HINTS TO LEARNERS.
These hints are principally for learners teaching themselves. Follow the advice of your instructor, if you have a good one.
(1). First study carefully the pronunciation (pars. [5–19]).
(2). Learn, in the following order, Grammatical Terminations (par. [53]); Suffixes and Prefixes (pars. [54], [55]); Pronouns (pars. [126], [131]); List of Prepositions ([page 180]); Correlative Words (par. [147]); List of Primary Words ([page 334]); Use of the Accusative (pars. [65–68]).
(3). Read aloud daily some portion of the "Krestomatio," and Exercises on pages [259–315].
(4). Translate daily some portion of the "Krestomatio," or Kabe’s "Unua Legolibro," into English, and then back into Esperanto, and compare. At first, translate the Esperanto fairly literally, so as to get a good idea of the usual order of words in Esperanto, and where it differs from English in construction. Afterwards translate into fluent English, and then back into Esperanto.
(5). Get readiness of expression by constantly asking yourself aloud questions, and then replying to them; by saying in Esperanto what you see when walking out, what you are doing, etc., as, "Now I must go to bed," "It is time to get up," "I must cross the street," "I wonder who lives there," etc., etc.
(6). Read anecdotes in the "Krestomatio," or in Kabe’s "Unua Legolibro," and then try to repeat them, as if you were telling them to someone. Keep on repeating an anecdote until you can
tell it as fluently in Esperanto as in English, but not necessarily in the exact words of the book.
(7). In writing, say aloud the sentences as you write them. Your ear will then often prevent errors.
(8). Write your diary in Esperanto.
(9). Read the best authors, and mark in pencil any words or phrases which strike you as useful to remember. Write these in a notebook for future reference.
(10). Don’t slavishly copy in your style any particular author. Note the good points in each, and remember that what is not easily understood is not good style, however correct it may be grammatically.
(11). After about a week’s study, look out for recruits and teach them what you have learnt. In teaching others you teach yourself.
(12). When you read your daily newspaper, translate aloud a few sentences; that will give you facility of expression in many subjects.
(13). Always bear in mind the following:—
(a). Every letter and syllable is pronounced (par. [16]).
(b). Do not clip or drag the vowels (pars. [8–10]).
(c). The tonic accent is always on the last syllable but one (par. [17]).
(d). Do not use the compound forms of verbs unless necessary for the sense (pars. [167–170], [222–226]).
(e). Remember that each preposition in Esperanto, except je, has a fixed meaning (pars. [250], [251]).
(f). Note carefully the use of the accusative case (pars. [66–68]).
(g). Avoid conundrums in the shape of long compound words of three or more different roots. A sentence in Esperanto is not a riddle!