1. Study With Both Slow and Normal Speed Audio
Hearing the sounds of your new language can be difficult. Here’s why.
When you learned your first language, your brain built filters that automatically filter out sounds that aren’t in your native language.
These filters can make it easy to hear your name in a noisy room. Unfortunately, they also make it hard to distinguish new sounds when you are trying to learn Russian, or perhaps learn Spanish. Any language with sounds that are new to you will be hard at first.
Language101.com solves this problem by providing sound clips played at both slow and normal speeds.
Click this button to hear “How are you?” in French. Try saying the phrase aloud.
Did that seem too fast? Well, that is normal speed for Paris, but it may be too fast for you at first.
Here’s the same French phrase, much slower this time.
Isn’t that easier to hear?
All of the phrases and words on Language101.com are recorded this way. You can listen to the slow recordings and move on to the fast ones when you are ready.
Language101.com’s dual-speed system gives you the assistance and flexibility you need for successful language learning.
2. Learn Phrase by Phrase — Not Word by Word
Many foreign-language learning programs give beginners a list of simple words to memorize. This is boring and ineffective. Instead, start by learning complete, useful phrases like “What’s your name?” Language101.com programs let users select lessons at the right level of difficulty for them.
3. Review at Time Intervals That Increase
Fun fact: if you rapidly review a phrase one hundred times, your brain treats this as only one review! Don’t waste your time on that.
Fortunately, Language101.com programs prompt you to review a phrase periodically. The time intervals between reviews quickly grow from seconds to weeks and months. It’s a very efficient way to learn — and retain — a foreign language. You learn very quickly, and you waste no time reviewing what you already know.
4. Learn What You Love First
Choose a topic that you are passionate about. That’s what you should learn first in your new language! Why start with boring lessons when you could be learning how to talk about something that you love?
Language101.com programs let you select lessons in the order that is right for you. We can even customize lessons for you if your favorite topic is not already provided.
5. Don’t Study Grammar Unless You Love It
Face it, if you hated studying English grammar, you will probably hate studying Russian grammar, or French grammar, or German grammar, etc., etc. That’s why Langauge101.com programs instead focus on teaching you how to speak in complete sentences. However, grammar lovers will also enjoy Language101.com special packages, customized to suit your interests.
6. Act Like a Toddler (Sort of)
Two-year-olds aren’t embarrassed about their language mistakes, and you shouldn’t be either. Look for native speakers to try and talk to.
Learn to say something nice in your new language about the country that speaks it. For example, if you are learning French, learn to say, “I love France” in French.
After you say that, all of your language mistakes will be forgiven.
7. Sign Up With Language101.com Now!
Think about this fact: nothing ever gets done tomorrow. The only time that anything ever gets done is now.
So stop surfing the web, buy our language program, and start learning right now.
Try Our Free Demos and Sign Up Now
Spanish – Danish – German – French
Irish – Canadian French – Russian
Last Updated: October 17, 2010
I am learning Arabic. This is not one of the course which you include in your set of courses. I like your articles on how to learn as this helps me structure my own study.
Kind regards,
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the kind words. We are definitely going to add modern standard Arabic. The only question is how soon.
Team Language 101 –
I am early on learning modern Greek. Come on, please work up a Greek package.
DWS
Thanks for the encouragement. Have you learned to say, “I love Greece.” in Greek?
I’m cheering for you.
Brent Van Arsdell
Please add Japanese too. I am eager to learn it. Thanks alot.
Sincerely
Kingsley
Thanks for your encouragement Kingsley. Our current plan is to complete Italian, then add Mandarin Chinese then Japanese.
I saw above that you are looking to add Italian. Do you have any idea when this might be available? I will be heading over to Italy in September and would really like a shot at being comfortable with at least the basics.
Our Italian lessons are written, but finding the right person to record them has been difficult. I have several applicants now so we will see. I think we will be done in plenty of time to help you.
Started learning Brazilian Portuguese with Pimsleur and hoping to expand on this. Any chance you might be developing a program for this?
I am trying to learn Swedish with Rosetta Stone, but it is not exactly enjiyable, the most exciting word is kaffe, or coffee… Could you please try to develop Swedish…
We’d love to develop a Swedish program. If we get more great encouragement like this is it will happen a lot sooner.
Brent
We get a fair amount of demand for Brazilian Portuguese so it is on our list.
If you use our contact us form and e-mail us asking for this you will get an e-mail when it’s ready.
Brent
Please develop a Swedish programme!
I would like to second the request for Modern spoken Greek. I do know how to say “I love Greece” but my passion for the language extends beyond.
Thanks for the additional encouragement Sofia!
Thank you for keeping the excitement high for Greek! It’s still a long ways off as we are currently working with three new languages before considering the next! Do check into the Pimsleur review if learning Greek is something that you want to do for yourself right away!
language101.com/reviews/pimsleur/
Please make a swedish program!!
It would be great considering my father used to know it and went to college in Sweden. If my father and I both learn it then we could possibly visit it later on!
Thanks for the additional encouragement Chauncey!
What is your timeframe for the next languages? You have listed Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. I have a child that is very interested in learning Chinese.
Thanks for inquiring about our upcoming languages! Italian is just about finished, we’re working on tying together the last bits now. Mandarin Chinese is planned to be released this coming year. I’ll be able to share more about the proposed timeframe as the project moves forwards. When we get Chinese finished I will be sure to send everyone who expresses interest an email.
