tip #16 - pimp your phrasebook

A greatly underrated language learning tool
We normally buy phrasebooks at airports or on impulse. They are not normally part of our planned language learning programme. However, language phrasebooks are really good concentrated, basic and directly applicable introductions to a language and for developing your speech.

Digestible chunked up language
Travel phrasebooks have all kinds of chunks of language and they give you the situation to use the language in as well as what your conversational counterpart might say. It really prepares you for each situation. They also normally have great overviews of grammar in non-specialist language as well as lists of vocabulary. Whenever I start on a new language I always buy a phrasebook first. It gives me a feel for how it works and if I like the sound of it.

An exercise
The next time you are going on holiday buy a phrasebook about 6 weeks before. Then highlight the sections you think are most interesting and drill yourself in them for 15 minutes a day until the day you travel. Bring the book with you so you can review before you encounter each situation on holiday. I guarantee you will get more out of your holiday, feel more confident using the language and get a quick start. You can buy phrasebooks in practically all bookstores or also online at Ephisto store.

Tip #15 - go to the shops

Imagine what it would be like
Try to think what a conversation in a particular kind of shop would be like. Then write down or find some useful phrases for that particular kind of shop. Drill them, repeat, pronounce at home until you are reasonably happy with your language. Then go to the shop and try to use it.

Buy what you have learned
Ask for the kind of stuff you have learned. The most important thing here is learning the language right? It might be a good idea though to learn stuff you do actually like. If the shop assistant tries to switch to your language (possible) then just keep saying things in the language you want to learn. Don't break! In the end they will also reply in the language you want, you are after all the customer.

Tip #14 - embrace total weirdness

Understand that it is different
And that might be one of the reasons for learning the language. Most language learners can attest to the fact that when you speak a foreign language, it can actually feel like you have a different personality or think differently. Aside from the philosophical or other considerations, this has one clear conclusion: you need to think differently to learn it well...

Or just be prepared to think differently
It can be enough to just look at or hear a sentence or phrase and you know it feels wrong. But then you have to bite the bullet, shrug your shoulders and say "This is the way they say it in Spain or Sweden or whereever". Then try that phrase on a native speaker of the language and I guarantee you, nothing will happen. They will talk on like it's normal, or even be amazed at how "native" you sound.

So go on, embrace total weirdness. You'll be better off for it.

Tip #13 - book a language trip abroad

If you can't bring Rome to you, then...
you'll have to go to Rome yourself. One of the best and most fun ways to learn a language is to go to the country itself. Then you are surrounded by the culture, the atmosphere, the people and of course you have to order coffee in their language. You are forced to speak their lingo.

How to do it
Either you can go on a language course via a language travel agency or search for language schools and book directly, or just take a holiday. Language travel agencies help you with the whole package including insurance, somewhere to stay and also have quality-checked the schools before you get there. Good examples of language travel agencies in Sweden are www.stockholmlanguage.com and www.alta-abroad.se. There are other agencies in other countries you can find.

If you decide to go the schools route then you will have to do the research yourself and book flights etc. This does not have to be too difficult and can offer you a taste of the language already before you go. Some schools are available on Ephisto.

Language-wise
If you decide to just go there without a language course then a must is a decent phrase book and you can also try using Ephisto to see if there is anyone there who you can practise the language with before you go.

Once in the country all you have to do is jump in and try talking to people. You'll be surprised by how much they like talking to you!

Tip #12 - make flash cards

An old learning trick
This is a good way to learn vocabulary or any kind of information that you have to basically bash into your brain with a nail-studded stick. It replaces (and should forever) the memorizing of long, long lists of things by instead showing a word, phrase or grammar point on one side of a card and then having explanation or translation on the back.

Get started now
Make a list of words you do not know. Get a stack of blank cards, or use some mini-format of paper. Now write one word on each piece of paper. Then look the words up in a dictionary and add the translation, definition or any other related info for each word on the back of each respective card.

Now, drill yourself
Look at the side containing the words and try to remember the definition or translation. Turn the card and check. Go through the entire bunch of cards. Repeat at will. If you do this enough then you WILL remember the words. You can also do this the other way around by reading the definitions or trnslations and then saying the word. It's your choice.

You can also do this automatically on Ephisto by playing the Flash cards game.

Now you can put the nail-studded stick away for good.

Tip #10 - get a language exchange partner

You need to talk
If you don't talk then it will be very, very difficult to learn a language. You need the active process of producing the language, feedback on what is understood and listening to really apply any theory you're getting from grammar books, vocabulary drills or classrooom language learning.

Almost anyone will do
As long as they want to speak the language too and are at a reasonable enough level compared to you. It shouldn't be boring for either of you. And the more different types of language exchange partners you have, the richer your vocabulary and knowledge in that language will be.

