It seems that the internet is alive recently with articles on the benefits of learning a second language, and tips how to do that as quickly as possible.
For example
http://lifehacker.com/5903288
Has anyone else noticed this? Read anything interesting?
Makes quite a bit of practical sense - that method of learning, but I doubt it'll work for everyone.
I used Linguaphone for French - and got nowhere, despite it's "Learn a language in 14 days" claims.
I tried for months - and just didn't grab it, at all.
I now speak Bulgarian quite well - and read the Cyrillic alphabet.
Very similar alphabet to Russian - but a different language.
I learnt purely by listening - and putting a few phrases together, plus I have a small pocket book.
The book has the English word, the Bulgarian word and pronounciation - and how to write it in Cyrillic.
As an extra word to each phrase is added, I learnt an extra word - and it's meaning.
I'm no expert, but can get by quite well.
Many different ways of learning a language - that many different people try as their preference.
I don't agree with his theory that you need to learn correct pronounciation. Not for every word - anyway.
Where I stay in Bulgaria, the local dialect is very different to the purest Bulgarian found in Veliko Tarnovo.
However, I understand both accents - and they understand mine, in both locations.
Obviously battybilly's method was successful.
The promotion of techniques for learning a foreign language by yourself, is an industry similar to providing yet another 'miracle' weight-loss diet. The fact that so many methods are being touted, is an indication that there is no universally superior approach.
My opinion, from personal experience, is that the only road to mastering a language is the hard one of perseverance. Find a commonsense method you enjoy, and stick with it. Pay no attention to suggestions that you could learn more quickly by another method.
Allocating a specific time to study each day is rarely useful. It becomes a chore, like doing the ironing, and if that happens you may as well abandon the attempt. Do the ironing instead.
I still get the alphabet wrong sometimes - when writing.
For instance, the city of 'Plovdiv' is written.... Пловдив.
The fourth and last letters that look like a 'B', are a 'V'.
I often mistakenly write it ПлоБдиБ. That makes it 'Plobdib'.
It get a few local laughs, but they appreciate me having a go - and understand fully what I've written.
Much the same as a foreigner here (UK) needs to say or write (ie....) "I need to go to the shop".
Instead they might say "I am need go shop". Wrong - but perfectly understandable.
I think that's pretty much how my spoken Bulgarian pans out.
The cover feature of this month's New Scientist is about, surprise surprise, the benefits of being bilingual.
http://www.teachmorelovemore.org/ArticlesDetails.asp?articleid=17883
I think as far as learning methods go its just a matter of, initially at least, finding a method of remembering words. For most people repetition works. There's nothing mysterious about it, although I saw a paper about how moving your body while learning helps, so maybe there is. Once you reach a certain level then practice with other speakers is more important.
Most methods offer a trial, or maybe you can make up your own. Personally I like http://www.worldwordexchange.com , but as i said it's a matter of personal preference and I'm no expert.
Edited by: RafVal