Do foreign language tapes work?

If you are browsing around for the best way to learn a foreign language, language tapes, CDs or MP3s are great ways to learn for most people. However, the success of this method depends on a few factors concerning you and the tapes themselves.

Foreign language tapes teach you a language by having you listen and repeat often and there are many different tapes available in a wide variety of languages. Unlike language schools, language tapes will allow you to learn at your leisure, will not require homework and are considerably cheaper. The fact that your language tape can go wherever you go is also very convenient and will allow you to study anywhere you like in your free time.

However, foreign language tapes may not be for everyone. If you work best with supervision and have trouble learning independently, language schools might be better suited for you. Language tapes do require excellent attentiveness and listening skills. Those with high musical intelligence (or more simply put—a good ear) do well with tapes while those who are visual learners may suffer. Some people learn a foreign language best by watching others speak it. This allows you to see the position of the mouth and tongue in forming words. It is something that, unfortunately, language tapes lack.

If you think a foreign language tape is for you, the longer it is, the better it is. Language is a complex area and a short tape will not cover all you need to know to become conversational.