Learning foreign vocabulary used to be the nightmare for many. At the very beginning it seems to be a totally hopeless undertaking. There are hundreds of thousands different words in every language. How should we are able to learn so many foreign words? Well, although in principal the number of words in a language is that high, nobody needs to know so many words to learn a foreign language. Linguistic researchers have proven that you need only about 3000 words to achieve a basic understanding of a foreign language meaning to read newspapers and (most) books, to be able to engage in conversation, watch TV and films etc.

Learning 3000 words is a task which can be broken up in handful pieces. If you learn just 10 words per day and include some time for slack and repetition you will have achieved your comprehensive vocabulary within just one year.

And this learning process can even make fun. I scanned some of the basic literature for you and condensed some basic concepts to just seven easy to follow tips. All of them did work for me (I am writing this in a language foreign to me) and will work for you, too.

1. Learning within context: Start with some vocabulary you have an emotional relationship to. For example learn the respective vocabulary of your favorite hobbies.

2. Manipulate your learning environment: Look at all the things in your appartement, at your desk etc. Search the vocabulary, write it down on a note and attach post-its to all these things. Then, try to remember and repeat these vocabulary when you do everyday tasks.

3. Scale it down into small steps: Don't start with long lists of foreign vocabulary. Ten to twenty words per day is more than enough especially at the beginning. Start with easy words. There are probably quite a many words in the foreign language you already know (from TV, books etc.) or which are quite similar to the respective words of your native language.

4. Use modern technology: There are tons of learning software tools available today. Use multimedia training software which utilizes all human senses (reading, watching, hearing, speaking) to help you learning. Thus learning can be almost as entertaining as a computer game!

5. Do online research in the foreign language: The internet offers you easy access to virtually every foreign language. Visit regularely the foreign "parts" of the internet. For example research your favorite hobbies, travel destinations etc. Start reading the popular media networks (newspapers, magazines, TV stations) of your foreign language. You will notice that you understand more and more each day. Search for youtube videos in the foreign language and have fun watching them.

6. Repeat often: Each lesson should end with a repetiton. Don't forget to repeat the words you already know. Try to do some repetition during boring everyday situations like commuting, waiting in a shopping line etc. Avoid total 'slack' days with no exposure to the foreign language.

7. Hear music in your foreign language: Listening to foreign music is not only fun but is also very efficient in giving you a 'feeling' of the foreign language. Avoid trying to translate the song texts, just listening is learning enough.