Language Acquisition vs. Language Learning

If you want to learn a language, you need to understand what language acquisition is. Language learning means learning ABOUT the language - the grammatical (grammar rules is ok, but I would put grammatical rules) rules, mostly, whereas language acquisition means learning how to USE the language to actually communicate. Learning the grammar rules doesn't mean you can speak. The only way to become better at listening and speaking is to PRACTICE - and to enjoy it!

According to Stephen Krashen, a prominent linguist, "Acquisition requires meaningful interaction in the target language - natural communication - in which speakers are concerned not with the form of their utterances but with the messages they are conveying and understanding."

Krashen also says, "The best methods are therefore those that supply 'comprehensible input' in low anxiety situations, containing messages that students really want to hear." And, "In the real world, conversations with sympathetic native speakers who are willing to help the acquirer understand are very helpful."

So for all those reasons, practicing with a native speaker on italki is an excellent way to improve your second language skills! :)

Here's a fun video in which Krashen demonstrates what "comprehensible input" is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K11o19YNvk

And here are more details about Krashen's theory:
http://www.sk.com.br/sk-krash.html

Finally, here's another discussion of the difference between language learning and language acquisition:
http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/language_acquisiti_vs_language_02033.php

I hope this is useful!