3 minutes
To learn a new language, the first thing you need is courage. Anyone can do it; all it takes is willingness. This is what experts say about the adventure of learning a new language and the frustration it brings some people. Of course, some languages are harder than others depending on the person, but there are methods, techniques, and tips to strengthen individual skills and avoid ending up saying the familiar phrase: "I'm no good at languages."
Here are some of them:
Online courses
Learning a new language does not require enrolling in an in-person course. You can also do it through online classes, a format that has grown significantly in recent years, according to specialists.
Online language courses can be a good way to start a new language.
"I'm surprised this is so successful now. I thought that without a teacher it wouldn't work, but on the contrary, it's an incredible success. It solves many problems for people who can't travel," says Lucila Gasso, educational assistant at the Centro Universitario de Idiomas (CUI) at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
There are countless websites offering language classes that can guide your learning or serve as another tool for getting to know the language.
Self-teaching
Teaching yourself a new language can be extremely useful or lead to disappointment. You can experiment by adding subtitles in the language you want to learn to movies, listening to music in your chosen language, or subscribing to the popular podcasts that have come back into fashion in recent years.
Listen first, speak later.
This is one of the specialists' recommendations. But be careful: not every material you are exposed to means you will gain the knowledge you want.
There is a principle of acquisition: you cannot speak a language without having heard it first. And you cannot write without reading first.
Know yourself
Ultimately, all of the above will also depend on how well you know yourself when it comes to acquiring knowledge.
Everyone has to adapt to what they have, the moment, and the circumstances.
In other words, for some people, taking a regular course is the most beneficial way to acquire a new language, while for others, taking their time to study is best.
You have to know how you learn best. That is very important. Because for some, listening first may be more productive, and for others, reading.
Memory capacity must also be taken into account.
"Vocabulary is memorization. If you're going to learn Chinese, you'll probably find it harder. But you can always make mental associations or find your own mnemonic tricks—a system for remembering sequences of names, numbers, or facts."
Consistency
The more exposure you have to the language you want to learn, the better your results will be.
"Learning a language spoken by the surrounding society is one thing; learning in a context where that language isn't spoken is another. Then the student's only exposure is in class."
That is why experts say the internet is a rich source of material for this purpose, providing access to books, songs and their lyrics, blogs, and movies, among other things.
- The context for learning a foreign language should be as close to real life as possible.
- Consistency is the key to success in language learning.
Most students think: "Oh! I don't have a talent for languages." It is true that some people are very talented, but anyone can learn a language; they just need contact with it and willingness.
Let go of fear
The important thing is to lose your fear of frustration. To learn a new language, the first thing you need is courage; you must let go of the idea that you have to do everything perfectly.
There should be no room for frustration, because we must realize that things are not learned just like that, or immediately, and not everyone has the same capacity for learning. Also, interact with native or proficient speakers without fear of making mistakes. You learn by making mistakes; it is part of learning, and that is fine.
Source: bbc.com