How many people do you hear say, "I've always wanted to learn French"? Or Italian? Or Spanish? Or Swahili? Or some other language? Perhaps you are the one who has always dreamed of ordering in Mandarin at a Chinese restaurant. It is one thing to dream about learning a second language. It is quite another thing altogether to take the plunge and get started at it.

Sometimes the challenges involved in second language studies seem insurmountable. The good news is that people of all ages are working on learning new languages every day. It is possible to overcome the difficulties and make great progress.

1) Lack of Experience

Learning a new language can seem like a giant undertaking. Many people feel doomed before they start just because they have never done anything like this before. My advice is to take the first step. Attend your first class. Listen to your first lesson. When the day is done you will then be an experienced student with, hopefully, some small level of mastery. Success always builds confidence.

2) Lack of Time

Daily practice and review make for steady improvement in second language studies. How can you fit this into your busy schedule? Audio is an important component of any language course. Listen when you are traveling. Are mp3 files or CD's available for the course you are taking? There are many podcasts available on the internet that you can download and enjoy on your mp3 player. Your public library can also be a good source of recorded material.

3) Lack of Resources

On the subject of resources, many DVD's come with additional language tracks. Most CD's in Canada, for example, have a French language track, since French is an official language of Canada. You can select your new language and watch your favorite DVD's with English subtitles at first. When you get more confident, you can choose to watch with the subtitles off, or even with the new language subtitles on, when available.

Your DVD's, however, can only supplement the curriculum you are using. It goes without saying that you need a logical sequence of lessons to ensure that nothing is left out. You might find this at your community college, or purchase a reputable home study program.

4) Lack of Motivation

As you proceed through your course, don't forget why you are interested in learning a second language. Is it for that trip to Paris to see the paintings at the Louvre? Is it to read War and Peace in its original Russian? Only you know your true motivation. Whatever your carrot might be, put it out in front of yourself. Put pictures on your bulletin board. Write out a list of reasons why this is important to you and review it often.

Do you have a friend who has a similar dream? Having a buddy can be a great motivator. Perhaps you can join with others in your class to encourage and help one another.

Learning a language is like eating the proverbial elephant. It can only be done one bite at a time. Having a systematic, well-planned curriculum can help your understanding to grow as you review and build on what you have learned previously.

As with any large project, discouragement can set in along the way to completion. Remember to reward yourself as you take the necessary steps to achieve your goal. Bonne chance!

If you are interested in adding French as a Second Language to your homeschool, or are looking for teaching aids for your French classroom, take advantage of the free resources available at http://nallenart.org/. Norma Allen is a veteran homeschooler and curriculum writer who has also taught French either in the classroom or online for over 25 years.