I have a trip coming up and I want to learn the language spoken there as quickly as possible. What are the best tips you’d recommend to learn another language?

Youtube. Learn phrases not words. Think about what you'll be doing. Adapt phrases. 

You have to deep dive into the language. Use it on a daily basis, change your phone configuration (please learn the basics first ), social media, etc. Play videogames on that language as well. (French/English teacher here)

You kinda really have to imerse yourself into a coulture, enjoy the entertainemnt in that language, read, talk talk talk and if I may say the best way is to learn song lyrics and sing. It helped me think faster in German

For a trip I only use youtube for local phrases etc

 

If I want to really learn one, I take a deep dive in culture. Watch series, movies, listen to music, maybe newscasts, read magazines and articles and wikipedia as well cause you know the english format so it will be easy to create parallels.

 

We actually are "forced" to learn english in my country since we're 7 or 8 years old, then a second foreign language which was German for me

 

When I was 18 I tried Russian and i loved it (2 years for certificates), and in the past 10 years I did the same with French and now Italian.

 

In all of those efforts, culture of every kind (even porn - not joking) was essential 

Edited September 17, 2025Sep 17 by Démodé

I grew up bilingual and actually visited a school system where the classes where split in these two languages: Greek & German.

Additionally I learned English, French and (sum) Ancient Greek in school. So language was always part of my life

 

Italian was the only language I learned voluntarily so to say, as an adult.

 

what helped me, aside from Italian courses I took in uni: Music + watching my comfort series that I know by heart in Italian Dub. Also reading children's books.

Edited September 17, 2025Sep 17 by ChrispyBelievix

The Internet and I also happen to have friends and relatives who speak the target language I learned 

Watch Netflix movies/shows with English subtitles. I learned English as a 2nd language, French as a 3rd and right now I'm teaching myself Brazilian Portuguese which I understand and read almost completely but cannot speak it as fluently as I would like.

Also it depends what language you're trying to learn. For example my native language is Spanish so the other main pop girls in the Romance family are super easy for me to pick up (French, Italian, Portuguese) but I tried German the other day because I really like how it sounds and I gave myself a headache because of the whole system where they can make up words 

 

I learned English through Stan Twitter

I learned English watching Glee 

 

I think exposure is the most important thing, even if you don't understand everything, you're "thrown" into the language's rhythm and vibe. Like shows, songs, video games, etc. Only with that was I able to also learn the grammar and vocab well enough through traditional lessons

I speak Albanian, Dutch, German and English.

 

I would like to learn French and Spanish. I'm 41 years old now, so I'm afraid it will take some time...

Edited September 17, 2025Sep 17 by Patient Zero

Being exposed to it.

 

We don't dub films here and we listen to a lot of English-language music, also the internet, so it was easy to pick up. French I learned by moving to France and being forced to speak, read and write French. That's really it 

 

Personally, I don't think you're going to get far unless you find someone that speaks your language and practice. It's the fastest way to progress.