With the internet and globalization, the world has become more connected. Whether you live in a small town or the biggest city in the world, you will be connected with the rest of the world via multiple means. With this sort of connectivity comes curiosity to learn more about the different regions of the world. Which is where learning a new language seems like the best option to make yourself more open to the rest of the world.
There are hundreds of thousands of languages that are spoken around the world. By learning a new language you will be creating an opportunity to explore a new country or city around the world and learn more. There can be many reasons to learn a new language, like getting a job abroad or just wanting to challenge yourself by learning a new dialect.
Learning a new language won’t be easy. You will have to challenge yourself and start from ground zero. You will have to put some extra effort into learning a foreign language, however we can offer you some tips that will make this journey a little bit easier for you.
1. Set Realistic Goals
One of the common mistakes people make is setting an unrealistic goal which not only makes it harder to learn but also demotivates you in the long run. You have remembered that it takes time to learn a new language or anything you are starting from ground zero. So don’t try to learn it all within a week or two. Set a realistic pace for yourself and according to the difficulty of the language. Make sure that you set a realistic timeline and goals such as for the first week you would learn basic vocabulary and common sentences, then start learning the detailed sentences and grammar of the language, and move forward slowly.
2. Learn the common vocabulary
With learning any new language, you would have to learn new vocabulary. Start with the common words used in the language and then move forward with the difficult words and sentences.
Almost all the languages have 15,000 to 20,000 commonly used words and this includes the families of a specific word (for example eat, ate, and eaten). Try to learn the root words first and then move forward to learn the family of a specific word. Try to use the common vocabulary words of the new language in your day to day life and this will make it fun and easier to learn the language.
3. Consume the language
Did you know most of the people around the world learnt English by watching the popular TV show Friends? (Including the popular BTS members!)
We can’t learn a language simply by mugging it up or just by reading or speaking, so start listening to the language.
The best way to learn a language is listening to someone speaking it or reading a book that has been written in the language. You can also start watching movies, or reading newspapers in that language. With movies and TV shows you would be able to learn local slangs and phrases commonly used in that language.
You can also download apps that help you learn the language in a very intuitive and fun manner ( such as duolingo).
4. Practice speaking
Now that you have read the language and heard it, it’s time that you incorporate speaking the language in your daily life. This will enhance your command on the pronunciation of the words as well as will boost the confidence of speaking the language with people.
The best way to practice speaking the language would be connecting with a native speaker. This will allow you to learn the little nuances of the language as well as the accent.
5. Try learning about the culture
It might help you to learn a language faster if you know the history of the language as well as its cultural significance. Every language has its own story and history and knowing it will allow you to better your understanding of the language. Make sure to read or research about the language, where it originated, how many people speak it, and how they speak certain words and what their context is.
6. Travel around
If you are learning Japanese then it will be fun to see Japan and interact with the local community. This will not only boost your confidence but will also help you learn better. Of course not all the people would be able to travel across the world, but if you can then you must.
Conclusion
With these tips you will be learning a new language faster and with much more efficiency. Make sure to keep evaluating yourself by increasing the level of difficulty. Learning a new language opens doors for many opportunities such as new career prospects, making new friends, and networking globally.
All the best and we hope you learn the language as quickly as possible with the aforementioned tips helping you along the way.