How to Learn A Foreign Language in 12 Weeks Flat!

Learning a foreign language can be done, and it can be done quickly.  In this article, we will endeavor to layout a gameplan that will apply to the learning of any language. If you follow these steps, in just 12 weeks you will achieve a core fluency level of a 1500 word vocabulary for foundation and attain conversational understanding.  Our goals will be to achieve core vocabulary foundation, conversation functionality, and flexiblility through grammar mastery.  Let’s begin.

Goals & Planning.    So you have decided to learn a foreign language.  Excellent!  The first step will be attaining the proper mindset to help make this process a breeze.  Examine the reasons you are undertaking this journey.  Write these reasons down, expand on them, perhaps compile a few pictures that represent the goal achieved.  We humans are not robots, and at times our motivation can flag, or we can become distracted by circumstances, we will use these to remain focused on the prize.

Mindset.  Cultivate a mindset of determination, discipline, curiosity and boldness!  These will be the four traits that will help see you through to the end of the language learning process.  If you already have this approach, great, if not, endeavor to achieve these states as it will only ease the learning and make the process enjoyable.   Studies have shown fun helps with learning and the mind shuts down if the task is considered unimportant or a burden.  As Milton said, ‘The Mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a heaven of Hell, and a hell of Heaven.’  It is up to you!

The Tools.  To learn a language in 12 weeks is a bold, ambitious goal, and it will require certain tools and study aids to get us there. 

• Flashcards
• Translation dictionary
• Grammar reference book
• Pimsleur-Language Audio Learning Courses
• BYKI™ Deluxe by Transparent Language

We have a few benchmarks that we wish to achieve, namely vocabulary mastery of 1500 core words in the chosen language, conversational fluency so that you are functional with the language, and intermediate grammar understanding so you are flexible with the language. 
Now we are prepared and it is time for ACTION.  ACTION. ACTION.

Week 1     -    Language Familiarity and Confidence Building

                The first week will be an introductory to the language.  Familiarizing yourself with the core words, and sounds of the language.  Hear and practice the pronunciations and learn the basics.  Learn the alphabet and familiarize yourself with the phonetic pronunciations of your languages sounds. 

Vocabulary building will begin on day one with the BYKI™ Deluxe vocabulary building tool by Transparent Language for the learning of core words. Learn 25 new vocabulary words each day for the first five days, then use the weekend for review of the weeks 125 vocabulary words.  BYKI makes this process manageable, be sure to take it day by day, in small steps, chunk by chunk. 

We must also begin our audio program on day one in conjunction with our vocabulary learning.  I recommend the Pimsleur method audio learning courses or Michel Thomas, why is discussed in different articles, but these seem to be the most effective in my opinion and a great variety of languages are available with the Pimsleur programs.  The Pimsleur approach also has a 90 lesson plan that fits perfect with our 12 week goal.  It is recommended to listen to one lesson a day, and repeat if necessary.  It is important simply to hear your language in a conversational setting. 

Important:  This is week one, we don’t want to fall behind, but remember, you might not be able to see the peak of the mountain from here but step by step, surely over 12 weeks we will reach our goal.   Do not become intimidated or discouraged if you have difficulty with the sounds at first.  This is normal!  Resist the urge to worry about grammar or to get ahead of yourself at this stage, the pieces will fall into place, it is important to take it step by step and not get ahead of yourself.

Results:   

• Vocabulary of 125 mastered words
• Introduction to sounds of language
• Mastery of alphabet.

Week 2     -     Basics, Numbers & Nouns

                This week, begin by reviewing your progress over the previous week.  Remember where you started and see where you are now.  Congratulate yourself for your improvement and progress!  Keep it up.  

Continue your vocabulary building regime with BYKI and your conversational lessons with the audio program.   Begin practice with numbers in your language. Learn to count in your language up to 20. 

Begin building traditional flashcards of your learned vocabulary in the foreign language, place these position these cards as highly visible labels where you can, where appropriate in a way that fits your daily routine.  For instance, with household vocabulary, label your lamp with the corresponding word for lamp, your door with the word for door, etc.  Immerse your day to day world with the language so that it is ever present, simulating immersion.  Language is not something you study and then shelve away, but rather something that is always with you, always available to you.  Make it fun!

Results:

• Your vocabulary has reached 250 words.
• You have learned to count to 20 in your language. 
• You can now pronounce some basic words with confidence. 

Week 3    -     Basics & Beginning Sentences

                Review your progress.   You should now be starting to feel a little confidence with the language.  The sounds are less foreign, the pronunciation of new words is coming quicker.  Progress is being made, take some time to glory in it! 

