Ask a Missionary - Catch The Fire

language we’ll be working in. (Also, some of us take longer than
others to become adequately fluent!)
Answer from Jack Voelkel.
A:
The best way to learn a language depends
on the language and on your learning style.
The right method for learning a new language depends on two
key factors.
First, it depends on the nature of the language. For example,
Spanish is not nearly as difficult to learn as some other widely
spoken languages. Because Spanish is easier, many learners can
make considerable progress using tutors, language helpers, or even
LAMP (Language Acquisition Made Practical). But other learners
beware: do not treat all languages the same. Not all languages are
easy to learn, and anyone who advocates one method for all the
languages spoken on earth is failing to understand the differences
between languages.
Second, consider your individual personality and natural ability
to learn. The approach you choose should also take into consideration
your learning style, which usually has to do with how your
mind processes new information. Understanding whether you are an
auditory, visual, or perhaps an analytical learner is a plus. Similarly,
and more important, your ability to learn a foreign language (expressed
as language aptitude) must also be taken into account. I
recommend that you take a good language aptitude assessment in
order to understand how you learn languages.
Answer from Marc, who has served sixteen years in Russia and Ukraine with
the Institute of Strategic Languages and Cultures.
A: Learn from a language helper.
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