What is your reason for visiting this website? Do you need to learn a new language, for work or for fun? Do you want to be able to order more than a beer and a cheese sandwich next time you go on holiday? Or do you just have a hunger for words?

Whatever the reason, your desire to learn and your motivation will play a large part in your success.

You could sign up for a course at your local college, or maybe you’re thinking about studying on-line, to try and fit your language learning in with your already busy lifestyle. Alternatively, you could buy one of the many CD-Rom packages on the market.

Before you do any of these, think long and hard about which will suit you. Then, allocate your study time well and discipline yourself and you’re more likely to succeed.

So let’s look at this in a positive way. You’ve decided which language you’re going to learn and which method you’re going to use. Now you have to set yourself a realistic time plan. Are you already familiar with the language, or are you a complete novice? Do you aim to be fluent in 6 months (highly unlikely), or will you be content as you find the new foreign language gets easier as each month goes by? Ask yourself the following very important questions:

• How much time can I devote to learning my new language each week?
  Split this into the number of hours you can allocate, and make yourself a timetable, allowing for when you know you won’t be distracted or interrupted.
  
• When do I want to finish this period of studies?
  For example you may be moving countries and a deadline, or you may be taking an exam in the future.
  
• How can I give myself maximum exposure to the language?
  Are you intending to visit the country, does your course have a study tour or do you have friends who speak your chosen language? 

Once you answer these questions you will begin to see how you can achieve your goal.

Many people start learning a new language with good intentions, but soon find they loose their motivation. Let’s look at why this might happen, to stop it happening to you. You might find you’re in a class with others and you’re not keeping up with their pace, or feel you’re not as good as them. Don't just give up!

Speak to your tutor and air your concerns. If the tutors are any good they’ll go through your problems with you, and get you back on track. They may give you some extra time, so you can practise your skills, or they may recommend some additional listening or speaking exercises. If they don’t, then ask for some extra work.

You might be learning alone through a home-study course and not be sure if your pronunciation or vocabulary is correct. Again, contact your tutor. If your language course offers tutorials, whether they’re part of the course or additional, move mountains to get there. Nothing is more important than practising with others in the same position as you. This can also be incredibly motivational if you’re finding it hard to keep going.

Motivation is one of the keys to the success of learning a new language. When you’re having trouble with your tenses, grammar or vocabulary just remember the reason why you are learning the language, and perhaps more importantly, how far you’ve come since you started.