Another year has come and gone and you still haven’t developed the habits or discipline needed for settling in and really committing to learning to speak a new language. Well, there’s no time like the present to get started. Of course, it’s always best to take it one step at a time so that you learn and learn it well.
With this in mind, our Day Translations blog gives you 9 easy and fun tips that you can use to learn and speak a foreign language in no time.
Let’s get right into it.
Our Best Tips for Learning to Speak a New Language
Language Tip #1 – Have a Goal in Mind
Nothing ever really gets done if there isn’t a goal or intention in mind. Having a goal in mind allows you to visualize what you want so you can go for it. A good place to begin is to establish the reason why you want to learn this foreign language and go from there. By doing this, you know the reasons why and how you’ll use a foreign language and in turn, your motivation will come and as you get better it builds your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Always keep your ‘why’ at the forefront of your mind always and you’re already halfway through the journey.
Language Tip #2 – Know Your Learning Style and Use it
Different people learn in different ways. That said, if you’re not sure what your learning style is or what tools or techniques work best for you then experimenting with different things may help. Of course, living in our highly technological world where access to information is almost unlimited, you should be able to identify your learning style sooner than later.
It’s also important that you keep in mind that may be more than one technique that works for you which means you can mix and match and have fun while doing it.
Learning Tip #3 – Start with Simple Vocabulary for Language Learners
A great place to start with learning the vocabulary for the foreign language is to find out what the most common words are and go from there. You could start with 100 words (or more, or less) and begin making simple sentences ( questions and answers) and keep repeating/ practicing them.
Language Tip #4 – Engage with the Material in the Language You Wish to Learn
The more exposure you get to a new language, the better. That said, consider watching Tv shows, reading magazines and newspapers and following social media accounts, and listening to music that is in the new language you wish to learn.
By consuming media in your new language, and constantly surrounding yourself with it, you become familiar with the many different ways people speak the new language on a daily basis and within different contexts and situations.
Language Learning Tip #5 – Speak up and Speak Out
Continuously speaking a new language is always the best and fastest way to learn it. Don’t mind if you make mistakes, it’s bound to happen, especially as a beginner. But if you don’t start then overcoming the mistakes, learning, and moving on only takes longer.
Interacting with a real person who is a native speaker who gives pointers for pronunciation and correction to grammar and sentence construction is extremely beneficial to the learning process.
Learning Tip #6 – Consider Using a Foreign Language Tutor
Instead of taking a class with many students and one facilitator, taking one on one tutoring sessions with a native speaker may prove to be a better and more effective option. One of the benefits of having a tutor is the fact that they go at your pace and there’s no holding you back as long as you grasp the necessary concepts of the foreign languages.
Language Tip #7 – Meet People Who Speak the Language as a Native Language (on or offline)
Whether you decide to join a Facebook group or go the traditional route of connecting face to face with someone who speaks the new language, having a friend who is a native speaker of the new language you’re learning is always a good idea. You can also consider traveling as an option to a country that speaks the native language so that you can interact with the locals and immerse yourself not only in the language but also in the culture.
Language Tip #8 – Try a Language Learning App
Some language learners may argue that using an app to learn a new foreign language may not be your best option, especially as a beginner. But, if you have access to a great app that aids in your development, consider it as an option in addition to the other recommendations we’ve made previously. There are many different apps out there, so do some research and choose the one that you believe best suits your needs.
Learning Tip #9 – Don’t Forget to Have Fun
If you’re in it for the long haul (which we hope you are), then making it fun goes a long way. You can make learning a new language fun by having a learning buddy, attending both online and offline events, and of course, practicing in ways that are suitable for you.
To Conclude …
We hope that these 9 tips will help you a great deal as you set out to learn a new language. Language acquisition doesn’t have to be a nightmarish experience. As long as you choose a language similar to your own language, you should have no problem getting into the learning curve!
At Day Translations we love languages and work with people just like you to provide both translation and interpreting services, among others, worldwide.