Different ways to do it
You can choose to do the classic language exchange, ie you both speak your language the first 15 minutes, then you both speak their language the next 15 and you continue in this fashion. You can pay someone a symbolic fee for the chat in their language. Or you can find someone who also wants to learn the same language as you and you both decide to speak it together.

Where do I find them?
Well, log in to Ephisto to find different speakers of various languages. They may well be up for a classic language exchange, most of them are there to talk with other learners though. Sometimes local cafes have language exchange lists or you can ask in your circle of friends if they know of anyone who might be willing to exchange languages.

tip #11 - be a friend, not an interrogator

No ketchup effect please!
When you first find someone who you can practice your language with and if they are a native speaker, remember this: they are not A) a walking dictionary, B) a walking grammar book C) there for questions only and not communication.

Communication first
If you have ever experienced the learner of languages who continually asks "is this correct? What's the word? Did I say that right?" Or repeats words waiting for the correct pronunciation back then you know what I am talking about. It's really, really important that you don't exploit your language practice partner in this way. If you really do have questions then make a list after you have spoken and then look them up by yourself.

Why speak at all?
The purpose of language is communication, and not correctness as my old language teacher absolutely never said. Nope, she would probably have a minor stroke just reading those words. But grammar is simply a much, much better way of saying something than pointing at it and grunting enthusiastically, and it only covers most common usage, there isn't much room for dialects here. And perfect pronunciation is just a much, much better way of saying something using grammar, and again covers most common usage. But that doesn't mean it has to be that way to work.

Your goal must be to be as correct as humanly possible, but without feeling limited, scared of failure or hampering the actual communication. Then you're talking!

Tip #9 - be the crazy Spaniard

Look for a role model
If you find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be a native speaker of your target language then choose a clear role model. Look either amongst your friends, on TV, in magazines or anywhere, as long as you can find someone that you can identify as a useful role model for learning that language. For instance, you can choose someone who is the same gender as you are to make it easier.

Does not have to be the same
However, the role model does not always have to be the same. Remember that in language learning much has to do with what is different.

Case study
In any case, take your role model and imagine that you are that person. Practice getting exactly the same rhythm and melody when you speak. What is the body language like? How do they hold their heads, what do their lips look like when they speak? This exercise has to do with having a useful model to imitate and bridging the gap between you as a bearer of your own culture and language, and that of your target culture and language. Now keep this character in mind when you speak the target language with someone. If you do this exercise properly then I guarantee people will be amazed at your "improvement" in confidence and language performance.

Have fun!

Tip #8 - embrace sounding weird

Go for what seems weirdest
Have you ever heard a Frenchman, Spaniard, English-speaker or Asian try to speak another language? And when I ask you that question the first thing you can hear in your mind is either their accent or a specific grammar mistake they tend to make when speaking? Well, one of the reasons for this is that they haven't totally embraced weirdness. Or even aimed for it.

Familiar is bad, really bad
When learning or trying to pronounce we tend to go with what we are used to. So you can imagine that, when say being an English speaker speaking French but not willing to sound really, really different to when you speak English, well then you will sound like an English speaker speaking French. It's that simple.

The trick is to really listen to how a French speaker says something, then attempt to pronounce it exactly; in the process tangling and mangling your vocal chords if you have to. Break down the sounds into little manageable bits, do them one at a time, roll them together. Check that it's right. Then repeat. Don't worry about how difficult it is. Your chords will get used to it. Sometimes, you can actually say that if you do not sound like yourself, then you are doing a great job.

On Ephisto you can listen to words in articles and then repeat them after your digital language coach.

Tip #7 - make stuff interest you

A no-brainer?

This seems fairly obvious but often people try to learn a language by stuffing themselves full of grammar books or exercises that tell you that this man's name is "Tom" and the woman's "Mary". Needless to say many times people stop learning a language after the first few exercises. Could there be a connection here maybe?

Well, while this is okay as a start for people driven by other motivating factors such as, they need the language for work or to function in everyday life, it isn't very motivating for most ordinary learners. So you have to find two or three powerful motivating factors to keep you at the grindstone. For instance, after a grammar exercise. think to yourself "Right, and this piece of grammar I can now use for ......" And then you have confirmed the usefulness of it. Then it's easier to grind through a grammar exercise.

Somthing I normally do is read something I'm interested in anyway. this might mean that the text is at a higher level than I am, but then I'm stretching myself in the language and for me this is motivating.

What's motivating for you?

Tip #6 - Talk to yourself on the bus

No time is dead time

Just because you don't happen to have your course book or language exchange partner there with you, doesn't mean that you can't practise the language.

Do you see what you are reading now? Well, what's the word for "sentence" in your target language? Look around you. Can you name everything around you in that language? If not, then start thinking.


