LEARNING A LANGUAGE

Language is the very important communication tool among human beings. There are more than 200 languages in this world. So learning a language is not always easy. While some may achieve success quite smoothly, others may not be so lucky. Try as they might, they stumble and do not sound coherent when the need to use the language arises or they may not manage to speak it as well as they hope to.

It depends on the learner’s facility with the language, there may be quite different routes they can follow their own path. Real beginner would need a teacher more than someone who is more familiar with the language. For latter, self-study, is a common option, considering the time and cost involved in attending classes. In fact, a current theory in English language teaching suggests way of equipping the students with tools to develop his English skills on his own. These kinds of ways are actually effective and efficient.

There is much a learner can do to help himself. He can devise some effective strategies to help himself acquire the vocabulary of the language. For example, keeping a notebook of unfamiliar words and looking through it when one is in the bus or at other time is one way. A real beginner should choose the method of memorizing vocabulary that works for him. Moreover, that person can record onto a tape those sentences that have new words after a lesson and listen to them in the way he learns his target language.
Besides, the learner can also help himself by watching television programmes in the target language and learning through songs, reading books, newspapers and magazines. A dictionary is very helpful to find a meaning of every words and wonderful vocabulary. Today’s modern world, there are even electronic dictionaries which provide spoken models of how a word is pronounced.

Having a regular listening practice would go a long way towards helping one pick up the spoken language. Such listening exercises usually require the learner to answer questions on the dialogue or running text they have heard. Even our country is adding this Listening exercises in Malaysian University English Test (MUET). This kind of practice will improve the hearing skills.

Furthermore, learning grammar from self-help books with answer keys is another way by which we can learn independently without a teacher or supplement what is taught in lessons, particularly in English. It is also important to recognize that the word order of your native may differ from that of the target language and so work towards mastery of sentence construction.
With patience and dedication, it is likely that one will succeed in developing fluency and accuracy in the target language, and thereby communicate effectively in it.