Learning a language on your own is not nearly as difficult as you might think. The opportunities to study and learn today are 10 times greater than they were just 10 years ago, and compared to generations before us, well, there just is no comparison. The possibilities of the internet are staggering. But how far can you really go on your own and how long will it take?
If a book claims 'French in 3 Months' are they talking about being fluent? Hardly. What you will get in that 3 months, if you follow their lesson plan to a T, is a good foundation in the language, but certainly not fluency. No reputable language learning method that I have seen claims anything like this. Not Living Language, Pimsleur or Rosettastone. Not Transparent Language, Teach Yourself or Michel Thomas. FSI is so comprehensive (and it should be for such a price) that it probably comes closest, but they don't claim fluency as the goal either.
The real short term goal of any language learning method is survival vocabulary, conversation ability, or a foundation for further study. Even with a modest program, any of these goals are achievable in a few months of study. For the average person, however, a realistic accomplishment is a good foundation in the language in 3 months. Functionality in the language in 6 months. Real fluency is probably a few years away.
This is possible if you are using your chosen method every day, at least a little, and supplementing it with real life use, and real life vocabulary. Then moving on to a more advanced level course. Using the language every day is the key. You can expect to be understood in a short period of time, but ease of communication or proficiency with the language will take time. A reasonable accent can be achieved in a few months, but you will not be confused with a native for many many years!
Set Goals. Make short term, medium term and long term goals. Reward yourself when you hit them, but don't get too down when you don't. Occasionally re-evaluate whether your goals are reasonable and adjust them if necessary.
Don't set a goal like "I want to complete this Spanish course." Be specific. "1 chapter per week" is better. Keep your eye on the horizon - the bigger goal of completeing the book, but focus on what you need to learn right now.
Learn from many sources. The internet is a wonderful place. There are more sources of free information and learning on the internet than was imaginable just a few years ago. Search around for learning materials that you can use to help you learn. Websites, tutorials, podcasts and even videos are available for many different languages. Use them to supplement your language method to help you achieve your goals.
Put in some effort every day. Work at it every day, even if only a little bit. This is critical, especially when you are working on your own.
You can achieve a very strong foundation in almost any language you study on your own. And not just a few words or phrases, but real conversational ability and understanding. It takes work, daily practice, patience, persistence and the ability to laugh at yourself when you make mistakes. A modest and inexpensive language method supplemeted with lots of free materials can give you all the tools you need to achieve even some very ambitious language learning goals, but it all comes down to you doing the work yourself!
Ron is a long-time language enthusiast, exploring Spanish, French, Swedish, Cornish, Esperanto and others. Learn more about studying a language on your own at Language Learning Advisor This guide for self-study language learners has reviews and recommendations of language learning methods and products, links to online learning resources, learning tips to maximize your study time and effectiveness and articles on language learning.
