Perhaps you want to apply for foreign immigration to shape your future or are planning to make a tour of a new country. Or you may want to get an international degree to give a boost to your resume. All of it comes to a single conclusion ‘learn a new language to be more proactive’. This is mainly because a new language is, indeed, a threshold to new experiences as well as knowledge.
At this juncture, when you have finally decided to learn a new language, it might appear difficult to you in the first place. So, let us ease the whole process of learning a language for you with the help of this ultimate guide mentioned below.
Acquire Motivation and Get Rid of the Barriers
Whether extrinsic or intrinsic, we all need motivation prior to doing anything new or challenging. Same is the case when learning a new language. You can only take the first step towards learning if you are having the required will-power and an ambition to achieve your goal. In order to acquire constant motivation, first, realize what potential barriers can cease your learning journey.
- Age: One of the main factors can be old age that can hinder your motive to learn a new language. Always keep in mind that there is no age of learning anything new and it is never too late to learn a new language.
- Time: Another apparent barrier in learning a new language can be ‘time’. You might put all the blame on the factor of time but that is not the solution. Nevertheless, it only asks for about 10 to 15 minutes a day to learn and revise a new lesson.
- Fear of Failure: Some people stop trying just because of the fear of failure. Do you remember the story of a Hare and Tortoise? In this story, the hare took a break to have some rest whereas the tortoise kept on moving steadily and slowly. At the end of the race, the tortoise became the winner and shocked the hare. This story always reminds us that “Slow and Steady Wins the Race”. So, if you don’t take the initial steps for learning a new language just because you think you will fail, you are wrong. Perhaps, failure will bring you closer to your goal of learning as you may understand your weak points in this way. So, you can work on them and improve them eventually. Hence, do not give up on learning; rather be persistent and keep on trying.
- Inappropriate Surrounding: Now, when you are actually up for learning a new language, distractions in the surrounding can appear as the biggest bear. Focus on the spoken more than the written part. Watch videos more often to master the speaking skills. For instance, in case of learning French, instead of searching for French pronunciation guide online, start off by watching your favorite French movies on YouTube. It will be more fun and easy to understand and learn the new language. However, keep the distractions at a bay from your study desk.
Specify A Time and Learning Material
It is extremely essential to specify a time for learning a chunk of a new language every day. Even dedicating only 10 to 15 minutes daily can work for you. In addition, learning the right stuff with regards to a new language is sensible and time-saving. In contrast, irrelevant learning material is not going to give you any benefit but will consume your time as well as energy. For this reason, specify and streamline your learning material prior to beginning your work. With this regard, don’t just stick to textbooks as you also need to work on your verbal skills. Look up for some useful and interesting videos and audios for getting a grasp over your spoken part. Most language learners commit this common mistake of focusing on their written expression instead of the spoken one. What happens is that they are unable to gain fluency at the end of it; therefore, they lose hope.
Add Fun and Be Consistent
Adding an element of fun while learning a new thing can make the learning process more interesting and appealing. To serve this purpose, you can watch movies, dramas or listen to some songs relevant to the particular language you are learning. Adding to it, you can also find some friends nearby or on social media that can fluently talk to you in the new language.
Most importantly, be consistent while learning a new language. Happy learning buddies!
About the Author:
Lara Smith has worked for Wall Street English for 20 years. After studying at Stanford University and subsequently doing a CELTA course, she began her career in teaching. She is obsessed with languages and currently writes blogs .
