1) Give yourself a reason to study the language
You may be interested in visiting the country where the language is spoken, or using the language as a skill in the future, for your career. Whatever the reason may be, this will keep you motivated to learn the language. If you are learning without giving yourself an incentive to do so, chances are you won't take it seriously. Therefore, you might not end up learning the language as well as you could have.
2) Learning can be fun
You don't have to learn just through memorization and reading textbooks. You can also learn through entertainment. Why don't you read a book in Spanish?Or watch a French film? It will help to learn to listen and read things that a native speaker of the language would. This way learning won't seem boring and just something you have to force yourself to do. I would suggest watching with English subtitles first and try to write down any word you don't understand. You can also re-watch films several times in order for your listening ability to improve. As for reading in another language, you can look up words you don't understand and write it down. This will help to improve your vocabulary of the new language.
3) Learn with other people
Learning with people is always more fun than learning alone. Find a friend who is also interested in learning the new language, and spend time trying to pick up the language together. If you or your friend don't understand a new concept, you can help each other out by trying to explain it to one another. You friend might be better at pronunciation than you, while you may be better at grammar. The both of you can help each other out, while at the same time work towards improving your language skills.
4) Talk to yourself
If you do not have anyone to learn with, it's okay. You can spend time talking with yourself in the new language. It might be strange at first, however, try not to be so self-conscious. You can practice different words and phrases by repeating them to yourself again and again. Your mind tends to remember things better this way and you will be able to recall the vocabulary faster when you need to use it.
5) Learn online
Thanks to the development of technology, there are a ton of ways to learn online. You can download various apps, join language groups online, or try to find a native speaker of the language online and practice conversing with him or her. You can also listen to podcasts or read e-books in order to learn a language online.
6) Get ready to leave your comfort zone
When you learn a new language, you have to challenge yourself. You will make mistakes and that is okay. The important thing is that you are willing to put yourself out there and learn from your mistakes. Try speaking to strangers in the language.You can start from the basics, such as ordering food, asking how much it cost, or asking for directions. Don't be embarrassed if a native speaker corrects your pronunciation or the grammar, instead think of it as a learning opportunity. The next time you use the phrase, you won't make the same mistake again.
7) Travel....if possible
When you travel to the country where the language you want to learn is spoken, you are putting yourself in an environment full of endless possibilities. You should utilize this opportunity to speak to as many locals in the new language as possible. This is a great chance to use what you have learned and to learn much more.
