Once you’ve started learning it should be part of your daily routine to listen to the radio (or internet radio), read newspapers, books and magazines, or watch television in the new language.

If you visit or live in the new country, listen to others speaking. Note different dialects and phrases. Take every opportunity to copy words and phrases that you’ve heard (making sure you use them in the right context). Once you’ve heard a phrase several times it will soon come naturally to you.

An excellent way of absorbing a language is to switch the television or radio on. You don’t need to be watching or listening intensively for the words to sink in. If you are a complete beginner you may find this hard to start with – it is be far easier to switch to your own language.

Watch films or TV programmes in the new language. Use subtitles if you have to, but turn them off as soon as you have reached an intermediate level and can do without them. Usually the audio on films on DVD are featured in several different languages.

If you’re a beginner it won’t be long before you are beginning to understand the odd word. This will lead to the gradual process of understanding the gist of what is going on. You will then move on to the next stage of fully understanding what is being said.

Reading newspapers and magazines is also a proven way of learning. Try not to take in too much, or you’ll find the whole process too overwhelming and you’ll switch off. Select topics to read about that you are interested in. Then you can move on to more difficult subjects.

Imagine reading, understanding and enjoying a novel in your new language. It can be done with time and acceptance of the level you are at.

If you have a tutor ask them to recommend books you can read. If you’re learning alone local bookshops can be an excellent resource.

Not as simple as it sounds when we all have busy lives. It is not easy to just approach someone and start a conversation in your own language, let alone a foreign one.

But this is one of the most fruitful and useful ways you will learn. Your friend will be able to correct you and practise with you. Once your language study becomes more advanced, talking to a native speaker will teach you about accents and dialects. They will also able to teach you colloquialisms and phrases that you won’t find in the dictionary (polite of course!).

It’s likely your tutor will be a native speaker, so make the most of this.

There are many websites where fellow students from all over the world advertise for reciprocal language services. You link with a native of the language you are learning, who wants to learn your language, and you converse on-line. Signing up is usually free, and you get the opportunity to make friends from different cultures whilst improving your language skills.

If you don’t want to communicate this way you could advertise in your local area for a native to swop language skills with. This would work the same way, with you both wanting to learn from the other.