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= Step 3: Hitchhike! =
This is the fun part! You need to speak the language with locals constantly. This is called '''immersion'''. You can try to learn a language with a native speaker or tutor, but there's no substitute for immersion. And if you want your immersion to be most effective, use your thumb! You'll learn the living language, from the people speaking it in their own country. The advantages of hitchhiking for learning languages are too numerous to list. (Some arguments can be found in this blog post: [https://write.as/hitchbikerevolution/hitchhiking-and-language-learning] )
Be sure to bring a dictionary (or smartphone) and [[phrasebook]] for extra study and to help avoid miscommunications.
=== The description trick ===
You can inquire about a word on the fly if you can describe it. For example, you can say "What's that blue thing?" and point to a blue truck. The native speaker will say "What? The galdon?" Now you know "galdon" means "truck". This is why descriptive words (such as colors) and the word "thing" should be included in the first words you learn.
= Step 4: Learn the rest of the language =
Immersion should make it brutally obvious that there's a lot to learn. You will have frustrating conversations where you understand NOTHING. This is especially common in rural areas where dialects and thick accents prevail (and the people don't come in contact with foreigners often). Don't worry about it! Keep practicing. Supplement the immersion with additional studying. Learn (and practice using) those tenses you skipped in step 2. Keep using the hand method, and keep talking to strangers. Learn new words as you need them. Keep on trucking!
