If you’ve decided to learn a new language, you may be curious about the most effective methods and the science underlying language acquisition. Fortunately for you, a large number of writers and scholars have examined the process of language acquisition. A significant portion of such a study, along with some firsthand knowledge, has been published in several enlightening Language Learning Books.
It’s not that alternative teaching techniques are ineffective or worthless when paired with books; they may make the ideal language learning aid. Books, in contrast to certain other objects that remain stuck in time, strive to keep up with the newest developments in technology and news while maintaining their primary function.
Popular Language Learning Books
1. How To Learn a Foreign Language by Paul Pimsleur
The father of language learning, Dr. Paul Pimsleur, who developed the well-known audio-based method that has benefited millions of language learners, is the first person we should talk about. He first wrote this one of the famous Language Learning Books in 1980, but it was reprinted in 2013 and is still important now just as it was then. This is due to the teachings’ eternal relevance.
The book, which focuses on the three components of language—pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary—debunks several common teaching strategies and argues that they are either superfluous or even detrimental to the learning objective.
Dr. Pimsleur was aware of the difficulties faced by novices and set out to create a book that explains how anybody may pick up a foreign language without having to endure tedious, ineffective classroom exercises. Instead, he concentrates on the listening and reacting phase of language learning, which is akin to how infants listen to their surroundings and mimic the sounds and rhythms of the language they hear.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Kindle edition: $11.99.
- Hardcover: $118.97.
2. Learn Any Language FAST! – The Ultimate Guide to Speed Up Your Language Learning Curve By Tricking Your Brain by Dagny Taggart
This one was written by a frequent traveller who has taken the time to pick up a language quickly. Taggart offers the knowledge and methods she has acquired by travelling the world and picking up the languages of those she encounters.
As the author illustrates, the goal of this book is to help you learn a new language quicker than you ever would have imagined from the very beginning. Imagine that you are in a strange country and that you are in desperate need of a toilet. How can you learn the language in the shortest amount of time? That’s what this book is all about.
To achieve this, innovative and enjoyable methods of language memory are preferred over conventional and laborious ones. Your eyes will be opened by this book to the plethora of educational options just outside your door. Additionally, it will teach you how to utilize various multimedia platforms, such as radio, movies, and books, to ensure that they are all in line with intentional learning.
Available on: Amazon, ThriftBooks.
Price: $9.99 (Paperback).
3. Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It by Gabriel Wyner
Isn’t it desirable to enjoy yourself when acquiring a language, regardless of your language learning goals? Gabriel Wyner agreed as well. He was enjoying himself so much that by the age of thirty, he could speak fluently in six languages.
This book uses previously unconsidered techniques to work on your tongue and hearing. Your ears will get more tuned to the organic melodies of your target language, making them seem more familiar to you the next time you hear them. You’ll resemble opera singers and actresses in the degree of tongue contortion they undergo during rehearsal.
Fifteen minutes from now, you, a complete novice, will be able to mimic the natural sounds and tones. You’ll overcome those language obstacles and arrive securely in the zone of fluency with the help of these strategies and others. Purchase this one of the Best Language Learning Books. Your whole attention span will be well spent on it.
Available on: Amazon, WorldCat.
Price:
- Kindle edition: $13.99.
- paperback: $13.49.
- Spiral-bound: $23.69.
4. Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language by Steven Pinker
Like his earlier publications, “The Language Instinct” and “The Stuff of Thought,” Pinker’s work delves deeper than most language acquisition textbooks. The MIT linguist delves into an explanation of how language is learned by humans and how it is used to generate a wide range of goods and experiences, from a complex tax law to an effervescent love letter.
He continues to demonstrate his belief that language development is rule-based by concentrating on irregular verbs. (Who would have thought irregular verbs could be so fascinating?) Pinker is always the one with the brightest lamp to answer all of your questions if you want to take language seriously and start removing its shroud.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Audiobook: Free with Audible Premium.
- Kindle edition: $12.99.
- Paperback: $6.68.
- Hardcover: $18.64.
5. Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World by Benny Lewis
This one comes from the creator of Fluent in 3 Months, the biggest language study site on the Internet. A self-described regular guy, he advocates for “language hacking,” which helps students become fluent rapidly.
This one of the famous Language Learning Books helps you prepare mentally for learning a new language. It encourages readers to realize their full language potential and addresses the majority of anxieties and justifications that people may have. Additionally, it advocates for the best technology resources that are available to assist them in reaching their objectives.
Benny flips the paradigm of standard language learning on its head by using methods rarely available in schools and devising activities, strategies, and recommendations that make learning a natural, even inevitable experience (and grammatical exercises are not part of this. However, role-playing games are).
