Use your new-found skills whenever you can; at home and abroad.

If the assistant serving you in the supermarket sounds foreign ask them where they come from. If they speak a language you know try and hold a conversation with them. It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes – it happens to all of us. The important thing is you are making use of a valuable skill.

One of the best ways of improving your language skills is to team up with a fellow student and speak only in the new language. Go to a bar, or out to dinner and talk, talk, talk (but not in your mother tongue).

Get an audio tape or CD and listen to it in the car. You’ll be surprised at how many words and sentences will sink in as you’re driving around. Say the phrases out loud, and really try hard with the pronunciation. Another method (only to be recommended when you’re alone!) is to find some songs in your chosen language and sing along. Tapes and CDs can be purchased quite cheaply on many of the popular music and book websites.

The opportunities to practise should be endless if your whole family is learning the new language . Make sure you have at least one day a week where you all only speak the new language. Before you know it you’ll be talking to each other outside of these times, as the subconscious memory is a powerful thing. In our house ‘a la mesa’ (dinner’s ready) is a standard phrase, and anyone that visits us will only be fed if they sit at the dinner table when they hear it.

If you’re going on a foreign holiday where they speak your new language (try and do this as often as possible) attempt to make conversation with the locals. They will appreciate your efforts to communicate with them, and you might make some new friends! There is no substitute for the satisfaction of having understood, and being understood in a foreign country.

If you need to book a hotel or car before you go call and make the booking in the foreign language. This will be much more of an achievement than doing it on the internet or through your local travel agent. Just make sure you get a confirmation in writing, so you’re sure you’ve actually got what you intended!

Those of you lucky enough to live in the country where they speak your new language shouldn’t have a problem. Opportunities to test your linguistic skills will present themselves daily.

Not as easy as it sounds, but when you start to do it automatically you will have an immense feeling of satisfaction.