Want To Learn A New Language? Here Are Some Tips To Get You Started

Learning a new language is a beautiful and enriching experience for the mind. Not only does it give you a chance to explore new cultures and ideas, but it can also be helpful in your career too! Sometimes, though, we need a little push in the right direction to get started, and there are some tips to keep in mind if you’re just starting to learn a new language.

1. Use The Internet

The internet can be a beautiful thing. Many new language learners have found success using the wealth of knowledge available on the web to get their lessons in.

In the earlier stages, the drawback to online learning was that it was very Euro-centric – you couldn’t really find quality lessons in languages that weren’t spoken in those countries. However, these days you can find something great for practically any language you want to learn! From Arabic lessons online to Mandarin Chinese lessons, the internet is a great resource for eager learners to use. Some even offer concepts in which you learn a language while learning about the culture too!

Having a well-structured learning plan at the tip of your fingertips is always helpful, and as long as you have an internet connection – you can have just that!

2. Write It Down

Your new language is going to be different from your own language in many ways. When you’re learning the basics, writing notes down will help you keep track of things that are hard to pronounce or memorize for later on.

While it may seem like a hassle at first, you’ll soon find that having these notes on hand can be helpful when you get to the point where you can’t remember what something means or how to say it. Taking the time to write things down, makes us pay closer attention to what we’re learning too – which can actually help us learn faster. Besides that, taking notes is a simple and easy way to stay invested in something you’re studying, making it more likely that you’ll retain what information is most important.

It’s also helpful because keeping everything in one place can make it easier for you to go back to something you want to look over again later on.

3. Talk To Yourself (Seriously)

A lot of people gloss over this tip, but it’s one that many language learners swear by. There’s no need for anyone else to hear you if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of speaking to someone in a foreign language. That being said, forcing yourself to talk out loud can be incredibly helpful, because it makes you pay attention more closely. It can also do wonders for your pronunciation since you’ll actually be able to hear how you’re saying things – better than you could by just reading it.

Like writing, talking out loud forces your brain to think about what you’re learning. It makes you focus more on the sounds of the words, and not just on what they mean. It can feel weird at first, but the payoff is definitely worth it.

4. Find A Language Buddy

If you know someone who speaks the language you want to learn, it can be helpful if they’re willing to mentor you through some of your lessons. This way, you can bounce questions off of them, and ask for advice when you don’t think something is making sense – plus, it’s always better to learn with someone than by yourself.

On the other hand, talking to someone who’s just starting out as well as you can be great as well! You can learn together, and encourage each other to keep studying. Plus, it’s always good to have someone who will be helpful when you’re confused about something! Learning a new language with a friend is a great way to stay motivated and keep yourself accountable.

Regardless of which direction you go in when it comes to this, having someone you can learn with is always helpful.

5. Watch Movies In The Language You’re Learning

It’s a great way to limber your brain up for learning a new language, and it lets you build up the muscles necessary to really start speaking! Plus, it’s interesting to hear how people actually speak the language – instead of just reading about it.

Turn the subtitles on and make sure to watch something that uses the formal language – even if it’s hard to understand at first. It’s better to hear formal words being used than slang or casual phrases that you’re not familiar with yet.

Learning a new language can be hard, but it’s totally possible. The more you put into it, the better your results will be in the end! If you’re thinking about starting – the best advice is to just do it! You won’t lose a thing by doing so, and there’s a chance that you’ll have a whole new world opened up to you. Plus, it makes traveling that much easier down the road!