Learning a new language can be a challenging yet rewarding adventure. Wrapping your head around a whole new vocabulary, grammar structure and culture requires a lot of patience and motivation. However, it’s equally fun and rewarding when the puzzle pieces of the language start to come together.
Our resident French teacher, Lachlan Dorse, has six practical tips to make your language-learning journey enjoyable and achievable.
1 – Practise with your friends, family or pets!
Incorporate new words and phrases into your daily conversations. It can be fun to see how many words and phrases you can weave into conversations with friends and family.
If you run out of things to say to your loved ones, talk to your pets! Especially in the beginning stages of language learning, build a habit of regularly greeting your pets. This will help reinforce your learning and make it a regular part of your routine. And let’s be honest, your pets won’t know the difference.
2 – Sign up with a friend
Joining a language class with a buddy not only provides you with a study partner but also makes the learning experience more enjoyable. As you progress, you’ll find that gradually your communication will incorporate more of the language you’re learning. As you progress, you’ll find that gradually your communication will incorporate more of the language you’re learning.
If you don’t know anyone who wants to study with you, don’t fret. One of the most rewarding aspects of a language class is making friends and supporting each other with learning outside of class. Students have often made plans to get together outside of class to watch foreign films or attend local cultural events. Making lifelong friends is just another benefit of lifelong learning!
3 – Build a routine rather than setting goals
Establishing a consistent routine is often more effective than setting long-term goals. Enrolling in a weekly class can help to build routine, as can setting aside a portion of time (even as little as 10 or 15 minutes) for learning at the same time each day.
This daily commitment can provide a sense of accomplishment and keep you motivated. The more you feel like you’re making progress, the more you will want to study.
Try writing new words by hand every day. Research suggests that handwriting may be more effective for your recall and recognition than typing.
4 – Immerse yourself in the language
Engage with media in the language you’re learning. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the language and make it easier to dedicate more time to developing your skills.
Online streaming services such as SBS On Demand offer a wealth of movies and TV programs in foreign languages across genres. YouTube is also an incredibly rich resource with interviews, documentaries, vlogs, news, short films and more for you to consume.
Set the subtitles to the language you’re learning, so that you’re reading along with what is being said on screen. This will help you learn to match what you hear with what you read.
Your local library is another hidden gem too – their print and online offerings in a variety of languages are a great resource to practise your reading and word recognition.
If you live in Melbourne, explore cafés and restaurants where you can practise ordering food and drink in another language. This is a great way to put your conversational skills and pronunciation to the test.
5 – Learn what is most useful
If you’re planning a trip to a country where your language is spoken, think about what phrases will be most useful for your travels. At a basic level, this is likely to be terms showing politeness like ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘excuse me’, and ‘sorry’.
When shopping overseas, it’s useful to be able to count to 10 (and preferably much further) to understand the local currency.
Learning to pronounce the letters of the alphabet in your chosen language (if your language is written with an alphabet) is also recommended. While often a neglected skill, it can come in handy if you need to spell out your name or email address, or if you need a local to spell out a word that you may not understand.
6 – Don’t rely on apps
As convenient as they may seem, popular language apps won’t support your long-term learning and fluency. While they are a fun way to learn vocabulary, they can’t give you meaningful or personalised feedback on how to improve your grammar or pronunciation. This can lead to you building incorrect speech habits.
Another problem is that the lack of grammar content makes it hard for learners to progress beyond basic memorisation of words. If an app is already a part of your routine, consider replacing some or all the time you give it with another activity like revising vocabulary with a pen and paper, or listening to a podcast in your chosen language.
Now that you know these tips, it’s time to choose a new language and start your journey to fluency! CAE language classes are taught by experienced instructors who will support you and make learning a language accessible and fun!