Tips For Learning A Foreign Language That Actually Work

Conjugate the verb

So, you're learning a language. It's hard to know where to start, because learning a language takes a combination of everything on this list. You can never know too much!

Find a Friend

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This is the number one tip, because it's so vital that you learn how to talk, and listen.

Bring Your Language Everywhere

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Duolingo is a free language-learning app. They have a bunch of languages and give you a vocabulary filled with over 1,500 + words to use in daily life.

Begin With Vocab, and Then Actually Follow Grammar

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Yes, grammar is no fun. It may bring you back to the agonizing days of elementary school. I am. We are.

But it may be the single most important thing actually applying a language. I am. We are.

Talk About Everything, Everywhere

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Yes, I do this. Yes, it annoys my roommates. Yes, it's helping me learn more than silence ever would. Try it once, talk about your day. You could be cooking, cleaning or shampooing.

Apply Your Language

Buzzfeed. In other languages. It's really as simple, and you'll learn new words everyday, while staying updated on memes and social justice issues. Use it alongside google translate (for individual words, not full sentences)

Get a penpal

Sometimes it's about putting yourself out there, and making an effort. It's nothing dramatic and a chance for you to practice being a sociable human!

Keep trying

If you've learned a language before, you know that it's possible to hit a rut, where it's awful and terrible and there's no reason to keep going. Don't listen to that, and just keep moving. Find support, find something that's keeps you going. Bonne chance!