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Learning a new language can be challenging yet gratifying. It can
be scary at first because you feel that there are so many things to learn but
it can also be rewarding when you reach the fluency level that you wanted after
working so hard and when you realise that you can hold a conversation with a
native-speaker.
I’ve learned a few languages and I know how tiring the learning
process can be, but I managed to survive and so can you. Here are some of the
tips that have helped me:
1 – Be patient: Learning a new language takes time. In fact, it is
an ongoing process and it requires a lot of memorization. You’ll have to learn
vocabulary and you’ll have to work on your pronunciation, writing and
listening. Even in your native language you will still learn new words. So, don’t try to rush it. Just make sure that
you are enjoying what you are learning because otherwise there’s no point for
you to learn a language if it doesn’t spark an interest in you.
2 – Don’t give up: As I said before, learning a language can be
really frustrating mainly when you feel that you’re not being able to memorise
anything that you have been studying for so long. Even though, I’ve had times
where I wanted to give up simply because I felt that I was never going to be
able to become fluent in the language I was studying, I remembered myself that
giving up is not an option. We will always face challenges when learning
something new. However, we need to able to face and overcome them.
3 – It’s okay to procrastinate: There will be days where you just
feel like not doing anything and it is completely fine. If you’re not really
feeling inspired to study, then don’t force yourself to do so. It will be
pointless if you pressure yourself to study because you won’t learn anything.
During the summer, I started studying Korean and these past two months I
haven’t studied or revised anything. It’s not because I’ve lost interest in the
language, I just haven’t been feeling motivated lately and I’m trying to focus
on uni at the moment. I do still watch k-dramas and listen to k-pop to see if I
can understand a few words. However, I haven’t been studying intensively as I
used to and honestly, I don’t feel guilty because I know that when I have time
and I feel motivated, I’ll study again.
4 – Don’t compare yourself to others: Some people learn languages
easier and faster than others so don’t try to compare your progress to others.
If you do so, it will only make you feel more stressed and disappointed. Even
if it takes you more time to reach the desired level of fluency it’s okay as
long as you study in a pace that makes you feel comfortable. You have to
remember that learning a language is not about who becomes fluent first, it’s
not a competition.
5 – Find the best method for yourself: Some people prefer to buy
books, others prefer to use apps, others would rather listen to music and learn
the lyrics. There are different methods and I believe that at least one will be
suitable for you. If this is your first time learning a language, try as many
methods as you can to see which one brings better results. In my case, I do a
little bit of everything. When I’m feeling motivated to study, I go to Talk To
Me In Korean and I write everything I learned on my notebook. When I feel
lazier, I just look for songs and read the lyrics or I watch an episode of a
k-drama. When I’m in a rush, I use some apps that I have on my phone to learn
words of the day. It’s good to have a diversified method of learning because it
becomes less boring.
6 – Meet native speakers from the language you’re learning: HelloTalk is a good app to meet and chat with
native speakers. It’s the 1st global language app and 8 million people use it.
They can teach you their language and you teach them yours. It’s a reciprocal
cultural exchange and they can always correct you when you make a mistake.
Plus, you can even make good friends on this app. Honestly, I haven’t used this
app yet but I’ve heard good things about it and it’s free, so I might give it a
try in the future.
7 – Surround yourself with the environment: For example, if you’re
learning Spanish maybe you could go on holidays to Spain or to any other
country that speaks this language. This will help you improve your language
skills. In fact, this is one of the best options because it will help you
expand your vocabulary and improve your listening and your pronunciation. If
you can’t afford to visit the country, then try to listen to some music and
watch films, tv shows and the news. This is what I did to learn English before
I came to study at uni in England. I listened to some of my favourite artists,
I memorised the lyrics, their meaning and I practised my pronunciation. Also, I
watched American series with Portuguese subtitles on and then when I felt more
confident I removed them. It helped me a lot.
8 – It’s okay to make mistakes: When you’re learning a language you will make a lot of mistakes and that’s okay because that’s how you learn
not make the same errors again in the future. Don’t let this discourage you to
continue learning or to talk with native speakers. They will understand that
this is not your mother tongue and they will help you. The more you practice
and the more mistakes you make, the better you will become at mastering the
language.
I hope this was helpful for those who are adventuring themselves
to learn a new language and I wish you all the luck and success.
Jesika x
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