Willingness to make mistakes means being ready to put yourself in potentially embarrassing situations. It’s the only way to develop and improve.

Talk to strangers in the language, ask for directions, order food, try to tell a joke. The more often you do this, the bigger your comfor...

You must learn to listen before you can speak.

Every language sounds strange the first time you hear it. The more you expose yourself to it the more familiar it becomes, and the easier it is to speak it properly.

The best way to go about mastering that is actually to hear it c...

Talking to people is one of the best ways to learn a language because it keeps the learning process relevant to you.
"The creative side is really being able to put the language that you're learning into a more useful, general, everyday setting"

When you have no one else to speak to, there’s nothing wrong with talking to yourself in a foreign language.

This can keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind. It also helps build up your confidence for the next time you speak with someone.

If you don’t have a good reason to learn a language, you are less likely to stay motivated over the long-run.

Once you’ve decided on a language, it’s crucial to commit.

Think of some fun ways to practice your new language: make a radio play with a friend, draw a comic strip, write a poem or simply talk to whomever you can.

Different languages make different demands on your tongue, lips and throat. Pronunciation is just as much physical as it is mental. 

If you can’t watch and imitate a native-speaker in person, watching foreign-language films and TV is a good substitute.

The key to learning as quickly as a child may be to simply take on certain childlike attitudes. For instance, lack of self-consciousness, a desire to play in the language and willingness to make mistakes.

We learn by making mistakes. When it comes to learning a language, ad...