All my life, I have had this notion that learning a new language is pointless because I already know how to speak in two languages. However, as I stepped into my 20s, a whole new world of possibilities unfurled in front of me, and with it came the realization- I needed to work on my communication and language skills. When I saw one of my friends speaking a language completely foreign to him, I decided to give this a go. So here are some of my views on how to develop your skills in a new language that I have learnt in my journey towards learning a new language:
Start with the basics:
Be affiliated with the alphabets of the language. Many languages use the English alphabet. But for languages with their own alphabets, it is better to have a full go at the alphabets. Go for the widely used yet practical words first. For starters, you can choose from categories like greetings, directions, food, numerical values, etc. That way, you will find forming sentences a bit easier.
Fun Ways to Learn a New Language
Use a grammar book:
Grammar books are the doorway to a new language. Learning new words will be of no help if you don’t know the basics of the language. You can either collect these books physically or get access to them online. In my case, I had Studio D-21 as my constant guide when I was learning the German language.
Be Consistent:
Language learning is a continuous process. If you decide to gobble it all up in a short span of time like many of us do before our exams, then you would have a hard time learning the language. Being consistent will help you shuffle the contents in your mind on a regular basis.
Fun Ways to Learn a New Language
Use Apps:
You can use apps like Duolingo, Memrise, Drops, Busu, Babble. These apps are life saviors. What makes these apps top choices for many people to learn a new language is that they are very user-friendly and fun to use. All you need to do is download these apps on your device and sign in. Both of these apps categorize the words into different sections. Duolingo also allows you to check your speaking and listening skills through the app.
Watching movies or TV shows:
This feat actually helps in learning a new language. Watching movies and TV shows includes paying attention to the way the characters speak. This helps us learn the context of the words and also introduces us to the conversational version of the language and the expressions that come with it.
These are some of the ways through which you can quickly learn a new language, although it requires consistent practicing. Nonetheless, if you are considering taking professional help, you can actually take resort to various language learning centers along with following these steps as it will help you accelerate the process of language learning.
Talking with others:
In case you find someone who is practicing the same language as you are, you can carry out a conversation in that language. Also, try exchanging the new words you learn.
Listening to a Podcast:
If you are a beginner, you can start by listening to basic Podcasts like Coffee Break Season 1.
Reward Yourself:
Set targets for everyday at regular intervals. Once you are done, reward yourself accordingly.
Label with Sticky Notes:
Label different things in your house with sticky notes. Make sure you use the names of the things in your desired language.
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Mahzabin Alam Tonny
Intern, Content Writing Department,
YSSE
