How to learn another language
How many languages do you speak? Reading music, analyzing data, body language, and of course code switching, for those of you who know how, count.
But really, I have the utmost respect for anyone who speaks more than one language. Most people I know can only speak one. Even worse are the people who make fun of men and women who speak broken English or with a thick accent when they themselves can only speak one language. I’m judging them (or you if you mock non-Native English Speakers). It’s hard to learn another language and increasingly exhausting the older you get. But it’s not an impossible feat. I’m going to share with you a few of the things that are currently helping me learn Spanish and any other language that I’ve attempted to learn.
Get over yourself Take your pride, ego and assumptions and put them in time out until further notice. Learning another language is not easy and you will mispronounce your words, rearrange your sentences and probably accidentally curse someone out as you try to say nice to meet you. Look, you don’t know the language. You’re not perfect and you will make mistakes. If you can’t accept that, then you really need to embrace the struggle or give up. But I don’t want you to give up.
Listen! Get your hands on songs, movies, TV shows and listen to the language. Children develop language skills by listening to words spoken. Before a child can speak their first word they are inundated with words and words and sounds and words from their environments. Then, one day it all clicks and the first word is spoken. But there’s more to come.
Practice So after you’ve listened or even while you’re listening, practice. That TV series should have Spanish subtitles so that you can both hear and read the words that are spoken. If you’re learning a language different from your mother tongue, say Arabic if you Speak English or Japanese if you speak French, this is essential because you need to be corrected. You’re saying words and producing sounds that you probably didn’t think were possible and you need someone to correct you. Get a language buddy or find a few good songs to sing along to.
Learn the alphabet You would think this is the first thing I would suggest and to be honest it probably should be. But if you don’t get your ego in check and listen to the language what good is it to attempt to know the alphabet. You have to know that you want to learn the language and are willing to listen to how to do it. But you can learn the alphabet first.
Want it, no CRAVE it! Decide that no matter what, you are going to learn said language. You are going to go to the class, you’re going to listen to the music and even read the lyrics along with it. You’re going to do extra homework, put post it notes around your home to learn the vocabulary and speak to your neighbor or the only other person you might know who speaks that language. You have to want it and make the time to learn it. It’s not going to be easy or overnight, unless you’re naturally gifted in languages. But it’s going to be well worth it. And one day you will dream in that language and you will hear a conversation or read a few words and understand what is spoken. And one day, you’ll find yourself at a restaurant or lounge or at some event where you hear the language and you can follow the conversation and respond in kind without even thinking twice. So want it.
Bonus If you can, do a language immersion program. See if you can stay with a host family or visit a country where your language of interest is widely spoken. It’s likely one of the most helpful ways to learn any language and it forces you to practice since you may visit a country where your native tongue isn’t widely spoken or known.
So, tell me. What language are you interested in learning? Have you used any of these methods above? What tips and tricks have been most helpful to you?
Photo: Jon Tyson