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Learning foreign languages is an art. To succeed, you have to use a technique that suits you and that you feel comfortable with. I've taught and studied languages for over fifteen years and can now learn much faster than when I first started. What's more, I truly enjoy it. Over the years I've made countless mistakes, and wasted precious time and energy, but I've also learned a lot. I've learned not only a handful of foreign languages, but also how to help others teach themselves and make the most of their lessons.

Here's the learning technique I've developed. I hope it can help you save time, money and energy, and stay motivated all along.

Always choose a language course that suits your particular needs, abilities, budget and time available. There are dozens of good language courses on the market. They can be software-based, on audio cd only, book + cd packages, downloadable material, an online course, etc. Some courses mostly target speaking and listening, others teach you the grammar thoroughly. It might be tempting to buy several courses at once, but you'll focus better if you have only one to concentrate on. One thing is essential, though, the course you follow must have audio material recorded by native Spanish speakers. Don't settle for anything less than that.

Once you've got your language course, spend about thirty minutes browsing the material to get an idea of the topics you're going to learn and the level you'll reach when you finish. It's also good to see how long the lessons are, whether you'll be needing a dictionary, whether the course offers online support, etc. Knowing the course format will put you in control of your learning and will reassure you that it's not an endless task - although sometimes it'll feel that way.

Set a time to study and stick to it as much as possible. This can be difficult if you have a family, a pressing job or other commitments, but it's not impossible. If you study regularly, those close to you will soon realize how important this new task is for you, and will respond positively. They will encourage you and will respect the time you've set aside.

If you want to progress fast, aim at studying five times a week for no less than thirty minutes each time. To avoid wasting time, follow your language course from cover to cover. This is partly so you don't have to wonder what to do next (the course author has done that for you), and also to avoid gaps in your knowledge. Don't skip lessons or exercises. If you come across something that's less relevant to you, go through it quickly, but don't ignore it. There might be something essential you're missing.

Review constantly. Learning a language is not so much a question of studying, but of reviewing. Don't expect to remember what you've learned the first time around. Every word and phrase you learn, you'll forget at some point or another, and often more than once, however good your memory is.

Stay positive. Studying a foreign language often feels like doing a huge jigsaw puzzle. Here and there you manage to find two or three pieces that go together, but there are large gaps in between and many of the pieces you just can't see what they are. The important thing is to remember that every word and phrase you learn is a piece of the jigsaw that will eventually fall into place.

This article was written by Maria Fernandez, an experienced native Spanish teacher and author of Learn Spanish At Your Own Pace, Spanish for Kids - interactive multimedia lessons, Spanish Podcasts for Beginners, and other publications that you can find on this site.