Three things for learning languages

Hi all,

Here is a short background on me and three things I wish I knew when I began learning languages.

I speak foreign languages and I have been able to learn them well.

I speak English (native), French (high proficiency) and Japanese (proficient).
I have studied French and Japanese since high school (age 13). I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in both languages and linguistics.
I worked in Paris for three years as an English teacher
I have a Level 2 certificate in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test
I live in Gifu, Japan now and I'm of course learning every day.

My three points

1. Learning doesn't stop

Irrespective of how far you progress towards "fluency" the learning doesn't stop. As a non-native speaker, you will be learning all the time. Whether it is pronunciation, intonation, phrasal verbs, tone, gestures or body language, you will always be learning new things.

2. Dealing effectively with ambiguity is essential to high level language capability

Misunderstanding what someone says or not quickly capturing certain language nuances are an inevitable part of language learning and being able to deal with these scenarios is a sign of high proficiency. Stay calm. Don't panic. Ask.

3. The most effective way to learn is immersion - "Surround" yourself with the culture of the language.

The best way to learn a language is to be an active community member in a country where the language is spoken as a native language. Failing that, surround yourself with the culture of the language as best you can. For example:

Listen to the radio for at least 15 minutes per day (doesn't matter if you understand everything or not).
Read the "newspaper" and discuss it with anyone who will listen.
Develop your own views and thoughts on topics of the day in that country.
Listen to music in the target language. Follow the group / singer's posts and news.
Read books in the language.
Stay excited about the possibilities associated with learning another language.
Talk to yourself in the language.
Enjoy it.