Personally, I love to use just one material for learning.  Too many ingredients tend to spoil the pot for me.  Plus, the amount of choices just leaves me unnecessarily confused.  Sticking to one material gives you none of those headaches.

Of course, that solution is only feasible if your language learning software is good enough to support your continued growth.  Assuming it is, I’d definitely consider going that route, as it’s simpler and more focused.

When you seek out secondary materials for learning, you must have good reason to do so.  Either it helps reinforce what your primary material teaches or it covers an aspect of the language that the one you usually work with doesn’t.  Barring those two reasons, it’s probably best to drop any secondary tools as they can end up being a distraction.

All of this advice, of course, goes out the window when you’re a bit advanced on the language learning scale.  The more of the language you acquire, the more necessary it usually becomes to branch out and learn from other sources.  If you don’t, it’s hard to be challenged enough to continue growing.

Testing Reinforces the Results of Studying

At least, that’s the conclusion from some researchers who measured the difference in gains between simply studying and adding testing as a follow-up.   According to one study, taking tests not only improved retention for items covered in the test, but for those which weren’t included.  Something about the testing just encouraged better integration of the lessons.

Testing as Part of Your Language Training

If you’re using a foreign language program, tests are typically included as part of the system.  Often these tests come at the end of each lesson, as an attempt to measure how much of each subject you’ve been able to acquire during the session.

Additionally, most language learning programs have practice suggestions, which encourage you to perform some exercises that integrate your lessons.  Doing them are usually as effective as taking tests, since they let you apply the different lessons in practical, hands-on activities.

1. You need a flexible study schedule.  If you are balancing many things and need a medium that can conform to your busy schedule, a language program should fit the bill nicely.  While you will still need to work with them regularly, language programs are generally designed to conform to your schedule.
2. You do better without people looking over your shoulders.  Some people just prefer learning without having someone regularly peering over at what they’re doing.  If you’re one of them, you will likely be comfortable training with a language software.
3. You’re self-motivated.  If you can work without needing an authority figure to help you set goals and keep you on-task, then a language software should be right up your alley.
4. You can resist constant distractions.  One of the biggest banes of studying from home is it makes you susceptible to all kinds of distractions.  If you can be disciplined enough to resist disturbances, then a language software will be very useful to your efforts.

Time management. When you use a language software, managing your time becomes entirely your job.  Forget about a teacher setting deadlines and a school making your schedule – you’re doing all that by yourself.   Your best recourse is to find a normal study schedule and stick with it, even if that  means putting your language learning at a priority over other important activities.

Balancing personal business. Convenience is a major benefit of software-based language studies.  Since you can do it at home, in your own time, you can build the whole process around your own needs.   However, you’ll need to be able to balance it with the rest of your life, including work, school and family obligations, making sure those other areas don’t end up holding you back.

Effort. In self-paced learning courses, you are solely responsible for your results.  You can’t blame anyone else.  That means, you get the results commensurate with the effort you give.  The harder you work, the better your chances of ending up with something positive.

Study environment. You may not realize this now, but your place of study can have a serious impact in your quality of learning.  Find a comfortable and private place in the house where you can work undistracted for the duration of each session.

Here are some of these common myths about language training programs:

1. Software-based language lessons are not as good as classroom instruction.  If software-based learning is so inferior to classroom instruction, we would have seen it die off after the first few training materials came out.  Instead, more and more people are opting for language training software, instead of classroom instruction.  If that’s not a good indication of their comparative effectiveness, I don’t know what is.
2. Learning from a language software will make you sound mechanical.  Fortunately for you, modern language programs have progressed far from the days of robotic instruction.  If someone mentions this as fact, remind them how much technology has advanced over the last ten years.
3. Language software is “easier” than classroom training.  Don’t expect to cruise through language software lessons.  Learning, regardless of the medium, will never work like magic.  You’ll have to work your ass off acquiring language just like everybody else who now speaks your target language fluently.

