Some Things That Work For Me

I want to summarize the things that have worked best for me. That's not to say that other things might not be better for others, or that I've always done things this way myself.

1. Conversation is by far the best way to learn a language. Ideally you should find a conversation partner who corrects you when you make a mistake.
2. Study grammar, but focus on internalizing the rules by memorizing example phrases that show the rule in practice.
3. Focus on speaking and writing over listening and reading. Practicing the active skills develops the passive skills much more than practicing the passive skills develops the active skills.
4. Memorize using flash cards, always using phrases, always going from your native language to the language you're studying.
5. Use a system like the Leitner system (aka the Chinese Box system) to spend more time practicing the things that you find most difficult.
6. Space out your practice sessions. Ten minutes three times a day is better than thirty minutes once a day.
7. Use audio-heavy courses like Pimsleur or FSI, particularly in the early stages when you need to internalize the rules of pronunciation and spelling.