I would like to start out by discussing what not to do when learning a new language. We often learn more from our mistakes then we do from our successes. As a wise man once said, it is better to learn from someone else’s mistakes then it is your own. How true, and that is exactly why I want to share my mistakes with you, and hopefully, prevent you from doing the same things. So I have listed the top ten things you should not do when learning a foreign language.
1) Don’t run out and start buying loads of learning materials such as language books, Apps and online courses or sign up at a language school. Chances of buying the wrong materials for you are very high. The internet is vast, and there is so much free material out there that will fit your learning style. There are endless videos, audios, reading material, complete learning websites, podcasts and blogs, you name it and you’ll find it. Take your time and find free material that will work for you, then make a list of them and pick one or two that you want to begin using. This will give you a good foundation in the language and you can experiment without costing you anything. Then later on you can always buy other material when you are more familiar with what to look for.
2) Once you find the learning material that works for you, then stick with it and learn all you can from that source before you move on. Don’t have a grasshopper mind, jumping from one source to the next. You’ll get much more out of it by staying with one thing at a time. Now this does not mean you can’t have more than one source of learning material to work with. For example, you may have one web site you use for your listening and speaking skills, another for reading and writing. Just stick with the materials you have chosen and are willing to complete them, this is the main idea here.
3) Don’t start anything without a plan. So now that you have discovered the learning material you want to use. Next step is to create a learning plan. It can be a simple as I will study for one hour a day, five days a week from 7-8am. You can make your plan as vague or detailed as you want. If you need a plan that is flexable, then by all means, create one that works around your schedule. This may mean you can only devote three days a week, then so be it. Just have a plan, and stick to the plan.
4) Don’t continue with learning material that is not working for you. One of the worst things you can do is stick with learning material that’s not helping you learn. STOP – and go back to step one and find other learning material that will help you learn. There’s no need in giving your most precious asset away (time), to something that is not working. I did this with two books, version one wasn’t helping me, but instead of finding other material, I turned around and bought version two of the same book. Only to discover it wasn’t helping me either. Don’t waste your resources on material based on them being so called “experts in the field”. Be smarter than I was, there are plenty of other sources out there, you just have to look for them.
5) Don’t forget to review older material. It is always a good idea to check your knowledge especially when learning a language. This is a very important milestone not to be overlook. It will also ensure that the material you are learning has actually becoming a part of your long-term memory. Another bonus in doing this, it helps boost your motivation to see how much you have retained.
6) Don’t neglect the four major skills for language learning. The major skills are speaking, reading, writing and listening comprehension. I worked on my reading skills more than any of the other three. While it improved my reading, the other skills were lacking, so when listening to audio for example, I couldn’t follow along. Many times you can incorporate these skill together. For example, listening to audio while following along with the text will not only improve your listening skills but your reading skills as well. Taking notes, is another example of improving your writing as well as your reading skills. You could even speak aloud what you are writing, to work on your pronunciation for example. Use these methods as much as possible to develop two or more skills at once and maximize your time.
7) Don’t go a day without doing some form of learning. I can’t stress this one enough. The worst thing any language learner can do is go too long without some interaction with the language. Your skills will regress greatly if you don’t keep this new material circulating in your brain. Because, until it becomes a part of your long-term memory, you can loose it rather quickly. So do something every day, even if it’s only for a few minutes at a time, make room in your day for some sort of language practice.
8) Don’t stress too early with grammar. You can become discouraged rather quickly trying to cram grammar rules into your brain, especially with a language like Russian. First just begin learning the basics of the language, the grammar will come. But, learn it gradually at first. Once you have had enough exposure to the language, then you can pursue it more depth by obtaining a good grammar book.
9) Don’t become obsessed about sounding like a native. You may never get there, but that is not the reason for learning the language in the first place. Remember that the main purpose of learning a language is to communicate with others. If you understand and you’re understood when speaking with a native, no matter how your accent is, then you are a success. It’s all about communication, whether in written or spoken form, this is the goal her. If you can have a conversation in your target language, (which for all practical purposes should be your end goal), then mission accomplished!
10) Don’t wait to long before you have a language exchange partner. This is one mistake that I truly regret. My excuse for this was, well I want to know more of the language before I get a language partner. But, to be completely honest, if you get a language partner early, they will help you learn much faster, than on your own. There are endless websites and apps available for language exchange and most of them are free.
This concludes my top ten list of “Don’ts” when learning a language. I hope they will prevent you from making the same mistakes as I, and at the same time, encourage you. I wish you much success in your endeavor and that you will exceed your goals.
-Eugene
The Challenges of Learning Russian 
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