How to Learn a Language: The Complete Strategy Guide

Most people study a language for years and still can't hold a conversation. They memorize verb conjugations. They know grammar rules. But when a native speaker talks to them, they freeze. The problem isn't ability. It's method. Traditional language learning optimizes for tests, not communication. Here's how to actually become conversational. The Core Principles 1. Use It or Lose It Language isn't knowledge—it's skill. You don't "know" a language; you perform it. This means practice, especially speaking, from the very beginning. Not after you're "ready." You'll never feel ready. Start now. 2. Input Before Output You can't speak what you've never heard. Massive comprehensible input—listening and reading—builds the intuition for how the language works. 3. Frequency Over Vocabulary Size The 1,000 most common words in a language cover about 85% of everyday speech. Learn these first. Don't waste time on rare words you'll never use. 4. Make Mistakes Mistakes are essential learning signals. If