Getting some good software is another helpful tactic you can try. Firstly, software is very interactive and so it's an engaging way to learn. It's a refreshing change from reading a book or even listening to an audio course, and can use teaching methods that aren't available in these other formats. With software, it's usually easy to set your own pace.
In my experience the best software you can get is The Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone teaches you a foreign language the way you learned your first language. Using pictures, text and audio, it associates the foreign word with a concept and then gradually builds up new words and concepts based on the ones you already know. It starts with "boy", "girl", "man", "woman" and builds up from there: "A boy and a girl", "A boy and a table", "The boy is on the table". It feels strange at first, but it works. It sticks. It's fun.
There was some discussion of software in the comments as well.
Until it reaches maturity, though, U.S. readers can pay for other forms of green energy.
Hey, if Timothy says green pricing is on-topic for this discussion, who am I to argue?
Green pricing programs are not only available in the US. I helped compile this information about international green pricing programs a few years ago. Looks as if it hasn't been updated in a while, but non-Yankee Slashdotters might find something useful there.
It's a coded card that identifies the device -- so the cable company, for example, can tell that you have subscribed to premium channels, bill you for pay-per-view movies, etc.
Interesting concept, but even discounting the obvious security and privacy concerns, what types of correspondance would this be useful for?
Aside from a few (not yet online) bills, the only physical correspondence I receive are things I value for their very physicality -- personal letters, packages, magazines.
I also get junk mail. But as it is seldom addressed specifically to me, I wouldn't think this service would have much of an impact on that... Automated junk mail to spam converter, anyone?
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It's a coded card that identifies the device -- so the cable company, for example, can tell that you have subscribed to premium channels, bill you for pay-per-view movies, etc.
Interesting concept, but even discounting the obvious security and privacy concerns, what types of correspondance would this be useful for?
Aside from a few (not yet online) bills, the only physical correspondence I receive are things I value for their very physicality -- personal letters, packages, magazines.
I also get junk mail. But as it is seldom addressed specifically to me, I wouldn't think this service would have much of an impact on that... Automated junk mail to spam converter, anyone?