What is the fastest way to learn a new language?

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 12:38:36 -0400

I have never tried Rosetta Stone, I have been in traditional face to face course, and been immersed into foreign cultures by travel and being stationed at overseas bases. I never seem to get much to stick, but then again I seem to have few people to practice with or on. Ideas?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 8 at 2015 12:49 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 12:49:04 -0400

Practice, practice, practice!

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Sep 8 at 2015 12:53 PM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 12:53:47 -0400

Go there. Bring any language study guide for the flight over, and learn a few phrases of introduction and thanks. Then jump in the deep end.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Sep 8 at 2015 1:14 PM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 13:14:17 -0400

Start with the "hello, please, thank you, and where is the restroom" and go from there :) Truthfully, it does help to have an active interest and caring about the culture's language you would like to learn - it goes a long way.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 10:39 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:39:29 -0500

Pimsleur Approach was a great program I did. It teaches you languages "naturally," meaning that it follows the natural way you learned your first language- first by learning to make sounds, patching together phrases and words, and then later on learning how to read and write. A lot of other language programs try to make you rush to failure by having you read and write ahead of time.

Response by SPC Nikolas Allen made Jan 26 at 2016 2:54 PM

SPC Nikolas Allen — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 14:54:39 -0500

Duo Lingo is a great first step to learning the basics. It lacks in helping you learn the grammar, but you'll pick up phrases and sentence structure in the first few lessons. I'm an Arabic linguistic, but I'm currently going through the french course of duo lingo.

Response by SGT Joyce Bultman made Nov 8 at 2020 7:11 PM

SGT Joyce Bultman — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 19:11:50 -0500

Using a language often and over time is the best way to make it stick. I do believe in studying written text and taking conversation classes. You want to speak like a native, with correct pronunciation, so this worked for me. German and Japanese.