A Practical Guide to Language Learning:

This guide is designed to provide beginning foreign language students with a general guide to language learning success, and to accompany second language textbooks. An introductory section is addressed to both teachers and students. The first chapter proposes that language learners can take charge of their own language learning experience. Chapter 2 encourages learners to set their own personal goals for learning. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 emphasize the importance of self-confidence in the language learning experience and offer ways to reduce anxiety and take risks. Chapter 6 encourages the learner to take a broad view of the language learning experience. The usefulness of cooperative learning is stressed in chapter 7, and the role of learning style is discussed in chapter 8. Chapters 9 and 10 look at differences between right- and left-brain functions in relation to language learning and use, and outline some "superlearning" techniques. Avoiding interference from one's native language and benefiting from mistakes are the subjects of chapters 11 and 12. Chapters 13 and 14 discuss delving into the target culture. The final chapter urges learners to treat language learning as a game. Each chapter is accompanied by a series of exercises.