If you have always wanted to learn to speak another language other than your local dialect or English for instance, but have for many reasons found it difficult, then this article is likely to interest you.

Develop A Passion/Enthusiasm For Learning!

This is important. Think about it for a minute or so. If you wanted to teach someone to do something you already know how to do e.g. drive a car, use a computer etc - imagine how encouraged you would be if everyday that you meet your “student’ he/she shows impressive evidence (via performance) of having mastered most - if not all - of the things you covered the day before!

Imagine if your student even goes a step further on his/her own to learn/attempt things you are yet to teach and comes to you for guidance/insight on how to progress. Wouldn’t you LOVE to be a teacher to THAT kind of student? Wouldn’t you be encouraged to teach more of what you know without fear of it being too much for him/her to cope with? I would, and I know many other people would too!

So, the challenge is for you display your enthusiasm to learn what your teacher is teaching you, and you will win a formidable ally (in your teacher) who will make it a personal mission to see that you achieve the objective you set for yourself.

Make Sure You Choose A Language You REALLY Want To Learn

Note that there might be a slight problem here if you have not chosen the language you really desire to learn. In order to show continuous enthusiasm for something you do, you must have deep interest (and take delight) in doing it. It’s pretty difficult to feign enthusiasm!

So, check yourself and be honest in your assessment – if you find you are not “on fire” about learning the language, don’t even bother to start!!

My Story: How I Made My French Teacher A Fervent Advocate!

I decided to learn French in 1997, after an unsuccessful 3-day business exploration trip to Benin Republic. The trip failed because I and my partner could not speak French, and those we had to meet were not proficient in English.

Following my decision, I patiently searched for a reputable establishment to learn the language, and in 1999 found one, run by a young gentleman called Valentine Alake, in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria where I was then based. What I did was aim to exceed my teacher’s expectation in every way possible.

For instance, when we had a class, I ensured I committed my fullest attention to him for the usually 3 – 4 hour stretch of time we had. After classes, I would often stay back to listen to other classes plus sometimes I would go with him to meet his fellow teachers in other institutions who would often only speak French when together.

Apart from the above, I would take old Cameroonian newspapers given to me by my teacher, and using a French dictionary, would try translating various portions from French to English - then present my efforts to him at a later date. With time, this helped build my vocabulary.

My attitude made Valentine search for additional books, literature and videotapes from many sources (including some produced by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs!) for me to use. Now, if I had not shown such dedicated interest, I doubt that he would have bothered to go to all that trouble in the first place – what do you think?

Your Passion Will Unlock Doors Of Opportunities!

The commitment I demonstrated, over time, made him take a personal interest in me to the point of helping me stay for a 3 week period with his family in Douala and Yaoundé in Cameroon, so that I could consolidate my fluency in spoken French. Yes, my teacher is Cameroonian, and when I was his student, he ran a French Language school in Benin City. Today, he runs an NGO back in Cameroon.

I purchased a good micro cassette recorder, and regularly used it to make up to six (6) full 45-minute micro-taped recordings of news reports, and different radio programs which I would later listen to in bed before going to sleep (I still have them even now). I even made friends with a trader from Senegal who periodically coached me about how to respond to customers who wish to buy something from one's store (Vous desiréz, Monsieur? Madame?).

Then there were three wonderful chaps who ran a number of bookshops that rented out books/novels/magazines etc at 100 CFA (Cameroonian Francs) to people – mostly students. They would leave me alone in their shop for short periods to actually attend to customers on my own!

I had to endure the amused/knowing looks of many of the young boys and girls whenever they voiced their requests and I struggled to give an answer. Notwithstanding the pain and tremendous effort it took, I soon began to notice after just a week or so, that I was improving in my fluency.

Upon my return to the country, my teacher was quick to express how impressed he was with the amount of improvements he noticed in my speech. But here's the best part: Two years later, in 2001, the multinational brewer I worked for at the time, sent myself and three senior managers to attend an International Facilitator's course in Douala's Akwa Palace Hotel.

In the course of the week, the MD of the Cameroonian branch accidentally discovered I could speak French, and called the attention of the Cameroonian delegates to it. Apart from the positive impressions on my Nigerian colleagues, I found myself being courted by the Cameroonians - so much so, that one of them invited me to stay the weekend at his home in Yaounde, with his family!

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This article is based on excerpts from my book titled "Proven 5 Step Formula For Learning ANY Language In 3 Months or LESS". The topic covered in the article is the 4th step in the 5 step formula. I was interviewed about this book by Sadiq Daba on NTA Channel 5’s Morning Ride on Saturday 3rd August 2002. Visit http://lulu.com/sdaproducts to view a preview of the complete e-book.

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