Learning Language

So, a variety of insights to share regarding learning a language, in no paticular order

1) Learning  a language is brain exercise.  It really helps if you happen to be under 10 years old!  If you are, then learning the language comes naturally, and pronunciation isn't yet too solidified so as to produce a pronounced accent. 

2) Exposure is key.  But you need someone on the inside to explain things. 

3) To learn a language successfully as a relatively young adult (me) who is old enough to be out of the prime language acquisition stage, without going to live in the country where it is predominantly spoken, it is important to be patient.  Really patient.  If your chosen language involves multiple noun declensions, god help you, even if you're an athiest. 

4) I think that having learned a different (non-native) language first would help with learning another one.

5) There are multiple stages to learning.  Writing and speaking are different things.  Having said that, I still mostly hear the language, translate what I can into my native language and then try to translate it back into the new language.  This is natural, but wrong.  Lately as I've gotten a little bit further along, at times I can just speak and hear in the language. 

6) Progress.  Even really slow progress.   Is still progress.  And it is possible. 

7)  First learn the alphabet and how everything sounds.  Then learn some basic nouns.  Then learn some basic verbs.

8)  Resist the urge to hide your efforts when given the opportunity to speak in this language.  It only helps to try and then try again. 

9) If you're a perfectionist, and want to learn the language somehow before you speak it, think again.

10) Note that native speakers don't really always understand their own language that well, and certainly don't always know how to slow down.