I want to learn another language, maybe france, but how to learn very well through self-study?
Does any good idea for me?
Thank you!

Replying to [Vickyliang]:

The only "self-study" that works is living in the country where that language is spoken, imitating the native speakers. That way I have learned Spanish so well that I have been working as a Spanish teacher.

Also my English is mostly "self-study". And some years ago I was living for some months each in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovaquia, and also learned these languages with a relatively high level of fluency (considering the time I was living there).

If you have the chance to go to the foreign country of your choice and don't tend to get embarrassed because of the mistakes you will make, that would be a successful self-study.

Replying to [germex]:
Dear Germex, Thank you very much for your suggestion.
Yes, you are right, the best way to learn very well another language through self-study is go to the native country.
But the problem is that i have no chance to abroad. So i should be stay in our country to study another language by self-study.
I want to learn another language.

Replying to [Vickyliang]:

Someone says "motivation is the best driver." Prof. says it is out of necessity, and I agree with both school of thoughts, it is your personal interest.

Remember this, whatever you learn will be an asset to you some day, you will never know that you may have to leave the country or speak to other nationalities.

The fastest way is by vocalization, which is learning through speech, not going through the writings as it becomes boring and bogs you down. However, basic fundamentals must be established first. Some foreigners learn Chinese from the Roman words, and it motivates them, as they learn very quickly to strike a conversation with the man-on-the-street, some languages cannot be learned from the written words, as the verbosity is different. If you learn a foreign language, you must base on your home-language to help you understand the meaning and the pronunciations of the words. With self learning, it is almost impossible to learn the foreign language by jumping into the foreign swimming pool, you may drown, you need to know how to say it, and what is behind the tone of voice, and the nuances of its meaning.

For me, I learn through audio tapes and walkman, then I turn to MP3 devices, download from PC. After hearing, you need to learn to speak, you need to be thick skinned to speak and make mistakes, not be afraid of mistakes or rebukes, but correct them and learn the proper way. Learn a foreign language through themes or scenarios. For example, the Hotel setting, you learn how to say Goodmorning, afternoon, or evening, and you learn how to ask for directions to the tourist sites and taxi fares, all related to the hotel theme.

I can show you some examples, in the next posting, as this post needs to be published before it can be edited and make to link pictures or hot spots.

Street Smart

Replying to [Vickyliang]:

There are so many foreign companies in China that you might find a job with one of them that comes from the country who's language you would like to learn. In many cases they offer free language courses to the most distinguished employees, even for practical reasons. If you are such a good employee, one day they might want to send you to their headquarters for further training.

So you would first get a free language course still being in China, be in contact with native speakers at work (partly self-study), and later perhaps get more language training (besides job training) in that foreign country (more self-study). How does that sound for a plan? - The situation might be quite different in China, but I've seen that "system" a lot here in Mexico.

Replying to [Vickyliang]:

movies..yeah foreign movies without any translated speech but only translated words at the bottom. that is the best way to learn foreign languages and how to spell it.
but you must also learn it from the formal literature. such books or tapes.
try to use the language for daily use. don't bother people who might saying that you were showing off. i used to talk with my family with the language i am on learned. they don't know what i have said . i was crapping without no one can reply me. but i also chatting on web with people around the world. that helps.
knowing the words first then try to speak with it.

Replying to [BUMshells]:
My own personal experience with movies is that is too fast for me to catch up with. We have on television movies speaking Japanese called "Japan Hour" sponsored by the Japanese companies here. They have subtitle in English while speaking Japanese, and to learn the language, you need to listen carefully and to the correct pronunciations. Journalists are good oral presenters, but in the interviews with fishmongers, they speak bad Japanese, Street language. To learn a foreign language, you have to make progressive steps, starting from the elementary level, and then to the next, movies do not have such lesson plan.

Neither by working in the environment, where foreigners confront you directly, it will leave you speechless and you would not have a clue as what the hotel guests are speaking, if your job as receptionist, you will get fired.

Street Smart

Replying to [Street Smart]:

Yup, i agree with that. learning the language from the basic. such books. then perhaps the movies just shown you how to spell it without iceberg on your tongue.

Replying to [BUMshells]:

What is an "iceberg on your tongue"? Sounds intriguing!

Replying to [germex]:

whoa, iceberg my friend iceberg..not an ice cube...
but that would be interesting ....i often become more fluent in spoken English while on high

Replying to [BUMshells]:

Yeah, I understood: iceberg, not icecube! But I still don't know what it means.