Language Learning Tips
Learning a new language is a rewarding way to get to know a different culture or connect with a new group of people. Research shows that people who speak multiple languages tend to be more creative and flexible with how they approach situations. Personally, learning German has enriched my life in so many ways--I’ve loved learning about different traditions and customs in Germany along with being able to communicate with native speakers to get myself around. It’s so rewarding when you’re able to order for yourself or ask for directions successfully in your second language.
Below are some tips and tricks that I’ve learned along the way of my language learning journey and I hope they’re helpful to you as well.
Build a habit
The only way to progress in your language learning journey is to practice every day, even if it’s only for 15 minutes a day. On average it takes humans 68 days to build a habit, so it’s important to decide on how much time a day and when you want to dedicate to building your language learning habit. If you’re just getting started with learning a language, apps like Duolingo or Memrise are great to start to build a habit and build a basis for vocabulary. These apps also send notifications to help remind you to practice your language every day. If you don’t want to use an app—flash cards work great as well.
Utilize your resources
The best place to find language learning content, in my opinion, is Youtube. You can find audiobooks, videos on grammar, cooking shows, and more, all in your target language. Youtube is a great place to not only improve your language skills, but also start to learn about the culture attached to the language. I also recommend trying to listen to music in your target language or a podcast. I’ve found a few story type podcasts that are geared towards language learners because jumping into native speaking podcasts might be overwhelming when just starting out. Turning on subtitles in your target language can be helpful when watching videos because often times, it can be hard to keep up with what a native speaker is saying.
Read, read, read!
Reading in your target language really helps to increase your proficiency but progress can sometimes feel slow. A common mistake with reading in a second language is biting off more than you can chew or read in this case. Try starting with children’s fairytales (a great way to learn some new ones!), articles, song lyrics or blog posts—anything that is less than 50 pages before attempting to read a longer book. When you become more proficient in your reading and are ready to read a chapter book, try something that you’re familiar with. I read the Harry Potter series in German because it’s very familiar but still a challenge to read.
Speak whenever you get a chance
Getting speaking practice when you don’t live in the country of the language your learning can be really challenging (and frustrating) but you still need to practice talking in your target language. I’ve found that often times at bigger companies you can usually find a few people interested in practicing with you once a week. Another way you can practice is by reading articles or a short story aloud to practice your pronunciation. If you’re not sure how a word should sound simply use an app like google translate to hear the pronunciation.
Find a community
Finding others who are at a similar level to you in language learning is a great way to maintain accountability and bond with new people. If you have a hard time finding others IRL, try looking on popular websites like Reddit, Instagram, or Facebook to find language learning communities.
I hope some of these tips and tricks help you improve your language learning journey and if you have some different tips that I didn’t share here, please share!