– Memo to foreign language beginners;
– Is it possible to learn languages on your own?
– To learn a language or to study it?
– Grammar and vocabulary – theory and practice;
– Is it possible to forget a language?
Learn a language, and you’ll avoid a war.
Arab proverb
Memo to foreign language beginners
I would like to start my book with the features of a language that anyone who takes up the task of learning it should be aware of. They say that you have to have a talent for languages, just as you have a talent for math, physics, and other exact sciences. I don’t argue, it’s not difficult to determine the talent for something, but to develop it you have to make an effort. Let there be a statement that languages, mathematics, chemistry, and physics are not given to everyone, one should have a special gift, abilities, etc. Sometimes you can agree with it, and sometimes you can disagree with it, but if you are forced to learn a language and you have never been successful in it before, I hope that after reading my book you will find it easier to learn languages, you will become interested in them, and the ways to achieve perfection in all endeavors will open up. I still believe that if you are determined to learn a language, if you are confident and hardworking, everything I will share with you in this book will benefit you.
Those who have already studied a foreign language, be it English, German, or French, will certainly spend less effort, and time and achieve the desired success. On the contrary, if you have already studied English in an educational institution or course, but are not satisfied with the outcomes, you have a chance to make up for lost time, and it will not be so difficult.
Well, for those who are studying their first foreign language from scratch, and decided to take a course or study individually with a teacher, my book will serve you as a companion to achieve success. For those who take up language learning on their own, I suggest not to lose courage, despite the psychological resistance and difficulties you may encounter.
Remember, never give up, and see it through to the end. There are times when you have neither desire nor time to learn a language; don’t force yourself to do it, believe me, it won’t do you any good. The fundamental principle of language learning is DESIRE.
Remember the saying, «You can’t force a favor»? It’s the same here. What you need is to sincerely want to learn a language, and then it will be all yours, and the process of learning it will be a pleasure. Studying a language, you as if mentally, conclude an agreement with it: «the «Learner» undertakes to devote time to regular classes of the «Language», and at least once a week to speak it, while fulfilling the above obligations sincerely, with the Soul and with Love. And in turn, the «Language» undertakes to give itself completely to the «Learner».
Maybe the reader thinks to himself now «What an absurd agreement», but just try to study the language with reluctance and neglect, irregularly, even forcibly, so to speak, and see how far you will advance…
These seemingly ridiculous terms must be observed while learning a language, otherwise you will not learn it. If you are not satisfied with the above position, you will not learn the language, no matter how much you want to and no matter how hard you try. A vivid example of this: is the students who decided to study to become translators. There were only 10 out of 100 students who wanted to learn the language and become true translators. They studied hard, always attended classes, passed all the exams perfectly, and it was these ten who learned the language quite well and became specialists, while the rest just got certificates for «box-ticking». And you can draw your conclusions.