This week I would like you to practice with question words vocabulary and phrases.  The ‘Who, What, When, Where, and Hows’ in your language.  Practice phrases asking for directions, and getting from place to place. sYou should start to be experiencing a little overlap with your conversation lessons, vocabulary building, and self study.  The routine should be settling in by now as well.

Results: 

• Vocabulary 375 words. 
• You have learned to ask simple questions. 
• Conversation skills improving.

Week 4    -    Basics : Settling in

                Review your progress.  You have made some strides, you can now see the top of the mountain so to speak.  Lessons and vocabulary are beginning to overlap and your hard work is paying off.  

This week spend some extra time learning conversation starters and introductory meeting people phrases.  Some of this will be review, but allow yourself to explore phrases such as ‘How was your day,’ ‘I work as a physicist’ type stuff.  Learn phrases that pertain to conversations you can envision yourself having.  Pay attention to the conversations you have in your native language and then explore the same phrases in your learned language so that you feel most natural.

Results:

• Vocabulary has reached 500 words.
• You have learned to introduce yourself and meet people!

Weeks 5-6   -   Beyond the Basics

                Continue the vocabulary and conversation routine.  During these weeks self explore food and drink scenarios.  Dining scenarios are inevitable in a language situation.  Make it fun and try to use the language for foods and drinks that you run across in your day to day life.  We are nearing the halfway mark and should start to focus now on feeling the second language as natural to use.  Imagine yourself in a real situation using the foreign language you are learning.  Take this time as well to review any trouble areas you have had with the language over the last six weeks.  You have achieved quite a lot, looking back, some issues will not seem so troublesome as they did before.

Result:

• Vocabulary 750 words.
• Your core understanding has reached the critical half way mark, well done! 
• You can now order food and drinks!

Weeks   6-8  -   Flexibility & Comfort Building

                It is time to start taking a look at grammar.  We have delayed until this point, so there are probably many unanswered questions as to why things are said in one way or another.  Now we shall begin to answer those questions.  Spend time exploring the grammar of your language now that you have a solid foundation of personal usage reference.  You should have many ‘Aha!’ moments in which the pieces will fall into place and phrasing or structure will make more sense.  By waiting this long, grammar becomes fun, trust me, because it becomes a source of answers for your curiosities over the past weeks rather than a confusing maze of additional questions.   In addition, focus some time on verbs, their conjugations, and tenses.  Much of this shall be review as you have already learned many of the words during your vocabulary building.  Learning the grammar rules will give you the flexibility to create sentence structures to suit your needs.

Result:

• Vocabulary 1000 words! 
• The why’s of grammar should begin to fall into place. 
• You are gaining greater familiarity with verb conjugations and tenses. 
• You should be able to form your own unique sentences.

Weeks 8-10   -   Flexing New Language Muscle!

                We are almost there! Can you feel it!  Over these weeks continue your exploration of grammar in your chosen language.  You should also now have the familiarity with the language to begin self exploration into the vast amount of resources available to you based on your interests.  Your goal these weeks is to meet a native speaker of your chosen language. Perhaps a pen-pal that speaks the language you are learning.  The internet is a golden opportunity and makes it easy to make connections with people all over the world.  Communicating with a native speaker will challenge you and should be fun.  Using a computer to do so also gives you the aid of having a translator nearby in case you run into trouble.  Perhaps you would like to explore the music of your language or watch a film.   Explore your new language as befits your interests, keep it fun and with an eye to practice and learning.

Result:

• Vocabulary of 1250 words! 
• You should be able to hold an intermediate conversation with native speaker with little difficulty.
• Your grammar understanding is growing. You are becoming more flexible and spontaneous with your language.

Weeks 10-12   -   End of the road, beginning of journey!

                Again, stop and take a moment to review your progress, you have much to be proud of.  You should be flying high at this point.  These weeks are again to be dedicated to self exploration of topics of your interest. Continue your grammar studies but it should have moved more into the realm of reference.  Try to immerse yourself with speakers of your new language.  Hearing different speakers, tones of voice, and situations will help sharpen your ear to your new language. Watch television spoken in your language, listen to the radio.  Take the time to review all that you have learned, and focus on spontaneous recall.  Your new language is now natural to you, your core foundation is there to take it wherever you may choose!  Impress yourself, find and read the newspaper in your new language, you will find little difficulty!

Result:

• Vocabulary of 1500 words! 
• You have reached core proficiency!
• You can communicate effectively and have the tools necessary to build advanced sentence structures and understanding!
• You can communicate with a native speaker with little difficulty!

You have done it!  12 weeks to language proficiency!

The road is not over though. This has now opened the doors to a rich culture and peoples that were closed to you before.  Communication and language is ever evolving and changing. Learning is a lifelong journey, but you have what you need now to be wholly confident with your new language and take it to levels of mastery you did not think possible before the start of your journey!!