THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
1. DO NOT TRY TO SABOTAGE YOURSELF
Language learning is a natural process. You just cannot stay in a country and not learn the language'¦ but you can seriously hinder this natural process ' if you try. Concentrating on the translation of a word in your language, thinking that the other students are better (or worst) than you, that the grammar is too difficult, that the book is not good, that the teacher is not nice, that you are too old (or too young, or too stupid, or '¦ whatever) are some of the many ways you have to put a lot of obstacles in the natural way to learn a language.
2. RELAX AND IMITATE
Kids learn their mother tongue by imitating adults, repeating, shouting, singing words and sentences they hear ' sometimes even without knowing the meaning; do the same, dare to speak since the first day, say something, try to imitate your teacher, the radio announcer, the bar tender ' repeat words and sentences again and again, like mantras.
3. MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF
Gravity can be your worst enemy ' accept the idea that you will do many mistakes, that you will not understand the others and the others will not understand you ' you just cannot remain serious learning a new language. Kids learn their mother tongue with fun, sometimes they purposely make mistakes so that everyone laughs. If you are ready to have fun (and to let the others having fun with you), you will learn faster.
4. NO PAIN NO GAIN
And of course you have to study. It is true, you are not a kid anymore, so you have to rationalize in some ways. Do the homeworks, study the verbs, the conjugations, the rules. And, overall, study the words, by heart. Even just some words per day help a lot. Time spent in study is never time wasted.
5. TECHNOLOGY
To learn a language, your brain is the most beautiful piece of technology existing. Trust it, use it. You do not need anything else, really. Travel lightly, free yourself of the other clumsy things. If you wish, a pencil, a copybook, maybe a small dictionary can help ' the rest is heavy luggage, and you do not need it.
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