There are many ways you can exercise your brain. You might do crossword puzzles or volunteer with tax services in Toronto. You could read a book on a subject you've never studied before or do practice exercises in one you know well. But one of the most fun and useful ways to improve your brain is to learn a new language. You could make a hobby or even a job out of it. If you're thinking you might want to try your hand at a new language, this guide will help you get started.

Choosing a Language

If you want to do more than idly dabble into a language, you need to make sure you choose a language that you are very interested in. Unless there is some sort of pull that keeps you coming back to its study, you'll keep getting distracted by picking out home alarm systems in Toronto or TV programs and never reach any sort of proficiency. Some popular languages for Canadians to learn include French, Spanish, Italian, and German. If you're looking for a challenge, you can also try Russian, Greek, or Arabic, which are more difficult since they have different alphabets.

How to Learn

There are a number of different ways to study a language, and your learning preference will dictate which one would be most helpful to you. You can take a class at a university or community center where everyone wears printable name tags and does exercises together. You can learn from a book, many of which have supplementary CDs. You can buy a language software course for your computer, or you can jump right in and learn by immersion by moving to another country.

Practice Makes Perfect

Don't expect to become fluent overnight. Many people get frustrated by a lack of fast progress, but remember - it took you years to learn English as a child. Practice as much as you can. If you have to spend a lot of time trying suits of class action in Canada, phone a friend who speaks the language during your breaks, or delve into a novel printed in your practice language. The best way to practice is to converse in that language, so consider finding yourself a pen pal or phone buddy.

Putting it to Use

The most exciting part of learning a new language is suddenly understanding things that were incomprehensible to you before. You might be listening to team building music in Swahili and finally figure out the lyrics, or be able to watch your favorite foreign film without subtitles. Find some way to use your skills or you risk losing them. So why not take a vacation to a country where your new language is spoken, or volunteer yourself for translation services?