The world is rapidly globalizing and many companies today operate beyond their national borders. As globalization takes root throughout the world, it is imperative that business executives, and multinational companies employees familiarize themselves with the language of the country that they are operating in.

Additionally, if you are a tourist or a tour guide it is important to learn many foreign languages for clear communication. Countries such as Switzerland and Canada have a bilingual language system in which most citizens have some basic fluency in both English and French. It is not too uncommon for a tourist guide to greet you in both English and French so as to make you feel at home.

Chinese is the must learn language for almost every business executive today. There are hundreds of thousands of Americans studying mandarin; a Chinese dialect because of the increased number of American businesses in the country.Indeed, every major multinational now has a China strategy. Understanding the host’s country language not only shows that you have respect for their culture but that you also take them seriously. This will lead to increased business deals and will lower resentment most often encountered when foreign businesses try to usurp the culture of the local area in which they are operating in. Some business executives have been embarrassed to find that their common meaning of certain words mean totally different things in the host country of their operations.

Learning a new language is not rocket science anymore nowadays what with the numerous online resources for those willing to learn a foreign language. The major languages to learn include English, French, German, Chinese, Spanish, and Portuguese.

If you consider this question logically, the answer is obviously “yes.” Most children get a firm grasp on the grammar of their native language before they ever sit down to study the rules. Presuming the child’s parents and other adults around them speak correctly, that child will “pick up” correct grammar.

We grown-ups, however, are in a very different situation. We rarely have the time, patience, or social support system (mommy and daddy, that is) needed for the painfully slow trial-and-error way children learn language. We also habits from our first language that can interfere with learning other languages. On the up side, though, we have skills and experience that allows us to grasp complex ideas much faster than a toddler. These facts combined mean we’re better off with a slightly different approach.

A Viable Alternative to Studying Grammar
What a lot of language learners object to about studying grammar is the idea of opening a textbook, reading a description of some random grammar rule, then doing practice drills using that rule.

This method is frustrating because it forces you, a foreign speaker, to imagine how the rule might work before you ever see how native speakers actually use it. A more natural way is to reverse the order slightly. Notice a grammar feature in use first, then read more about it in your textbook, then practice using it.

Say you’re learning Spanish and as you’re reading a magazine, you come across “del” where you expected to see “de el.” You conclude that “del” is a contraction like “it’s” is a contraction of “it is”. So you grab your grammar textbook and look up the section on contractions to find out if you’re correct and, if so, what else you need to know about using “del.”

When you’re reading or listening to your new language and think, “Hm, I wonder why they say it like that,” use that curiosity as a springboard for grammar study. Crack open your grammar reference and find out exactly why they say it “like that.” This method is much less frustrating because you already have some insight into how a given grammar feature works before you read the “rules” for how to use it.

Immerse Yourself and Pay Attention
Using this insight-based method of foreign language grammar study requires three things:

• A basic vocabulary
• Lots of exposure to the language
• Attention

Grammar only exists because of vocabulary. You won’t notice any grammar in the Spanish phrase “mapas del mundo” if you don’t understand “de” and “el mundo.” You also won’t notice new grammar features if you stick with the carefully controlled passages in your textbook. Get out in the real world and read magazines, listen to radio, and watch movies without worrying how much you understand.

As long as you’re continuously building your vocabulary and paying attention in attempt to understand, you’ll notice more and more grammar features. Just beware of getting lazy and ignoring grammar because you “get the gist” of what you read or hear. If you don’t understand something precisely, investigate it further.