Learning a New Language:

Trying to learn a foreign language is not an easy task, especially the older we get (see recent review for Fluenz language courses). Kids can pick up 2 or 3 languages when they are young if they grow up in a multi-lingual household. I have always said that children with parents that speak languages other than English are very lucky to have the opportunity to learn a language and not really even know they are doing it. My wife is Korean and she moved to the United States when she was 6 so she learned English as her second language and Korean was spoken mostly at home. Our kids will have the chance to learn Korean in our home, but still keep English as their first language. I remember learning a little bit of Spanish on Sesame Street as a child and then I was able to signup for Spanish classes in Junior High. I took Spanish all the way through high school and even took an AP course to get college credit so I still know a lot of the vocabulary and verb tenses, but I haven't used the language much in the last 20 years and have lost my ability to converse very well. When my wife and I recently took a trip to Paris and then to Italy, she tried learning some basic phrases and vocabulary to help carry us through our trip. The amount of language CD's and software products is immense and you have to weed through them to find ones that actually work.

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A friend of mine was planning on spending an entire summer in Germany with his family so he hired a language tutor to help him with basics. Over about a 6 month period he became quite proficient in German and at least had the correct grammar, but probably not the best dialect. To learn a new language you can take classes, order software for your computer, or listen to CD's that guide you through the basic conversations and phrases. Once you learn the basics, it's really not that hard to build on them. The thing that I found the hardest was using the new language on a daily basis so it stays fresh in your mind and you speak fluently. My wife and I would listen to the CD and then try to repeat the conversations in Italian or French. It was good practice and made us more confident in our ability to speak a foreign language. The Pimsleur Approach is a top seller amongst businesses and individuals. Dr. Pimsleur was a language teacher for years and developed the system. This is what my wife and I bought for our trip to Europe. For only $19.95 you can get the audio CD with 8 lessons (30 minutes each). There are more expensive options for those that really want to get in depth with the language. We were just looking for a quick fix to help us out on our travels and learn the basics. One of the keys is to have native speakers on the CD or software that you are using. Listening to them speak will definitely help your comprehension when it comes to face to face encounters in a foreign country. Keep in mind that many dialects exist in all countries so you will not be prepared for the way words are pronounced by everyone you meet. The most important thing is that you can be understood by the locals. Many businesses are requiring that their employees learn a 2nd language since the world is now a global environment and although many other countries are taught English throughout school, us Americans needs to become proficient in languages other than English. Spanish is predominently the 2nd langauage of the United States and so it would do everyone some good to learn the basics. China and India are growing economies and when business people or individuals travel to their countries, knowing key phrases and direct translation of certain words is important. In reading reviews on all the various ways to learn a new language, we feel that personal lessons and classes are probably the best followed by interactive software which lets you hear names of things while seeing them on a computer screen. Audio CD's do work fairly well too, but you need to dedicate more time to them in order to get results it appears. The good news is that with Audio CD's you could easily listen to 30 to 60 minutes a day in your car as you drive to work, the mall or the grocery store. Audio CD's are the cheapest way to do, then software for your computer, then a class/course, and the priciest are private lessons. We found lots of listings for language lessons in our nearby city when we search on Craigslist.org in their "Lessons and Tutoring" section. Give it a try.

Best Language Software:

The most popular language software products are from Rosetta Stone. Learning a language by using software is probably the way to go for most of us. You can do the lesson plans anytime of day and share the software with other family members to learn along with you. Any software you choose should be easy to use, have proficient teaching tools, tech support if you need it, word tools for looking up things like translations and definitions, good fundamental lessons on grammar, writing, vocabulary, pronunciation and comprehension. The software should be suitable for beginners to intermediate users at a minimum and have enough features that will let you become fluent by the time you are done. Try finding a program that offers picture-word assocation which dramatically helps memory retention with those learning a new language. Tellmemore.com is one piece of software (perhaps the most expensive at $250) that gets great marks for teaching Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and English. The CD-Rom software will get you up and running with a 2nd language in no time. Some software is only $40 and gives you many of the same features you would find on the more expensive products. If you do a search on Google for "language software reviews" dozens of websites show up in the results that will give you details reviews on the various products. It's worth a few minutes to read what others have to say. The official website for Rosetta Stone is HERE and they offer almost 30 languages to choose from. The prices for their Level 1 software CD-Rom is $209 and there is a Level 2 for $239 more. You can get both packaged together for just $339. You can also do the 3, 6, or 12 month online subscriptions which give you access to their curriculum starting at $109.95. As with any topic, I have to say that motivation and dedication are 2 keys to mastering anything, so I'm sure if you do the work a cheaper version of language software may work just as well as the high end products.

Popular Foreign Languages to Learn:

Which language should you learn? It's hard to say given there are so many around the world. Business travelers definitely need to learn foreign languages if they are traveling to Asia or Europe often. For those living in the United States, Spanish is a common second language to learn and probably worth it as Hispanics are slowly becoming the majority in states like California, Arizona, and Texas. A list is below of the most popular languages people are trying to learn.

• English
• Spanish
• Japanese
• German
• Chinese
• Italian
• French
• Korean
• Arabic
• Russian
• Hindi

Free Online Language Courses:

You get what you pay for most of the time, but online language lessons and instruction that is free may be beneficial in many ways. There is one starter site that we recommend going to if you are interested in getting FREE language help online. It's called Word2Word.com and they offer links to sites on the Internet where you can start learning another language for free. The websites may not be as comprehensive or interactive as a CD or piece of software, but they are great for those looking to learn everyday phrases and vocabulary terms. Not all of us want to master a 2nd language and often we are just traveling to a country for a few weeks and need some pointers in the language department. These sites fit that need and if you need more, then go with the audio CD's you can buy at Barnes & Noble or Borders book stores for $30 to $40.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

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