If you can't extract what things are called just now, then instead start to practise conversations. Go through them in your head from greeting a person to saying goodbye or making plans for dinner. Imagine what the words feel like on your tongue.

Or apply grammar rules you have just learned to some sentences in your mind and see if they seem to work. Decide in what situation later you can try that out and then do it.

Yes, even sitting on a bus there's a lot of room for language learning :)

Enjoy yourself,

Tip #5 - Learn 5 words each day

It multiplies so easily

5 words a day is not a lot, is it? And if you add that up over a month you then end up with around 140-150 new bits of vocabulary to go out there and wow people with in your new language! Spread that over a year and you've just learned 1700 new words....you get the picture.

Start now
If you want to try doing this now then you can try reading a magazine, newspaper or book in the language you want to learn and underline only 5 words you don't understand or would like to use much better. Then whip out your dictionary and look them up. Spend a minute on each word so you can read as much about its definitions, translations, synonyms or origin that you can and then write it up.

Or do it online
You can also set up an account on Ephisto if you want and set a goal of learning 35 words a week. Then the Ephisto language learning engine will set tasks for you and when you read articles set by the engine you can get definitions, pronunciation directly from the language coach and can revise the words in games.

A taster
Here's a word to get you started: "lagom", means just right, just enough in Swedish and apparently is an abbreviation of when Vikings used to share food and would eat "as a team" meaning in Swedish "laget om", which was then shortened to "lagom". Have fun!

www.ephisto.com

Tip #4 - set bite-size goals

Set acheivable and small goals

It's not a good idea to start your language learning by saying you want to be fluent in 1 week. This is highly unlikely unless you've worked out a way to import a language's vocabulary and grammar into your brain ;) Instead start by saying where you are now and then work out how much time you realistically can spend on learning a language each day or week. How much time can you spend on learning a language and doing what? In other words, how much time you can spend doing a number of simple activities, such as reading an article or 5 words, over one week. You can call this your personal activity goals to learn this language.
Ok, now think where you might be in 3 months if you put that much time into learning your language. Maybe you can make a list of your activities and then tot up the benefits you think you'll get. This total you get is your learning objective. If you want you can also start with your learning objective and then work out how much language learning activities and time you need to put in to reach them. The order is not really important, different people like to do it different ways. As long as what you set at the end is acheivable and measurable then you can reap the motivational rewards of actually succeeding in doing each small step. And this will help you keep going when, and this will definitely happen, you think "Oh my God! I'll never learn this damned language!".

Tip #3 - Do a little, often

Be active
Seems like a fairly simple tip to carry out. I mean, be active, how hard can it be? Well, if you compare it to going on a diet, starting a training routine or any other new endeavour intended to bring us new habits and benefits then you will understand that it's fairly easy to slack off. (Why is it so easy to have bad habits, and so hard to have good ones?)

It's easy to say I won't read that article or open my language learning book now because I'm a little tired. Or I can't put the CD in the player because hmm, it's in my pocket and then I have to open it....etc. But you MUST at least decide I WILL be active often. Just 5 minutes is all it takes.

And that does not mean you even need to move. Just sit back and think about the language you are learning. Try to project yourself into a situation you are using it in, do mental flashcards of new vocabulary. Anything at all as long as you are doing it in the language you want to learn and you do it often, and it will benefit you. Keep doing that for a couple of months and where will you be then?

Yepp, it's that simple.

Tip #2 - make tons of mistakes

Here's today's tip for learning a language easily.

Mistakes are excellent
Do not fear making mistakes: by making a mistake you KNOW that something is incorrect. If you don't make a mistake you KNOW it is correct. If you don't try, then you simply don't know. Knowledge is power.

To try using a word now you can go to www.ephisto.com and log on. You can either practise your words in a game or talk to another language learner for real. This is a fairly safe way of making mistakes without feeling too uneasy about it.

Have fun!

Tip #1 - Take risks often and everywhere

Welcome to the ephisto.com blog with tips for learning a language the easy way.

Today I'm going to write about one of the most important aspects of learning a language. Namely, risk-taking. Something which is often, suprisingly enough, frowned upon but is crucial to learning to speak a foreign language fluently.

Take the plunge
To learn something it is crucial to test it and use it and then reflect. If you don't take risks then this will be extremely slow to happen. So when you learn a new word or piece of grammar be sure to throw it into conversations. By using it you see if it works in that context, and also start to push the new vocabulary towards long-term memory.

If you have difficulty in finding people to take these risks with(!) then you can easily go to www.ephisto.com and go to the talk section. There you can find lots of people who just like you want to learn a language and may feel a little self-conscious when talking to native speakers. They are all there for the sole purpose of learning a language and making friends.

So, even if a foreign language can make you even more careful than normal, do let your inhibitions go. It is only through this that you can talk to people in a relaxed manner. And language is after all about communication, not correctness.