How to be a successful language learner?

Agree. I read from foreign books, much more than local books. I listen to foreign songs, much more than local songs. I don't have opportunities to speak much, but I can find it through Internet penpals. Play with the language: I often jokingly translate other people's words in any foreign language that I can speak: English, Chinese, Hokkianese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish. So, my friends are getting used to me changing languages suddenly with many kinds of foreign remarks: "So desu ka?", "miane..", "no problema", "por supuesto", "bo song ah?", "Liao bu qi", and so on. Closer friends already know those meanings, because I keep on using the same remarks. I don't have an opportunity to live with so many kinds of foreigners. Internet helps a lot. One more key: learn the culture as well. If you have time, the history will be interesting stories. And always try to speak with the right accent, not just with the right words. Good luck.

It depends on what you are learning the language for. So much of my Chinese comes from needing to know it on a daily basis to get around. Therefore, I focus on phrases like I want, I don't want, I like, I don't like, I can, I can't, and other useful verbs. Once I have a good handle on verbs, I focus on time expressions and numbers. Then, any other vocabulary that might be useful for me. It has been working for me quite well. Not being afraid to ask questions is almost the most important thing you can do too. If we're too afraid to show that we don't know something, we don't learn anything.

You know what, I am trying to teach my kid how to speak Chinese and it's easy for her to pick it up but then she forgets it just as easily. But one of my friend did something I thought was crazy but hey it worked. She took her daughter back to her native country stayed there for about a year and now the kid speaks the language more fluently then she does....So what I am saying is that maybe it is best to speak it live it taste it and play with it ...it meaning the language you want to learn...then you will succeed...

haha i like this topic.there are a large number of people on mylot whose mother language is not English and one of the purpose they come here,i guess,is to learn the English language.i am one of those but after several weeks on mylot,i seem to have forgotten my original purpose,but become more interested in the discussions and the different people.how does one do to master a language?...emm..i've been studying Enlish for nearly ten years,but the more i've learned the more clearly i realize how little i've learned!thouth sometimes discuraged at this thought,i won't give up for i love learning languages:)

Language teachers always have their own experiences and skills.But did we do what they told us to do? We really read a lot in the new language?Did we practice every day? Maybe it's just need practice and practice,and someday you find u r the successful language learner?

please visit www.bbc.co.uk , you can learn many things on this site..i tried this awhile ago and it has some techniques that you easily learn..it's sooo good

Hi! I am trying to learn Japanese on my own. I had a very short Japanese Language lesson just to help us survive in Japan early this year when we went there. Now I want to learn Japanese. What I did was I bought books about simple Japanese sentences. It's not written in Hiragana or Katakana. It's in Romanji but at least it helps me in saying the right words. Aside from that I also watch Japanese movies online at www.crunchyroll.com to listen to how words are correctly said. I still want to go to a Japanese Language School. Maybe soon. Thank you!