Top 4 Language-Learning Hacks

Think language-learning isn't your thing? Think again, s'il vous plait (please). Language, easily the most distinguishing thing between humans and animals, is what our brains are wired to do: It connects us to other people, enriches our lives and boosts our brains in endless ways. Read on for a few hacks, and learn to overcome these 4 most common roadblocks to language learning. Allez, You got this!

1. The Biggest #1: Check your pride at the door!

Embarrassment, the biggest hinderance to language learning (for adults)! Really, it's not about how you look and appear. Stop the self-analysis. Making mistakes is not only normal, it's crucial to the learning process. Think about it this way, kids practice shameless learning by trial and error: they try, make a mistake and try another way… and they don't care! "Oh that sounded silly? cool, let me try it this way". Voila.

Tip: Get over yourself. You're going to make mistakes, and that's not only okay, it's a must.

Listen to KUT's 2 Guys on Your Head podcast for more myths about learning.

2. Find your growth mindset, maybe reveal a superpower...?!

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3 words: attitude, attitude, attitude. Not surprisingly, people who speak multiple languages (polyglots) are positive, can-do types. An enjoyable, successful language-learning journey starts with a positive, growth mindset. Finding your strength, as with all skills, will help you to stay positive: maybe you're more of a 'visual' learner, or perhaps audio / comprehension comes easier. Speaking will come! Stay positive, find your strength, which may just turn into a superpower! Who knows? Polyglots start somewhere!

Tip: See success in the small steps to stay positive. Understanding just part of a song, article or video, is a step!

3. Just say 'non' to the methods of the last century.

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Environment & Language Model: Say 'Au Revoir' to old-school learning! Répétez classe: Stress..inhibits.. language.. learning.

While learning a language does require a sense of order and grammar structure, it's very possible via a dynamic interactive setting to make it fun! Oui! Such learning environments make it easier to learn to let the language “wash over you” and to not spend too much time over-analyzing the material (See KUT link for # 1).

Tip: Find your fun, involve music, rhythm, film and video in the learning process for the RIGHT, creative side of the brain. Tests? grades? Non, merci!

4. Change your relationship status: "you never spend enough time with me"!

Commitment is proportionate to achievement. We get out of it what we put into it. Lack of consistency leads to disenchantment which leads to decreased results, a vicious cycle. However, time is a scarce resource! You can still make progress by doing SOMEthing even if occasionally your busy life requires a break from courses or more immersive settings.

Tip: Don't take complete time off 'to let it sink in'! Can't always attend 3x / week classes? Engage in your target language anyway you can until you can pick it back up: foreign films, music, 1x week conversations. Vamanos!