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Audiobook: Free with Audible Premium.
- Kindle edition: $14.99.
- Paperback: $14.76.
- Hardcover: $58.
6. Language Myths by Laurie Bauer & Peter Trudgill
This one stands out from the others as it is a compilation of 21 articles written by eminent linguists that challenge some of the conventional wisdom about language. This book delves into some very controversial topics, with sections like “Some Languages Are Spoken More Quickly Than Others,” “Italian Is Beautiful, German Is Ugly,” and “Women Talk Too Much.”
This one is on the list because I believe that the last thing a language student wants is to get mired in the process of acquiring a language. After all, they are clinging to a misconception about it, such as the idea that it is really difficult. Before the student even sets out on the voyage, it is necessary to gather up and blow all of the cobwebs from their head.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Kindle edition: $10.99.
- Paperback: $14.58.
7. How to Learn Any Language by Barry M. Farber
The method Farber used to study twenty-five languages is disclosed in the book. “The Multiple Track Attack,” “The Hidden Moments,” “Harry Lorayne’s Memory Aids,” and “The Plunge In” are the four components that make up his technique.
The author feels that there should be no restrictions on the number of tools and technology used while learning a new language. In “The Multiple Track Attack,” Farber provides a unique set of resources that are essential for each student.
The author of “The Hidden Moments” highlights the hidden moments throughout the day when someone may have picked up a new language. Even though it may just take a few minutes to wait in line or for the lift, by taking advantage of these little-known opportunities throughout the day, you can accrue hours of language study time.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Hardcover: $6.82.
- Paperback: $31.93.
8. How Languages Are Learned by Patsy Lightbown and Nina Spada
This award-winning Best Language Learning book delves into the many ideas behind the learning of first and second languages. The initial purpose of this book was to serve as a manual for language instructors. So why not get a copy for yourself and cut out the middleman? This is a great resource for learning about the distinctions between learning a first and second language. It delves into the specifics of the various behaviourist, cognitive, and social approach theories.
A thorough book can help you make sense of your learning experiences while you’re only a few weeks into studying Spanish or Japanese, for example. You’ll find it easier to absorb the lessons and pay attention to how you learn as the ideas from this book slowly seep into the back of your memory.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- eBook: $37.43.
- Paperback: $23.
9. How to Learn a New Language with a Used Brain by Lynn McBride
To complete our list of novels, we’ll close with a work by a writer who relocated to France and discovered that it may be challenging to “soak up the language” when travelling abroad. She thus combed through every language-learning resource she could find and developed the six-step program for living a multilingual life. This provides adult language learners with a thorough route plan.
In the “Voices of Experiences” part of her book, instructors and other language learners open up to readers about their trade secrets. Her book also includes “best of class” evaluations of the many internet tools that are now accessible. She sorts through the clutter of websites, classes, apps, programs, and books that all purport to assist in teaching languages and bestows her seal of approval on the deserving few who fulfill their claims.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Kindle edition: $2.99.
- Paperback: $7.99.
How Can Books on Language Learning Assist You in Learning Languages?
You probably want to know why Language Learning Books are necessary to teach you how to learn a language. Isn’t it a little strange? It’s not. Let’s examine the specific circumstances. You’ve decided to study Russian. You only know that they speak a language that sounds similar to yours and that they use the Cyrillic alphabet.
Thus, in this instance, it would be beneficial for you to read a book on learning Russian, in general, to get familiar with the language, pick up some pointers for quicker and simpler learning, or discover which vocabulary may be comparable to your tongue.
You may get a basic understanding of the language and comprehend “the bigger picture” with the aid of this sort of book. Furthermore, these books provide a wealth of helpful learning strategies, including memory tricks for pronunciation and points that are particularly important for language learners to pay attention to.
This will help you to start studying and advance, which is crucial while learning a language. You’ll also know what to anticipate.
FAQ
Q: Does reading books aid in learning a language?
A: Improving language abilities is one of reading’s most evident advantages. From toddlers to university students, reading does, in fact, promote stronger linguistic skills, according to a comprehensive evaluation of the literature on leisure reading.
Q: How can books help with language proficiency?
A: Children learn a lot of new words from books because they often include unknown terms. Throughout the book, the same words are used again in different phrases to aid with children’s word comprehension. Provide youngsters the opportunity to hear the same words again via repeated readings.
Q: Can someone pick up a new language?
A: No matter their age, everyone can pick up a new language. Just take this wise counsel and go along the charming route to success.