Why You Need a Foreign Language & How to Learn One

Chapter 13 (Excerpt)

Taking Your New Language for a Test Drive 

Practice with Native Speakers

Although books, cassettes, and other study materials are all quite helpful, they are less demanding than active conversation. A conversation with a live human being requires you to simultaneously listen, process what you hear, and formulate responses. In order to become truly skilled at listening and responding "on the fly" in a foreign language, you will have to seek out live, unscripted conversation opportunities.

            You should develop a network of native speakers of the language you are studying. These relationships might be structured as mutually beneficial "language exchanges." Perhaps you can meet a native speaker of your target language who is himself studying English. Suggest that the two of you work out a deal: you will help him improve his English, if he will serve as a sounding board for your Russian.

            These informal study exchanges can provide an invaluable boost to your independent study efforts. During one summer in college, my Japanese language abilities improved by leaps and bounds thanks to two women named Yuka and Sakiko....

(End of Chapter Excerpt)

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