Experts say people generally learn languages in one of five ways. Which one of these do you think will work best for you?
Word-By-Word Translations. The most ancient of the bunch, this involves literally translating words from your native tongue to the target language, usually by using a dictionary. It’s not the most efficient, but it’s one people have used with mixed success (which means there were positive results) for decades.
Vocabulary-Based Language Learning. Here, language is learned by associating words with pictures and objects they represent. Some people claim this is how natural learning occurs, making it a much-employed approach in many popular language software.
Grammar-Based Language Learning. Like the previous one, this is heavily-used among language learning programs. It generally uses a vocabulary-based strategy at the start, followed by in-depth study of the target language’s grammar.
Communicative Approach. Used by most modern language schools and some advanced language software, this involves communication drills that focus on specific aspects of a language, paired with tightly-focused grammar and vocabulary lessons.
Immersion. The method of choice for free spirits, this involves jumping into the deep end with native speakers and just winging it. It’s incredibly scary and awkward, but if you stick to it, you can develop a thick face quickly. Oh yeah, and some language abilities too.