9 Essential Tips For Learning Another Language
Hello friends! Welcome back ;) Today I have a slightly different kind of post for y'all. As many of you may know, I am trilingual in English, Italian, and Spanish. I took French in high school, but when I got to college I just stuck to Italian and Spanish because those were those were the languages that I was most proficient in. I have studied Italian for ten years and Spanish for roughly 7 years, and I have a huge passion for learning languages if you couldn't tell already.
Language comes quite naturally to me, and while I know some struggle to learn a language, I do believe that if you want to learn a language, you can. I am a peer tutor in Italian for my university and I see students all the time who say they can't do it, and sure, studies have shown that language learning gets harder after the age of 12, but it certainly is not impossible (and a lack of motivation surely doesn't help).
Over the years, I have discovered certain things that work for me when trying to both learn and maintain my language abilities, and that is what I hope to offer all of you today. So if you in the process of learning another language, or if you want to one day, hopefully you find this helpful!
1. Break out those dry erase boards!
The number one thing I always tell my students at my tutoring sessions: Repetition Is Key. Using a white board to write out verb conjugations, vocabulary, or to practice your spelling is the best way to learn a language. Muscle memory is a magical thing, and the physical act of hand-writing is more effective than typing on a computer. Stick with the basics and get yourself a white board. You won't waste any paper, and you can write what you are studying over and over until you get it right. You will be surprised how well it works.
2. Duolingo
Duolingo is a great app for beginners as well as for those trying to maintain their language skills. It combines speaking, listening, and writing/spelling activities to help you learn a language efficiently and in a fun way. The app/site also has a forum for members to discuss the finer details of the language to answer any questions you may have. BONUS: IT'S FREE!
3. Read books in that language that you already know in your mother tongue
This one may be a bit challenging if you are just starting out and know very little of the language. However, if you are more advanced, it is definitely worth a try. The key point of this is to pick a book you already know and love in your first language. You will know the plot, so it will help you understand what is going on and help you make sense of what you are reading. You may not know what a certain verb or word means, but if you know the context of the story, you will most likely be able to figure it out without needing to look it up.
4. Watch TV shows or films in that language with subtitles
Hearing a language in action is huge for learning a language. The types of conversations you have in class are not going to help you if you were to ever find yourself in a foreign country that speaks that language. Listen to how the language is used informally and in conversations. You may even pick up some new phrases and vocab (most likely some curse words, but hey, you're practicing!). Soap operas/telenovelas are perfect for this!
5. Listen to music in that language with the lyrics in your hand
This is another way to gain some new phrases and vocab. It also may help you with some foreign pick-up lines if you are into romantic love songs. If you are studying Italian, try translating Ed Sheeran's latest version of "Perfect" with Andrea Bocelli. It has a decent amount of Italian, and if you know the original translation, it will help make sense of it. Of course translations are never perfect, so print out the lyrics and work through it yourself. Then, sing along! The more you hear the language, the more comfortable you will be working with it.
6. If you are in a language class, read your hw out loud. Your accent will thank you!
I can't stress this one enough! If your assignment is to read a chapter of a textbook, read it out loud to yourself. Read everything you can, even if it is just instructions. This not only helps you develop your pronunciation skills, but it gets you used to yourself speaking the language. It also gives you the opportunity to work on your accent -the same accent you are too self-conscience to use in class because you don't want to come off as a try-hard.
7. Find a friend. Text them in that language.
Inspired by a friend of mine from an old Italian class we took. He would often text me short phrases and words in Italian mixed in with the English, so I decided to follow along and include some Italian in my messages. Nothing major, but it keeps the language in my mind. Give it a try!
8. Use Word Reference, not Google Translate!
If you think Google Translate works, you probably aren't doing all that well with the language. If you are using it for a class, your professor/teacher knows. So don't use it! While Word Reference has a more limited range of languages, it does offer a ton of vocab, verb conjugations, phrases, and forums for any questions you may have. Try it out and leave Google Translate behind.
9. Change your attitude
If you are not into it, it will not happen. Learning a language takes serious time and dedication. If you are not motivated or want to give up, you will never be successful. It takes a long time to learn a language, and your skills may never be perfect, but if you give it all you got, then that is all anyone could ask of you. Don't give up!
Are you trying to learn a new language? What language is it and have you tried any of these tips/have any others? Let me know in the comments down below!
As always, thanks for being here,
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