They say that once you have learned one foreign language, it will be easier to learn another one. It may be true in some cases and yet not true in some. Whichever the case may be, there are certain principles to learning a foreign language that will definitely make the whole learning process easier for everyone concerned. There is absolutely no reason for one to say that he cannot learn a foreign language. In fact, researchers have found out that our brains have specially designed parts that are meant for language acquisition and learning. So basically, learning a language is for anyone! It is more a matter of effort and usage than of ability. Though of course, it cannot be denied that there are people who are quite gifted when it comes to languages.

So how does one learn a foreign language? Perhaps the most basic principle in this endeavor is USAGE. You�ve heard of the age old adage � practice makes perfect. The same applies to language learning. You have to use the language on a regular basis to get the hang of it AND not forget it. One of the quickest ways is to go to language schools in the concerning country: French language schools in France, English School New York. There are different possiblities you can stay in Hostels (London hostels, Youth hostel Paris), choose accomodation in families or share an appartment with other students.

Then of course, before you can actually go about using a language, you would have to have some sort of training first. Different schools of thought have different methods and tags to this part of the learning process. Some say that language is acquired (the way little children pick up their mother tongue for example) and not learned (what we do in a formal language school). Still others say that both factors may be present. Whatever principle you choose to believe in, one thing remains the same � you must have some sort of exposure. This could either be from people speaking the language around you or from materials such as documents, audio tapes, and the like.
It would also be of help if you knew the basic parts of the language. Of course, the most basic elements are present in most in the world so what you need is to identify these in your target language and get to working. Here are some of the basic elements: Pronunciation (Phonology), Words (Vocabulary), Word Forms (Morphology), Grammar (Syntax), and Spelling (Writing System).