MY TOP TIPS FOR LEARNING A NEXT LANGUAGE ON YOUR OWN
So you want to learn a new language?..tough..and on your own?…even tougher. Trust me,I know,I have been there and Im still there. I don’t have a perfect formula for learning a new language but drawing from my personal experience mixed with those of other multi-linguists, I have managed to come up with some basic tips to help get you started!
TIP #1 - Using Language Learning Software,Apps and Websites
In this day and age, we are so lucky to have infinite resources at the click of a button,so why not take advantage of it?
There are so many resources online to learn a new language. If you are just starting, I recommend using Duolingo. It is such a great app which breaks down language learning into little categories which you have to pass and review in order to unlock the others. It turns language learning into a sort of fun game and they send you daily reminders and let's you track your progress in order to keep you motivated!
Some languages have resources online which focuses on that particular language, for example talktomeinkorean is well..focused on Korean and YouTube channels like Italy Made Easy are great for learning Italian.
There are also other apps that help with language learning in other ways, for example Tinycards and Memrise. Both work like flashcards with tidbits of information that you can use to test yourself while internalizing the words and phrases during the process.
TIP # 2 - Using Apps and Websites to Practice
Now that you have the apps and sites to help you start learning, you will want to reach a point where you can put yourself out there a little and practice. Luckily, there are apps and websites for that too!
Apps like Tandem allow you to have conversations with natives from all over the world. You can practice and they can correct you. There is even a translator included within the app itself. Another similar app is Hello Talk.
Apps like HiNative is a great option when you have a doubt and need to ask a native. You can type your question, whether it be grammatical or about spelling or pronunciation and natives will be there to answer any doubt and of course you can help out others too.
Conversation Exchange is another website that is perfect if you feel like you want to engage in just sending messages from time to time. You can message someone who speaks the language you are interested in learning and take it from there.
TIP # 3 - Language Exchanges
So now. maybe you are ready to take the big step and start meeting up with natives in your city. Language exchanges are a great way to take advantage of that. Look for local Facebook groups or search on Google to see what is going on around where you live. One good website for finding exchanges is Meetup. There you can find any and every kind of group/club and they usually post their calendar of events for the week or month etc.
Every time someone comes to me frustrated about learning a language because they have been having 5 hours of class every week and somehow still aren't improving, I always say the same thing: "Languages aren't really meant to be learned but rather lived." So what do I mean by this? Yes you can learn so much about a language in a class:- the structure, the formula, the rules, the grammar, the exceptions etc. but it is not enough. You have to go out there and live it. Remember when you were a toddler and first learning your first language? Did you sit in a class? No, you heard it over and over and over, your parents corrected your mistakes etc. so it should be the same with any other language.
You have to live it and do what you love doing in your soon to be second language. You like to watch YouTube videos about makeup or cars? Do that, but in the next language. Will you understand everything? Of course not! Will you pick up some new vocabulary? Certainly!
Do you like playing video games? Maybe change your game client to the next language or play on a different server which has that language.
Put your phone in the next language, try to watch little clips, funny videos, even read memes in the next language.
TIP #5 - Google translate maybe your fastest friend but it isn't your most reliable.
Sometimes Google Translate can translate something and it makes perfect sense and then sometimes you repeat the phrase that Google told you and your native friends are watching you like…what.. in.. the??!!??... Instead of Google, I always recommend WordReference. It doesn’t give you translations of sentences but it can give you the translation and definition of words and phrases and it has a forum where you can ask questions and natives usually give you pretty accurate answers.
TIP #6 - LOSE THE FEAR!
Many times when approaching any new subject, we are presented with a great amount of fear and self-doubt and that is perfectly normal but when it comes to language learning, the faster we lose the fear is the faster we will improve. You have to be ok with making mistakes and learning from them, humble enough to be able to accept corrections and constructive criticism and lighthearted enough to laugh along with others when you make a mistake because those moments are really when you learn the most. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said things in Spanish and my friends are on the floor rolling at what I said or I ordered something in a café and the waiter looks at me like I'm speaking gibberish but I can also tell you that those are the times when I learned best.
So you may feel incapable of learning a new language, for some it's easier than others but it's not impossible! Maybe some of these methods work for you or maybe in the end you feel the need for a traditional classroom but either way, the fact that you are taking the initiative to do something that ensures that you keep learning and improving is such a big step, so just keep going!
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day!
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