<p>I realize this is somewhat of a rhetorical question, as I'm pretty sure that anybody with enough time and willpower can successfully self-study a language. However, I was wondering if it would be possible to start self-studying a language with the aim of taking its AP test while in high school. Would doing so be considered a waste of time when one could be participating in more unique or distinguished activities? Thanks.</p>
<p>It’s not likely but possible. Your chances are much greater with a knowledgeable instructor.</p>
<p>It is very, very hard to learn how to speak a language on your own. I highly doubt it’s reasonable to do that and actually perform well on the AP exam.</p>
<p>And if you think that Rosetta Stone style language learning software is going to work, think again.</p>
<p>Sure it may be possible, but it’ll take more than just your free time for a year. It takes many years to master a language enough to get even a 3 on the language AP tests. You can’t just buy a review book because they’re going to expect that you have at least a decent command of the grammar and basic vocabulary down. Additionally, you’ll be clueless for the speaking portions since your accent will play a large role in your grade. It’s much easier to learn from a competent teacher.</p>
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<p>The only challenge is finding one.</p>
<p>Honestly, even an incompetent instructor makes it easier to learn, as long as they speak Spanish.</p>
<p>Get a girlfriend/boyfriend that speaks the language and dump him or her after the Exam</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I think I still will study the languages that I was considering (German and Chinese) with the help of some native speakers, purely for enjoyment - it would be better than wasting time on facebook :-). And hey, if I develop something akin to basic proficiency, that’d be cool too.</p>
<p>Change Facebook’s language to the language you want to study. Pretty good idea yeah?</p>
<p>I think Spanish is the only one that an American English speaker could do decent on, within a limited timeframe (say a year?), because the Asian languages are obviously different, French is barely used in the U.S. so you can’t really practice, and, well, Latin… But I think Spanish is very doable. I got a 4 after “studying” for about 2 years, and I felt that most of that time was wasted. So, in summary, totally go for it (if it’s Spanish)!!</p>
<p>Sure you can, I am currently self-learning Korean and know a little (I mean very little) Latin (but am planning to study harder if have time).
I am absorbing the information very well. It is extremely feasible if you learn a foreign/secondary language before. If you never have any experience in learning a foreign language, it is still feasible, but not as easily.
Basically, you have have to think foreign. Like now, when I am self-learning Korean, I just do practice conversations where I imagine what I will say in various situations, I don’t think English then translate then speak in Korean. Basically, think pictures and actions. I hope you understand what I mean.</p>
<p>The same applies to Japanese, which I took 2 courses so far with a really good teacher.</p>
<p>Having an instructor would definitely help, but self-learning is probable too. It even has an advantage: you can move in your own pace; sometimes you can learn faster than the class does.</p>
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Well that is just not true, especially considering that a good portion of my German comes from using Rosetta Stone in class for three years and considering that I got a five on the test.
People learn languages in different ways. Some people can’t do it without a teacher and classroom instruction simply does not work at all for others. It’s absolutely possible to self-study a foreign language test (though you definitely need to start at least a year or two early). How do you think people out of school learn languages? In fact, classroom learning has very serious drawbacks in the foreign language realm. The language needs to be with you at all times, not just during a 45-minute class. If you have a teacher with an American accent, that can easily end up affecting your speaking. And remember that since so many people take languages, you get more classmates who are completely unmotivated and who will slow down the pace considerably.
I think the best way to do well on a language AP is a combination of classroom- and self-study. If all the German I knew was learned in class, I would have been lucky to get a two on the test. You need to internalize it, and that requires working with it a lot outside of class. Watch YouTube in the language, read Wikipedia in the language, set your Facebook, iPod, and cell phone to the language. If you choose to learn it exclusively through self-study, you’re going to have make sure you’re seriously consistent in that commitment. Let it slide for too long and you’ll lose more than you can handle (one reason it’s helpful to have a class). But it’s perfectly possible.</p>