But why aren’t more people using them?  Fact is, they aren’t that easy to find.  Sometimes, you’ll get lucky and find a few games included with your language education software.  For the most part, though, you’ll have to really do some digging to turn them up.  If you can get a language program with vocabulary-learning games in tow (especially those that teach them in a categorized manner), it could very well prove to be an excellent pick.

Do a search on Google for vocabulary games, for instance, and you’ll get thousands of results – almost all of them consisting of word-based games for learning English.   It’s fine if you’re an ESL student.  When you’re trying to build up your language stock in French, Portuguese or Japanese, though, you’re out of luck.

One of the best ways to find vocabulary games is to ask around language learning communities.  Join one and see what other members have already shared.  Start a thread for people to share vocabulary games they’ve come across.  They’re out there – you just have to know who to ask.

Make a list of the specific situations you want to use a language in.  Then, try to dig up materials that will help you to be conversant in those.

Primary Learning Material

Whether you’re taking a class or using a language program,  make a point of choosing your primary learning material based on the aforementioned goals.  Sure, you can use general-purpose language lessons to brush you up for your upcoming business meetings, but wouldn’t ones specifically geared towards corporate and professional uses be more beneficial?   There are specialized classes and language software designed to fulfill individual goals, too, so you shouldn’t have too much of a hard time in your search.

Secondary Learning Materials

You should do the same with your secondary learning materials.  Want to stock up on language videos you can watch to help make those corporate meetings less of a mind-numbing exercise?  Try business presentations in the target language.  Same with audio files, documents and other business-related items you can review when trying to grow your language skills.

Consistency

By consistency, we’re referring to keeping up your end by working regularly with the language.  That means scheduling your lessons and getting them on time, reviewing your materials, and practicing on a regular basis.

Learning a second language doesn’t happen by accident.  You need to put in the work, dedicating ample time to all activities involved.  This is one of the reasons why an all-in-one language software works great for majority of people, as it allows them to manage their time much better.

Engagement

Remember back in school, when you can hop to class everyday and pass the exams, yet finish the semester feeling like you never really learned anything?  That can happen with language learning, too.

Often, the problem comes down to one of engagement.  If you don’t actively participate when you study, it’s hard to commit any of the lessons to memory.  This is why you should really take your time when trying to find a language software to work with.  You want one that will engage you and play to your strengths, so that you gain the full benefits of all the lessons you take.

1. Byki.  This website offers 74 different languages, along with tons of content, including a desktop and mobile software.  The basic modules are free and can prove helpful as a secondary material for your own language efforts.
2. Lingolook.  Designed as a quick reference for traveling language learners, this consists of a series of flashcards (with accompanying audio) compiled as an iPhone app.  While no way can a tool like this serve as a primary learning tool, it is an excellent companion especially when you’re looking for a little learning on the road.
3. Vocabfish.  A web-based tool for learning 10 different languages, they focus on vocabulary building.  They have around 2,000 common words on stock for each language, which they’ll teach you via a flashcard-style web interface.
4. iTalki.  Designed to function as a community hub, this site connects people around the world who are interested in learning a new language.  Both students and teachers frequent the site, so you can find new friends to set up language exchanges with, as well as experts who can give you private lessons.

Good and Bad

Just as there are language education software that are good, there are titles that are also bad.  Similarly, the same variance in quality exists between different foreign language classes.

Regardless of which one you choose, always perform due diligence in finding out about the specific software or class you’re planning to do.  Not every one is the same, after all.  Request information about the program and seek feedback from other learners who’ve used them before making your decision.

The Case for Classrooms

Classroom learning is ideal if you prefer learning with a group and if you draw better results with a teacher guiding you.  If you find it difficult to get motivated studying on your own, then classroom language programs are a godsend.

The Case for Language Software

If you’re self-motivated and have had experience acquiring a skill on your own, then language software might be more up your alley.   It also offers the most flexibility, allowing you to arrange your sessions according to your professional and business schedule.