How to learning a new language doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. Whether you are learning a new language for fun or to level up your career, there are tricks you can use to become fluent much faster. Making simple changes to the way you learn can help your mind absorb information, shorten the duration of learning, and have you speaking a foreign language in no time.
Have a Good Reason For Wanting To Learn A New Language.
Motivation is essential when picking up any new skill. Because a time will come when learning becomes difficult, it helps to have a strong reason why you are doing it. If it’s not for a pressing reason like career advancement, try to find value in mastering the language.
Visualizing yourself speaking the language can be encouraging. Better yet, arrange a trip to the country where the language is spoken. If, for instance, you plan the vacation a year in advance, you will also be creating a deadline by which you should be fluent.
Create a Ticking Time Bomb Situation
You may be familiar with the screenwriting phrase “the ticking time bomb.” This is a storytelling device where the hero is forced to complete an important task before the timer runs out. The stakes are high, and the consequences of failure are dire.
This device works very well in real life, too. Schedule a date with fellow learners in your area or an online appointment with a native speaker. Set a day to take a proficiency test. In short, make becoming fluent an urgent task in order to beat procrastination and to achieve your goals.
Meet Your Competition
Engaging in some friendly competition can increase your sense of urgency to become fluent. Some learning programs allow you to connect with students learning the same language. Place your bets and see who can reach intermediate or advanced levels first.
Choose a New Language Dialect
A language can be spoken in more than one country. So, before you start, if possible, choose a specific dialect. Do you want to learn the Portuguese dialect spoken in Portugal, Brazil, or Mozambique? Do you prefer French spoken in Paris or Montreal?
When you have chosen a country, decide if you would like to learn a dialect spoken in the city or in rural areas. And if possible, find out from a native speaker what is age-appropriate and what is not.
Diversify Learning Materials
There are several ways to learn a new language. You can enroll in a course, hire a tutor, download teaching apps, and so on. Instead of sticking to one medium, get your hands on as much material as possible.
One idea is to download a free book that contains all the common verbs in the language you are trying to learn. Study one or more times a day when learning a new language. Change up your langage learning style by taking online quizzes and/or practicing your language skills on a learning app. If you are a beginner, listen to children’s stories. If you are intermediate or advanced, tune into podcasts. Vary your training material when learning a new language or skill.
Develop Your Listening Skills When Learning A New Language
Do you like TV dramas or movies? Download a few in the language you want to speak and turn off the subtitles to develop your listening skills. Audiobooks, podcasts, and music are also good resources. The more you hear the language, the more acquainted you become with it.
For example, if you are learning Spanish, you may already be familiar with words like “amigos,” “comprende,” and “arriba, arriba” from popular television shows and films. Being exposed to a language frequently outside the traditional learning setup can maintain your interest and boost your confidence when you come across words you are familiar with.
How to Learn a New Language By Listening To Yourself
Listening to the language and speaking it out loud should be done in equal amounts. As you become acquainted with the accent through listening, you are likely to adopt it when speaking. Read a short story out loud at the end of each lesson and see how your accent compares over time.
Think In The Language You Are Learning
It is safe to assume that most people think in their home language. Why not practice thinking in the one you are learning? If you have a journal or a diary, translate your entries into the other language. Whether it’s a to-do list or just describing your feelings about the day, learn to articulate thoughts and emotions.
Name Things Around You when you are leaning
Can you name all the items around you in the language you are learning? Learning the name of items in your home or office, parts of the body, times of the year, and objects in nature is a good way to gauge progress. And if you don’t, learn it even if your course material has not covered it yet.
Find The Root Word
Words in most languages have a pattern. The root word often stays the same but changes only slightly in sound when expressed in the past, present, and future tenses. If, for example, you learn the root word for “love,” study its variations such as “to be loved,” “going to love,” “loving,” “lovingly,” etc.
Make Friends with someone who speaks a different language
If you can’t travel to the country, make friends with a native speaker. You might be lucky enough to find one living in your neighborhood. If not, join social media groups where you can ask questions and learn about the local culture, or consider hiring a tutor.
Have Fun Learning A New Language
Learning a new language can be a fun and rewarding experience. By setting goals and finding resources, you can make the process of learning a new language easier and more enjoyable. Listening, speaking, and thinking in the new language will help you to progress, and connecting with a native speaker can give you a more immersive learning experience. So why not try learning a new language today?
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