How to Master Successfully Any Language of the World 9
Studying Language? Using Language!
Why should you study a language?
For no reason!
Language is not a science; it is rather an art (or a craft). “Studying” a language may only
serve that university professor, who accepts grants for writing books and forcing his
students to study them.
On the other hand, using a language allows you to communicate freely and to be
accepted in a society. Various languages are used by people of Earth exactly as a means
of communication. Generally, people who are around you are more eager to accept you,
if your speech is similar to theirs. You may not notice it in your native surroundings, but
imagine a punk arriving to a big bosses meeting. Even if the punk wears fancy clothes,
his manner of speaking may disclose him. I’m going to stress the importance of non-
verbal communication, too. It is a way of communication, too, because it assists in
conveying ideas and creating opinions.
You may want to learn to use a language in order to communicate with a specific group
of people. Therefore, your goal would be better stated as “learning that group’s
communication means”.
Children learn their native language in order to be able to communicate with people
around them, in their society. Besides learning a language, children also learn all the
objects, used in this society, their qualities, actions performed, behaviors, situations that
may occur, ways and manners. Children need to get aware of their personal wishes and
feelings, too. This is how they grow up to be members of a society. With a rare
exception, every person on this planet succeeds to do it.
Your task is however, much simpler: you have already got acquainted with most of the
objects, qualities etc. Especially with those mentioned in lower learning levels. Yet, there
would be much to learn from a child’s ways of mastering a language.
Three Questions before You Start
Before you start to learn a language I want to ask you three questions. I hope they will
help you to better understand what you actually expect of a language and what you really
need. My questions should help you to define your final destination. And when you
know, where are you heading to, the chances of your success will be higher, they will!
First, why do you need to KNOW this language? For your career? For your passion to
the culture of this society? Are you planning a trip to that country? Relocation?
Copyright © 2012 Dmitry Slomov. All rights reserved.
Dmitry Slomov is a language learning consultant, a tutor and the author of the Russian Language Course – Lessons with Dmitry
Contact Dmitry at: http://www.courseofrussian.com/en/contact.html
