No matter where you are going, it helps to learn the basics of a language. If anything for survival reasons and for emergencies. I always recommend that you have knowledge of a worldwide known language such as English, French or Spanish. As most of Europe went and colonised half the world back in the days of exploration and in the pursuit of further wealth, it’s no wonder that these languages are spoken in other parts of the world far from Europe. The likelihood is that if you don’t speak a single word of the country’s language you are in, then at least there’s a chance they could speak one of these top languages. Below you’ll find our tips on the most effective ways to absorb learning a new language.
Set a Goal
If you have a map and no idea where you want to go, then you’re only going to get so far. Same with learning a language. Do you want to learn Spanish just for your 2-week holiday to Teneriffe? or master Japanese, in order to pass your exams? or even learn Italian to impress your friends?. No matter your reason for learning, make sure you have one. Focus on one clear goal at a time and give yourself a deadline as the old expression goes “pressure and heat create diamonds“. There will be many times during your learning process that you will lose motivation and struggle but that’s why it’s important for you to have clear and achievable goals. If your goal is to be fluent then define fluency. To what point are you considering yourself fluent? Be specific and you will see the progress.
Build a Habit
They say it takes 21 days to build a habit. So keep at it for 21 days focusing on just one day at a time and I really do mean that so you don’t get overwhelmed. After the 21 day mark, you should be well immersed in your target language that you won’t necessarily need to set reminders or check your daily schedule anymore. In your first few months, you will progress very quickly and this is truly encouraging however, you will at some point hit an invisible wall where you will feel that you cannot progress and this can quickly cause you to give up. This is where you must up your game and take it one day at a time again so that you can strengthen your weaknesses and soon you will find yourself progressing once again.
Find a Friend
Got a course? Great. Using an App? Awesome. Audio or reading in your target language? Super. However, by far the most effective method is by speaking and listening to a real live person, preferably a native in your target language. You can find someone on free websites like http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/. These sites are designed to connect people from all over the world and share a common goal. You could teach someone English in exchange for Italian for example. Having a PenPal in your adult life can do you wonders in other ways as social media is the way forward in the world of today. If this is not your thing then try looking for a tutor online who you can talk with over webcam etc…, but the PenPal method is by far more enjoyable and free.
Find Your Learning Style
Everyone learns differently and it’s so important to know this as to not beat yourself up worrying as to why you can’t progress as quickly as others. Try a different range of learning styles so that you can identify which is best for you. In the beginning, find your style and get as much of the language as you can under your belt, after a few months in, focus on another learning style in order to concentrate on your weaknesses. This is a great way of overcoming that invisible wall as mentioned before. Some great learning styles are as follows:
- Visual Learning
- Auditory Learning
- Kinesthetic Learners
Visual. This can be achieved through flashcards, watching videos or memorising what you have seen. Write down on a sticky notepad all the top vocabulary that you wish to memorise around the house. I.e Stick the French word for fridge on the fridge and after a few trips to the kitchen you ought to have mastered the word. Don’t worry about grammar at all in the beginning. Play flashcard games and watch videos on YouTube in your target language.
Auditory. Try watching your favourite shows on Netflix in your target language without subtitles. Get yourself a decent CD or podcast and take it wherever you go. In the car, on the train or listen with headphones whilst walking the dog. Listen to music in your target language and soon you’ll memorise the catchy lyrics and repeating them out loud will help you practice your pronunciation. The best part of Auditory learning is that you can implement it in deadtime, such as doing the laundry or while cooking etc…
Kinaesthetic. This is when you learn with a more hands-on approach. For this one, you’re going to need a fair bit of confidence and not afraid of potential embarrassment when you make mistakes, and you shouldn’t be afraid anyway! You will do best talking with real people in your target language. Having a conversation with someone for just 30 minutes is just as good as 10 hours of study time in a classroom. Because this approach is literally like throwing yourself into the deep end, you’ll pick up and learn from your mistakes much faster. You should ideally be aiming to visit a country where your target language is spoken.
Take the test here to find out which are you: http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml
Visit the Country
This one is not just for the Kinesthetic learner but anyone learning a new language really ought to owe it to themselves to visit a country where their target language is spoken. I would recommend that you at least try and have a good solid 3 months of study before venturing off. Sure you can visit with less but simply being a total beginner and completing some lessons on Duolingo is not going to cut it! Been there, done that. Once you arrive, set yourself small daily challenges and make them achievable, such as ordering what you would like at the restaurant in the language of that country and not simply starting the conversation with “Do you speak English?”. The shops and marketplaces are a great place to test your skills that you have spent the last few months studying and this is why I recommend that you get a foundation of the language before travelling.
Repetition
Repetition is the mother of learning. I could just leave that short sentence under this one and let it sink in. Repetition is truly the ultimate method for learning anything, languages aside. I’m not the first to say this and won’t be the last. Another saying is that practice makes perfect and all these sayings really do ring true. Keep at it!
Use the Right Tools
If something isn’t working for you, then let it go and find something else. I know it can be super frustrating when you have paid a lot of money for something like a course or textbook and the information is still not going in! That said, try a range of different tools and you shouldn’t stick to only one tool. Use apps like Busuu (highly recommended). Get yourself some second-hand books. Books from the company “Teach Yourself” really are useful and you can learn pretty much anything from this company. Buy yourself a good CD or listen to a free podcast. Find yourself a tutor on Italki and practice your speaking and listening. Use some of these as supplements rather than rely solely on just one tool as mentioned.
Have Fun
At times you are going to feel like you can’t learn a language. As if it’s only meant for the rare, special and lucky few. You’re going to hit obstacles and plateaus but this is normal and the best way to carry on the motivation is to find a way that involves having fun. Learning anything needs to have fun elements in it otherwise you will lose interest and give up. If you play video games, change the language for instance. Playing games can really help or even try listening to music in your target language. Make sure it’s something you really like and it won’t even feel like studying.
Make the Learning Unavoidable
Watching your favourite TV shows in your native English sounds better than in your target language for sure. Playing video games is certainly more entertaining than studying. So you are going to have to find a way of tailoring your learning to your environment. As mentioned before, put sticky notes around the house on objects so you can see what they are in your target language. Listen to the radio in your target language, or text your friends in that language. I wouldn’t recommend changing the language on your phone though. Don’t know why people think this one is a good idea. For one, knowing the word for “battery optimisation” is not going to be very useful for the majority of learners and if you do run into any issues, it’s best in your native language.
Stop Worrying
Focus on the basics and get started. Don’t be one of those people simply avoiding speaking in your target language because you believe you are still not good enough. Age is just a number and more often than not, people will make excuses for themselves to not do anything. The world of today has all the technology needed to enhance your learning and with social media, connecting with others in other countries is easy. There really isn’t an excuse and if you find that time is your problem, then cut down on things that don’t value your time or better yet improve your environment as mentioned. If you find at times you are struggling, take a break but don’t break away forever.