5 Tips For Learning a New Language

When I first started to learn Italian, it was a struggle to say the least. I would blurt out words that were in fact Spanish. I would get tongue-tied, frustrated over pronunciation that seemed so simple to my teachers and professors. Learning a new language is never easy. Many beginners end up throwing in the towel. If you want to make picking up a new language a little bit more manageable and less of a tongue twister, here are five tips to follow that will have you blabbing in a new language in no time.

Listen To Music and Movies: One of the first steps you can take to pick up a new language is merely to open your ears and listen. You want to get your ear trained to the sound of the language you are trying to learn. The easiest way to listen to a new language and have a bit of fun is by listening to music and movies in that language.

Sticky Note Everyday Vocabulary Words: Much of learning a new language involves memorizing thousands upon thousands of words and repeating those words constantly. To get into a new language, it is a good idea to label everything in your home with sticky notes, writing out the words for different objects on a sticky note. Every time you go to use the oven or open the window, you will be reminded of everyday vocabulary words in the language you are trying to learn. You can also post common words and phrases around your home so that they are always right in your face.

Go To Conversation Meet-ups and Events: Many communities have language schools and organizations that put on conversation meet-ups and events. When you are partaking in language classes or doing activities on your own to pick up new words and phrases, conversation events and meet-ups can help you get some real-world practice even if you are very far away from countries that speak the language.

Accept The Mistakes You Will Make: Learning a new language can be a humbling experience. You are going to have blunders where you pronounce a word that you might not be trying to say. Mistakes are common when learning a new language. It is best to accept that you aren’t going to be fluent right away and some might even snicker at phrases you try to utter.

Go Where They Speak It!: While you can take courses and listen to lessons in a different language, the best way to learn a language comes by visiting places that speak the language. Interacting daily in the local tongue will help you better pick up the language. If you have the time, it is also worth it to live with locals by way of host families. Dinner conversations become daily language lessons where you are forced to speak the language.