<p>I've never self-studied anything. I'd like to know some basic tips. I have so many resources at my disposal; the local university library, and the internet are my chief ones. Yet, I'm confused.</p>
<p>I'm barely a junior, and am taking French 1. My goal is to be in French 4 SL by my senior year. The way I plan to do this is to take credit-by-exams for French 1b, 2a2b(first and second semester), and 3a3b. Since I am taking French I at my IB school, how easy do you think it will to accelerate, hopefully with the use of a teacher? I checked out Barron's AP French book, and a lot of it I can understand because I'm fluent in Spanish, but I wouldn't be able to make a sentence or something.</p>
<p>Also, what sources would people recommend for languages. I'd like to learn Arabic. </p>
<p>And just to not ask questions constantly, I'd recommend that any people who are trying to learn Japanese check out the Japanesepod101 podcasts. I heard the chinese ones were good too. I'm not sure.</p>
<p>The Pimsleur Method has one of the best reputations when it comes to learning a foreign language. Look at some of the reviews for it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com%5B/url%5D">www.amazon.com</a></p>
<p>I can't really help you with your French problem, but I might be able to with the Arabic. Are you interested in learning spoken Arabic, or written? If spoken, which dialect (the main ones being North African, Egyptian, mainland Arabia [Lebanon, Jordan, etc], and Gulf)? If written, quranic or modern standard? </p>
<p>Sorry if that seems like a lot, but Arabic doesn't just have one form. Modern standard is the Arabic used in all the major newspapers, and some Arabs speak it, though never in an informal setting. It's the form most widely learned by foreigners. However, if you're planning on moving to/visiting/talking to people from a certain country, it would suit you better to learn the dialect of that region, because the differences between regions can be outstanding. I live in Oman and am learning two "types" of Arabic: modern standard in school and Omani/Gulf on the streets. My speaking ability comes from the streets (where nobody uses and some people don't understand modern standard) and after living here for two years, I can't begin to understand Moroccan or Egyptian speakers, for reasons of different vocabulary and pronounciation. </p>
<p>Sorry if that's too long and doesn't satisfy your question, but I hope it clarifies some things for you. Do you want more to read and write Arabic, or listen to and speak it? And do you have a dialectal preference?</p>
<p>Arabic is so crazy. :X</p>
<p>I believe that my family knows the mainland dialect(at least what's appropiate to Saudi Arabia), and it's definetely not that different from modern Arabic, considering my aunt watches the news every now and then on Arabic channels.</p>
<p>The ideal situation would be to learn both, to be completely fluent in Arabic, but if I had to choose one, I would rather read and write it.</p>
<p>If I were at home, and I'm not, and had access to my own resources I'd suggest a few books for you. I'll post them here or PM you, whichever you prefer, once I can get a decent list together.</p>
<p>The Saudi dialect is, in my opinion (and I may be biased--I was born there), one of the purer forms of spoken Arabic. I should clarify; by pure I mean close in speech to how modern standard is in writing (similar vocabulary, syntax, morphology, which all can vary slightly between regions), not pure as in close to the original spoken Arabic. So it's a great dialect to learn if you want modern standard down flat as well, which goes without saying if you would rather read and write. </p>
<p>You sound very interested in learning languages, so I'm sure it won't be hard for you to start picking it up. As long as you have somebody to talk and listen to, learning how to speak should come naturally as you learn to read and write...you shouldn't have to choose one or the other even though most books are aimed at only one. </p>
<p>Again, I'm displaced right now and can't look through my stockpile, but I'll give you the names of books I used when I get back home. Good luck!</p>
<p>Self-studying is rather difficult. It isn't difficult to study something, but to motivate yourself and put in the time necessary to study something effectively while maintaining your other school work and extra curriculars is the part some people can't manage well. </p>
<p>Remember that if you're setting a goal for yourself, you're going to have to push yourself to meet that goal. It can be done though. </p>
<p>In terms of tips for self-studying, acquire the necessary texts to study. Practice, practice, practice (especially with foreign languages...maybe find a partner or teacher who will practice speaking/writing with you). </p>
<p>There's not really any tips that you wouldn't know...if you've studied Spanish, then you're set for studying French. The languages are very similar and just remember that self-studying a language isn't similar to self-studying a science course or something.</p>
<p>Oh yeah. I forgot to mention, that I also need to self-study Physics. I took a university course at the local community college, but it was horrible. I have learned nothing, yet I somehow have an A.</p>
<p>It gets really expensive buying books. I'm more than willing to do that, but I've seen some sites that are good for example chemistry. I have yet to see anything for physics.</p>