What is the best way to learn a language?

First of all, I don't think you should pay for language-learning software, unless you simply can't find the language you're interested in elsewhere. Free websites like Duolingo absolutely get the job done, and the value isn't just in the lessons, but also the community which is helpful and will answer most questions you have if you ask/search. Try reading the comment sections for exercises and you'll find lots of valuable information. Memrise is good for vocabulary. Lang-8 is great for practicing reading and writing, as well as meeting people to write to in your target language.

There are many sites which allow you to make friends/penpals with people who speak your target language as well. You should also read, watch, and listen to various media in your target languages - there are lessons on YouTube, really helpful written guides, and even standard entertainment translated (or originally created) in your target languages.

If you, however, can afford it and don't mind spending some money and committing some time, you should pay for physical in-person lessons. There are classes available for most common languages in most areas, but often you can also find private tutors even for uncommon languages.

As nearly all people will tell you, immersion is the best way to learn. Surround yourself with speakers of the language you want to learn and you will pick it up. If you can exclusively force yourself to communicate in Spanish somehow (even making Spanish-speaking Skype friends to chat with), this is invaluable.

The absolute best way to learn a language is using ALL of the above. Never, ever use just one resource, or you're setting yourself up for failure. Join an online language learning community of some kind and read about other peoples' experiences.

In your and my case it is Spanish.There are many expensive courses available which are primarily designed to benefit the producer.A $10 course might be better for you than a $1,000 course.Learning a language is all about constant exposure and repetition and interaction with native speakers.In my case attending and participation at a Spanish church each Sunday for about 15 years proved to be very helpful.The most important things to learn a foreign language is total commitment and falling in love with the language.There is no easy or magic way to learn a language.After 10 years of daily exposure to your native language you were pretty good but not finished.A foreign language does not come any easier..

I think the whole book and software language-learning industry makes quite the killing... without actually being effective.

I think being immersed in it is the way.

I mean a lot of people move to America but stick with communities that offer everything in their native tongue... so they never learn English.

Environment is important.

Go live in a community with native speakers of that language and remember to practice the language on books an apps in addition to the native speakers.

There isn't one "best" way that is suitable for everyone. For some people, the method used by Rosetta Stone works well, for other people, not so much. So find the method that works best for you.

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