Tips From A Linguist That Will Actually Help You Learn A New Language

Summer is an excellent opportunity to start learning a new language, or to master the one you already know at some level. However hard it may have been for you to do so, there are ways to change it up! As a polyglot, and a linguist, here are my tips that will ACTUALLY help, and not just make you feel like a huge failure!

Understand that ANYONE can learn a new language!

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Despite what your 68 y/o German teacher from high school said, anyone, and i mean anyone can learn a new language. All you have to ask yourself is if you really want to learn it or not. If you genuinely want to learn it, I assure you that there are absolutely no obstacles (that you cannot overcome) standing on your way!

Consider if you would like to do it with the help of a professional, or by yourself.

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Both are equally good, and effective. Depending on your personality or preferences, one might be better for you. Just make sure you use the right resources, or find the right teacher so you can move forward.

Use the apps, but don't rely on them entirely!!

This one is really important. Yes, it is amazing that language learning is accessible for everyone, and usually for free, through these types of apps such as Duolingo. However, in my experience, i find that these apps are lacking on the explanation side, and they directly give you examples; which lead to too much confusion for a beginner. If you are already familiar with the language, these are great to practice pronunciation and learn new vocabulary. But for a total beginner, i would suggest following a more guided, more explained method of learning.

Don't spend all your time studying grammar!

It is a rather old fashioned and outdated method of language learning, a tale as old as time: "learn all the grammar rules and you'll learn the language". Well, there could not possibly be a worse advice than this! Let me put it this way: Think of speaking a language as a cake. To make a cake you need the ingredients, and then you have to follow some steps to actually bake it. Focusing solely on grammar is just looking at the ingredients for an absurdly long amount of time! What's the point of staring at an egg if you're not actually cracking it and adding it to your batter? Although grammar is important, focus more on the usage of the rules, the phrases, and the structures. I promise you this will work wonders!

Focus on the 4 aspects of the language equally

The four aspects being: Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening. One is not more or less important than the other, meaning you should not lose the balance and just focus on one or two. One aspect may be more difficult for you than the other, and it is totally natural. Avoid neglecting the "difficult" one, and spend time on it as much as the others, if not more.

Make it a part of your life!

You know the rule; "Use it or lose it!". If you don't speak it, hear it, read it or write it, how are you going to master it? You won't! But it is indeed unrealistic to expect that you will study it every single day, right? You have to make it a part of your life. For example, do stuff you already like doing in your native language, but in the language you're learning. Like watching YouTube videos? Watch them in Spanish! Into Buzzfeed quizzes? Take them in French! Start a new series, watch films, watch the news, follow meme accounts on Instagram, read tweets under hashtags on Twitter... Whatever you like doing, do it in the language you are learning. This way, you will study without even studying. The more your brain comes across it, the more familiar it will be to you. And don't stress it if you don't understand it word-by-word: it takes plenty of practice to understand each and every word of something that was intended for native speakers!

Last but not least... have patience!

And by patience i mean, a LOT of patience. Learning a language and achieving fluency requires plenty of practice, therefore plenty of patience. Don't be frustrated or disappointed that you can't learn it in a couple of months. Do your best and you will learn it eventually. Don't give up!

And that's it! I wish you all success and good luck in language learning!

Don't forget to share your experience below in the comments :)