Have 4 adopted Chinese children. Plan to spend a year in China teaching English (sometime in the next 4 years). I would LOVE to have Mandarin Chinese lessons. Please add me to your list!! Two of my adopted children have also expressed interest in “Relearning” their native language. They all lost their native language because of not having anyone to keep using it with!
Thanks for the encouragement. We do plan to add Mandarin Chinese.
Once you start figuring out the timeframe I would love to hear when the Japanese might be done! I had started learning it with another program but I didn’t like how it was going. You’re program seems to hold much more promise! Can’t wait
Please consider Korean Language as well. My wife and I work for hospitality industry here in Hawaii and have been encountering a lot of Korean tourist visiting the island. It would be nice to converse with them in their native language. For now, we’re learning by watching their TV shows; picking words and phrases here and there but not sufficient for conversation. I emplore you again to please consider including the Korean language. Thank you!
Marie and Dean -
Thanks for expressing your desire to learn Korean! Sounds like you have a great start on learning the vocabulary. I highly recommend taking a read through the Pimsleur review as it is an excellent way to pick up phrases to integrate the vocabulary.
http://language101.com/reviews/pimsleur
Thomas
Lexi -
We are getting Japanese together right now! With all best intentions it should be ready within a year.
Thomas
Are you also working on making a modern Hindi program? Punjabi would be even better, my husband is Punjabi and his whole family speaks Punjabi at home. I need to learn Punjabi and then also Hindi so I can converse with his family and then visiting friends on our annual visits to India. I can’t wait till I can be a part of the conversations.
Colleen -
We have quite a few languages in the labs being developed presently. Hindi or Punjabi are still in the list of languages we are considering once we get some of the other ones released. Having someone in your life who can at least speak with you in his native tongue is a blessing. You likely already have a strong understanding of his body language which will give you clues into what his words mean. Starting small with introductions and simple requests is a great way to begin learning your husband’s language. Go through one of the demo lessons to get ideas on how he could more effectively communicate small things and then you can build from there.
Thomas
I have used the “Living Language” courses for Italian, German & French. For Norwegian I used the Pimsleur and really liked it, but unfortunately it was only 30 lessons, instead of the other full programs approx 90 lessons. I have been contemplating purchasing the full Pimsleur programs to brush up my Italian, French, German, and Russian (Russian experience = first year university), and planned to add Spanish Pimsleur later.
The ‘combo’ purchase from Language 101 which includes several languages + additional in the future, looks very attractive. However, you can understand my concern at such a committment.
My posiiton re Language101 is as follows. I know that for me Pimsleur is ‘fail-safe’! but, can I believe the same re Language101 ?
Gordon
Gordon -
Thanks for expressing your concern for switching from Pimsleur to Language101.com! Did you know that Language101.com was developed from a desire to bring the Pimsleur learning technology into present day technological advantage? Pimsleur was great 30 and forty years ago when tape recording technology was new and fresh. Now that we have advanced software engines which can be programmed to endless possibilities that same idea, spaced repetition, can be advanced upon with much success! This is what Language101.com has done.
Language101.com has taken the concept of spaced repetition and added something spectacular to it – user interface to best determine what phrases to repeat and how frequently to bring them to the surface. In this way your learning style can be compensated for and given special treatment. Maybe you excel at memorizing questions. Do you really want to study all of the questions you know very very well at the same rate as the responses you are struggling with? That builds frustration and resent for the learning session – who wants to waste their time studying something they already know?
In order to best quell the fear of ‘what if this doesn’t work for me’ Language101.com stands beside a 6 month unconditional money back guarantee. If at any point within 6 months of your package purchase you are dissatisfied simply request a refund. You’ll know within a few weeks if the system is working for you.
Pimsleur was great and is the best option for learning languages Language101.com has yet to develop. Language101.com has the most effective language learning tool on the market.
Thomas
I’d like to find out the efficient way to learn English in less than a month.
Can you design a program for cherokee? I would like to learn it, so I can help the reservation elders with more than cooking cleaning and checkers. I have tried to learn through the elders but they do not speak english ; therefore, I have never been able to determin what they are saying to me. Ha Ha! at least we have fun playing checkers.
I saw in the previous comments that you’ve been working on a Mandarin program in early 2011. Are you planning on releasing it soon? I’m very interested in China, and I’d love to visit one day!
i am learning Chinese right now
i hope you add it your program
Felix -
Mandarin Chinese is in development. We’ll be making an announcement when it is complete and ready to learn!
Lauren -
Definitely in development.
Thomas
Tru Heart -
Language101.com is more than happy to assist you in systematically creating a personalized version of the software for preservation of languages. Please contact us at support@language101.com for more information.
Rita -
Seems you have a great handle on the basics of the language. From the place you are at now (assuming the phrase above is something you typed directly) visiting an English speaking place where your native (or other familiar) languages will be seldomly heard would be best. Immerse yourself in English, convince your mind it is necessary for survival and comfort to learn. It will come. A month is a rather short time to ‘learn’ any language.
Thomas
ADD MANDERIN CHINESE!!!!!!!! IF YOU DON’T, I’M GOING TO PIMSLEUR!!!!
Patrick -
Such enthusiasm! This is just what helps us continue to develop new languages such as Mandarin Chinese. We are currently working on this language and look forwards to the day we can offer it as one of our new packages.
Pimsleur is a great tool, albeit a little boring and hard to manage for each person’s unique learning curve. If you need to study Mandarin Chinese right away I highly recommend going with them. It’s the best bet for immediate pro-active language development.
Thomas