With English being the language of international communication, many people think they hardly need to study another foreign language. However, every new language you learn helps you discover another facet of your personality. Moreover, it is also training for your memory.
Apart from that, speaking English does not mean knowing it. Even if you are a foreigner who studies in English, you never stop learning it.
Learning a foreign language is always exacting but also quite challenging. It requires self-discipline and organizational skills as well as motivation to progress and use the language. However, with the right approach, learning a new language can be made simple.
Here are several useful tips that can make the process a lot easier and add some fun.
Converse, Converse, Converse
Even if you are not sure about your grammar and pronunciation, do speak. When you practice the language, you learn faster. Also, you see how people use it, memorize the most important sentence structures, and learn the words.
A real conversation helps you realize how this language benefits you. It adds to your motivation when you finally see that you can explain things and be understood. When you start communicating, you’ll become far more invested in the learning process.
Learn Intensively
Whomever you ask, they’ll tell you that the pace and persistence of your learning outperform the length of it. That means that no matter how long you learn the language, you might not know it enough. However, if you learn intensely and dive deeply into the process, you have better chances of succeeding.
Thus, if you truly want to speak the language you study, do not make your learning lifelong. Condense it the way you see fit, but make it fun. Add lots of repetition, find a native person to practice your speaking skills, study culture along the way. There are lots of ways to make your learning efficient.
Do Not Trust Group Classes
Learning in groups is great for friend-making. However, it does not bring you any closer to fluency in the language of your choice. Most often, these groups consist of people with different skills and talents. Some learn faster, others require more time. It is good if you belong to the talented ones or studied the language before. However, if you do not know it at all, group lessons are a waste of money.
Thus, self-learning is much more effective in such a case. Ideally, you can find a mentor or a tutor who will help you at your pace and with your questions.
Start With 100 Words
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If you are going to learn a brand-new language but do not know where to start, google the most common words and learn them. These words will serve as fundamental for your future educational pursuits.
Moreover, linguists recommend starting with the vocabulary. Knowing several basic words already helps you in starting a simple conversation. A few grammar tips – and you are already capable of building a basic dialogue.
Download Linguistic Apps
Since we all have smartphones now, learning languages have been made simpler. You can download the dictionary instead of carrying it all the time. Also, you can install quiz apps to test your knowledge from time to time.
There are lots of other apps that you may find useful. For example, Duolingo trains both vocabulary and grammar in a fun and easy way. Some apps allow you to learn how to pronounce the word or even translate the whole sentence audibly.
Think in a Different Language
We all suffer from a language barrier when we start learning a new language. It’s common and it’s fine. You can deal with it by communicating in a foreign language even if you do it in your head.
When you are in the kitchen, try to name every object you use in the language you learn. Also, use the verbs to connect these words and express actions. When you have time, look up words you don’t know and try to memorize them. Use this technique whenever you find it appropriate.
Accept Your Failures
You are going to fail a lot. Pronunciation and grammar will trick you. But this is not the reason to give up. Instead, this is the reason to work harder and become better.
However, the very idea that you can say lots of stupid things should motivate you to speak more. No one will get offended if they see how hard you try. Can you imagine how many people learning this language made the same mistake?
Listen and Read
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Organizing a foreign language environment is critical for your success in learning. Whenever you have free time, switch on a song or a TV program on the language you are learning. Even though you understand only 30% of what’s being said, listening still adds up to your level.
Reading is also important. First, choose books that match your level. Later, when you know more words and language structures, you can try reading from the original sources. These auditory and visual practices make your studying process more effective.
Fall in Love with a New Language
It is hard to learn the language if you are not passionate about it. Surrounding yourself with a new culture really helps in learning its language. Observe native speakers, their body language, and habits. Study the history of the nation speaking the language you are learning.
This love and passion for culture will definitely help you progress in learning the language. It really helps if you learn from natives and copy their intonation and habits. It is really great if you see how the language evolved throughout history.
Accept Help
You’ll meet lots of people along the way who’ll want to help you along the way. Do not reject this help because it is very beneficial. If it comes sincerely, it only serves for the better. Whether you travel or study in a foreign country, ask people for help in their native language. They’d be more than happy to solve your problem.
Luciana joined our team as a mum blogger in 2020. A dedicated mum to a lively daughter and a dog, Luna, Luciana brings authenticity and passion to every post. Her expertise in parenting and lifestyle topics offers practical, relatable advice for real-life situations.
This was such a great post! I’ve been a reader of yours for a long time but for some reason only now just seen this post. I especially loved the line where you talk about not being a fraud and that we are just fighting for who we know we are. I needed that! Thank you! I have two blogs, one about personal Development, which is where my passion for blogging came from. I then took that passion and started a second blog to help new bloggers get started with their own blogging journey.
Fall in Love with a New Language
It is hard to learn the language if you are not passionate about it. Surrounding yourself with a new culture really helps in learning its language. Observe native speakers, their body language, and habits. Study the history of the nation speaking the language you are learning.