How to learn

Dear friends of foreign languages,

I would like to present a system and set of instructions on how to learn a foreign language in the quickest and most effective way. This guide is based on my own experience. I know from 10 to 12 languages and for me learning a new one is only a matter of a few days and you could be the same especially if you reside in the country where the language you would like to learn is spoken or you are in contact with people who speak this language.

Generally speaking, learning a foreign language consists of three main phases:

• Pronouncing the foreign language - almost immediately
• Hearing the foreign language - this usually comes later when you have contact with native speakers
• Speaking the foreign language fluently and thinking in it – this comes later, when you have mastered a basic vocabulary of approximately 1000 words

The basic knowledge of any language consists of pronouncing it and knowing its alphabet. Only after these particulars have been mastered do you need actual instruction:

First, you need to learn the personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they). After this “yes, no, thank you, please, excuse me”. Next come the following phrases “Good morning, afternoon, evening, goodbye, how are you” and other social basics. Then I recommend learning the most important verbs “be, have and go”, making sure you learn them in the present, past and future tenses from the very beginning. I think it is a mistake to learn verbs only in the present tense, because it is not possible to hold a conversation with only the present tense. After verbs, I suggest learning numerals. You cannot communicate in any foreign language without them. These are followed by the most common verbs, of course in all tenses, including understanding the present, future and past tenses. We then continue by learning time, the comparative and superlatives forms of adjectives and adverbs, and grammar, i.e. personal and possessive pronouns and pronouns in the third and fourth case. Next are demonstrative pronouns, definite and indefinite articles, followed by key words, whether specialized or in general use.

After successfully mastering these skills, you should proceed with instruction using an existing method – self-learning, schools or actual practice in a foreign country, perhaps through contact with native speakers.

Here are some useful tips:

• The hardest foreign language to learn is your first one. This tutorial contains a system of learning that will make it easier to learn other languages.
• It has been proven that only 300 words are needed for the simplest conversation; for ordinary conversation 1000 most frequently-used words are enough
• Learning once a week is only good for maintaining “form”, not for improvement. For this, 3 to 4 times a week is ideal. For learning out of a “drawer” (1 - 2 times per week) without going to the country or speaking to a native speaker, the result can be up to 10 times slower.
• When actually in the country where the language is spoken, do not try to use your knowledge of other languages and do not start using it.
• When speaking or writing in the language or with a native speaker, take note of which expressions are used and try to logically and naturally respond to them, whether with similar or identical phrases.
• For less than perfect comprehension, try to work out the context and general meaning of the message (whether it involves a question or the tense used). Even if you cannot understand anywhere near 100%, don’t worry; try to respond to what you do understand, or ask questions to help you understand.

This guide is not intended to teach a foreign language perfectly; it only summarizes the most important things to remember when learning a language. It does not replace other methods of language instruction.

I hope that I have helped you a little in your studies and wish you great success.

Your author, Zdeněk Pilecký