Is It Possible To Learn A Foreign Language On Your Own?

[paullynn]

I want to learn Spanish and I wonder would it be impossible to do it without taking any classes.

[Prudie]

I think yes but you need a natural aptitude plus a lot of willpower - and you'll certainly need some audio help. I have done Rosetta Stone Spanish, gone to evening classes and also bought a few grammar books (as I prefer to learn a more formal way) and I'm still only at basic level.
The only adult classes I could find were aimed at touristy stuff like eating out and shopping. Not what I wanted at all.
I've seen many people on here advocate a CD learning programme by Michael Thomas (or similar name to that)

[dannyk13]

Yes, if you really have the wish to do so. I have a language o-level which I obtained without any tutoring.

[ummmm]

My nan taught herself French to an acceptable level using audio tapes. She used to potter round doing the housework with her headphones on. Took quite a long time though.

[naomi24]

The BBC offer excellent tutorials in a selection of languages.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/mividaloca/

[Brinjal]

It is possible but classes are good as you converse with others. Having people to verbally practice with is the best of getting a feel for the language.

[Bazile]

I've got a nice white box set of spanish cassettes / tutorials totally unused and in pristine condition - got it as a employee initiative / development some years ago now . You can have it at a very reasonable price .

The best way to learn a language is to go and live in a country where the language is the main one .

[naomi24]

Bazile, not very practical though, eh?

I meant to say the BBC tutorials are inter-active.

[Bazile]

Yes , i know - just saying

[tamborine]

Got the whole free language selection from Daily Mail on CDs...unused! wish I had Polish tho.

[theshedman]

I use the Michel Thomas course and found it very good. He doesn't teach writing just speaking but after doing it for a while you will be able to read many things. I have tried other ones but found I got on well with his one. As someone else said the BBC site is also good for picking up bits and pieces. You will need to put 15 to 30 minutes a day aside for learning it though and stick to it.

[jennyjoan]

Was in town at beginning of June - couldn't believe how much per hour an Interpreter could earn.

My cousin speaks 5 languages fluently. You can do it if you really want to.

I still have a pretty good knowledge of French and I have left school over 40 years ago.

[Jennykenny]

All good answers above but also look out for Spanish language films on TV, usually late at night.
The subtitles will help you to get an ear for the language, especially if you watch the film a number of times.

[jomifl]

Do not believe the oft quoted stuff about living in a country is the best way. You need to have an understanding of the grammar and listen to simple sentences clearly enunciated without bizarre regional foibles. By all means live in a country to polish your understanding and use but do not for one moment believe that the average citizen of a country speaks with anything other than bad grammar with bad pronunciation and uses colloquialisms so obscure that you need a history course to understand them. Most foreigners are too polite to correct your mistakes and will let you carry on making them whilst others can't be @rsed to listen to their language being murdered.

[piggynose]

It all depends on you, if youre disciplined, and knuckle down, you´ll get there. I´m afraid i haven´t got a head for foreign languages, and i even live in spain(8 years now)

[Sipowicz]

It's all greek to me!

[piggynose]

well said jomilf, sadly its so true.