While grammar drills and dictionaries are all part of learning a language, do try to practice what you learn in fun and creative ways. This will not only help you develop your skills but will spark your enthusiasm and interest when you feel like you can’t take another verb conjugation list any more.

Magazines are a great way of resting while still having fun. Why not unwind with a fashion magazine—that is, one that’s written in the language you’re learning! Most major publishing firms have foreign syndicated titles. Or you can try audio magazines. You can rest your eyes while still reinforcing your vocabulary and learning how to pronounce words. It also sharpens your listening abilities and comprehension. Audio magazines are sold in different languages and often address a wide array of interesting topics, from sports to leisure to literature to travel. You can even find those on politics and entertainment. Look for those that come with the transcript of the programme so you can review vocabulary words and even find notes on the use of the language, like sentence structures.

Language is not meant to be learned alone. You will benefit from practicing with friends and classmates, but why not take it an extra step and practice it with a native speaker? You can form those on the Internet since there are many pen pal sites. Write emails to each other, schedule a chat session, and even discover more about the country. Writing is particularly helpful since you can practice your spelling, which can be hard for those who are learning a language.

Another way of studying for your foreign language skills is to record your voice. This is one way of reviewing your pronunciation and accents, and will serve as a good review strategy. Just play your tape while you’re doing things, like doing laundry or cooking dinner. You can also play it while taking a jog or walking on the treadmill.

Or if you prefer to listen to music while you exercise, why not make it an album in the language you’re learning? While this may not be helpful in terms of grammar since most lyricists will be very liberal about using sentence structures in order to make words rhyme, but it immerses you in the language.