The Quick and Dirty Guide to Learning Languages Fast

I studied French throughout my high school years, only to be released into the wilds, incapable of speaking French. I had to rethink everything I learned about LEARNING. I decided for myself the following: What is important to me? How would I decribe myself to someone, and how do I increase my vocabulary? I wish I'd had this little book. One of the good things about this book is that it has, in English, useful word lists that you can reproduce, although the one deficit is that the pages are small, and trying to write in a non-Latin alphabet or phonetically is difficult, given the space alotted. Better to reproduce the word lists and personalize them on Word. The word lists do increase your vocabulary acquistion quite quickly, and the applications are endless. This book, of course is not meant to be a study guide in any particular language, but it will get you started in a logical, rapid fashion.

I'm impressed with this book. Some of the tips are a bit inane. If you've learned a language before, they might be suggestions you've already figured out. That being said, for the first time language learner, this book points out things that many of us had to learn the hard way. I give it five stars for the list of words alone. Previous reviewers criticized the book for these word lists, but I disagree. The list is filled with items that will allow you to hit the ground running, if you elect to memorize them as instructed. These frequently used words are worth the price of the book. Each one is a golden nugget.

I've been studying Spanish on my own nearly every day for almost two years. Of all the how-to-learn-a-language books that I've found in that time, I think that Barry Farber's "How to Learn Any Language" outlines the best long term strategy. But I think that A.G. Hawke may have the best short-term/quick-start method. In his introduction, the author talks about principles. He says that his method is based on the KISS (keep it simple stupid) principle. I don't think he gives himself enough credit. I can see three much more tangible principles at work here: 1) Prioritize Learn the most useful and important things first. The book's charts are prefilled with suggested concepts that the author considers most important. 2) Divide and conquer The material to be learned is broken into manageable chunks. You concentrate on one chunk at a time. Every day you have a goal. 3) Be consistent The method suggests a daily pattern of review and learning. While these principles may not be earth shattering news, the book does provide plenty of details. From those details, you are expected to craft a program of your own. This allows you to take charge of your own learning and to progress with the least amount of wasted time and effort (At least in the early stages). After reading this book, I can't help but wonder how much of a head start it would have given me. Having no guidance at all, I floundered for quite a while before I started making any real progress. If I'd had this book, I might have shaved several months off my initial learning. (Even just a one month head start is worth more than the price of the book.) Other reviewers point out that this slim book has very few pages of real text. I'll admit that was my initial reaction too. It's barely longer than a magazine feature article if you don't count the charts. But the author wastes no words. Short as it is, I'm glad this did end up in book form rather than in a magazine. Otherwise, it would be lost in the abyss of back-issues.

Ignore the negative reviews of this book. The book is called the quick and dirty guide to language learning because that is what is is. It is designed to help you become functional quickly and it does accomplish this if you make the commitment and follow the schedule.If you want to learn a new language I highly recommend this book. Hawke presents a 7 day process to help you become functional in a new language quickly. He gives you the schedule for each day that includes reviewing what you have learned before you go to bed and as soon as you get up in the morning. If you are traveling to another country on business or for a vacation this book will help you get the essential vocabulary you will need. If you are learning a language in depth this will give you a good foundation. Hawke largely focuses on building vocabulary and learning useful phrases. He also provides information on the most useful grammatical concepts for a new user to master. Grammar books often focus on complicated grammar concepts that new learners really don't need early on. This book actually covers important information that Barry Farber left out in "How to Learn Any Language" such as common word lists. I suggest you buy both, complete Hawke's book and then move onto Farber's.

The author has refined the method of learning languages which was developed by the British explorer and adventurer, Sir Richard Francis Burton in the 1800's. Burton was a master at learning various languages and dialects, and was able to learn some 17 different languages in his lifetime. Hawke has done all of the legwork of charts, words, and lists, etc. Basically, all the reader has to do is plug in the words, follow the guide and start practicing. The book is filled with good practical advice on how to get a basic operating vocabulary - much like a child first learning how to speak. Hawke's best tip is to understand that learning a language will still require you to LEARN THE LANGUAGE. It takes effort.In all, an excellent book; however, Hawke should tone down the macho, crotcho Special Forces/Green Beret "bravo sierra." After all, a Green Beret is merely a hat, while Special Forces is a soldier. The Quiet Professionals...