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12 Fast Ways to Learn a new Language

Quickest Way to Learn a Language Summary

What is the quickest way to learn a language?

So, you’ve made the promise. Ways to proceed? Is there a correct way to deal with discovering? Matthew recommends the 360 ° maximalist method: regardless of which discovering tools you make use of, it’s important to exercise your brand-new language every single day: “I tend to wish to absorb as high as possible right from the beginning. So, if I learn something I actually, actually go for it as well as try to utilize it throughout the day. As the week advances, I attempt to think in it, attempt to write in it, attempt to talk to myself even because of language. For me it’s about in fact putting what you’re finding out into method– be that creating an e-mail, speaking with yourself, listening to songs, hearing the radio. Bordering yourself, submerging on your own in the new language culture is very crucial.”

Remember, the most effective possible result of talking a language is for individuals to talk back to you. Having the ability to have an easy conversation is a massive benefit in itself. Getting to turning points like that beforehand will certainly make it much easier to stay inspired and also keep exercising. And also do not stress, you will not frustrate people by speaking their language badly. If you beginning any interaction with, “I’m finding out and also I would love to exercise …” most individuals will be patient, encouraging and also pleased to oblige. Although there are roughly a billion non-native English-speakers around the globe, most of them prefer to speak their own language if offered a selection. Taking the campaign to step into another person’s language globe can additionally place them comfortable and advertise fellow feelings all around: “Sure, you could take a trip abroad speaking your own language, yet you’ll get a lot a lot more from it having the ability to really feel at ease in the location you are– having the ability to interact, to comprehend, to connect in every situation you could possibly envision.”

Every day discover a new collection of ten numbers, keep going each day until you are pleased with just how high you can count. If you are for a challenge, remember all the numbers around one hundred in someday

Do you know what is the fastest way to learn a language? Start by learning how to count to ten, since it is generally the most convenient point to remember at first.

1. Find a Language Learning Partner

Matthew discovered a number of languages along with his twin bro Michael (they tackled their very first international language, Greek, when they were only eight years old!). Matthew and also Michael, or the Super Polyglot Bros. as I would love to currently describe them, gained their superpowers from good-ol’, healthy and balanced brother or sister competition:

” We were really motivated, and we still are. We press each other to really go for it. So if he understands that I’m doing more than he is he’ll get a bit envious and after that try as well as outshine me (maybe since he’s my double)– as well as the other means round.”

Even if you can not obtain a brother or sister to join you on your language experience, having any type of type of companion will push both of you to constantly attempt simply a bit harder as well as stay with it:

” I think it’s an actually great way of really setting about it. You have somebody with whom you can talk, which’s the idea behind discovering a language.”


2. Talk to yourself

When you have no person else to speak to, there’s nothing wrong with talking with on your own: “It could seem really unusual, yet really speaking with yourself in a language is a great means to exercise if you’re not able to utilize all of it the time.” This can keep new words and also expressions fresh in your mind as well as build up your confidence for the following time you talk to a person.


3. Keep the Language it Relevant

If you make chat an objective initially, you are less likely to get lost in books. Speaking with people will certainly maintain the understanding procedure relevant to you: “You’re discovering a language to be able to utilize it. You’re not going to talk it to on your own. The innovative side is truly having the ability to place the language that you’re learning into a better, basic, daily setting– be that with writing tracks, generally wishing to speak with people, or utilizing it when you go abroad. You do not always have to go abroad; you could visit the Greek restaurant later on and order in Greek.”


4. Have fun with Language Learning

Using your brand-new language is an imaginative act. The Super Polyglot Bros. exercised their Greek by composing and also recording tunes. Think of some enjoyable ways to practice your new language: make a radio have fun with a pal, draw a cartoon, write a rhyme, or simply talk with whomever you can. If you can’t locate a means to have a good time with the brand-new language, possibilities are you typically aren’t following action 4.


5. Leave your language comfort zone

A willingness to make mistakes suggests preparing to sit on your own in possibly embarrassing situations.

This can be scary, yet it’s the only means to establish and improve. Despite how much you find out, you won’t ever talk a language without placing your own around:

The regularly you do this, the bigger your comfort area becomes and also the much more at ease you can be in brand-new situations: “At the beginning you’re going to encounter difficulties: possibly the enunciation, perhaps the grammar, the phrase structure, or you do not really obtain the phrases. But I assume one of the most vital points is to always create this feeling.

  • speak to unfamiliar people in the language
  • request directions
  • order food
  • attempt to tell a joke

Every indigenous speaker has a feel for his/her own language, and that’s generally just what makes a native-speaker– whether you could make the language your very own.”


6. Think in a foreign language.

You’ve probably heard this before and we doubled down on it. Thinking in the target language is one of the most important changes you can make in your language learning arsenal.

Unless you’re able to do this, you’re always translating dialogue in your head. Only when you begin to process thoughts in the target language do you begin to take to it the same way a native speaker would.

Is it hard? Most definitely. After all, you’ve likely used nothing but the same language for internal dialogue since you’ve been a child. It’s doable, though — just consciously force yourself to go into second-language thought mode every time you notice it to reinforce the behavior.

The more you can switch your thinking to the target language, the faster your development will be. After all, thinking in the target language is akin to immersing yourself — it’s literally like solo practice. Plus, training yourself in this allows you to really make the language feel like second-nature.


7. Immerse yourself in the Language.

If you have the opportunity, immerse yourself. Doing so puts you in the thick of the action and forces you to adapt, lest you feel completely lost in a foreign land.

While immersion isn’t for everyone, it has been proven to be consistently one of the most effective for language learning. After all, immersion is kind of how you learned your native language — you were dumped into a world where these people spoke this strange language that you had to make sense of.

The same thing happens during language immersion, since you’re thrust into a place where the target language is the primary means of communication. It’s what neighbors use to gossip; it’s what the vendors scream in the street; it’s what they speak on TV. By and large, it is what people use to communicate, so you either get on with the program or spend another day locked in your house using the internet.


8. Double your daily language lessons.

If you find yourself with plenty of free time, you can double your daily language lessons. We don’t recommend extending your morning sessions from 1 hour to 2 hours, though. Instead, add a separate session later in the day. That way, you’re never overwhelmed, since you’ll have enough time to process each session in a manageable way.

As an alternative, you can devote that extra time to extra practice, which will be especially useful if you’re in a country that speaks the target language. Otherwise, you can use it for other learning mediums, like listening to songs or parroting videos, as a secondary activity.


9. Be carefree.

Don’t be too concerned about whether you’re doing things right when using the language. Let’s go and use it without worry. Will you make mistakes? Yes. Will you say stupid things? Possibly. Will some people be rude? Sure, that happens. Just shrug all of those and keep plowing on.

Being too conscientious about how you’re using a language hinders you in the long run. Almost every study of language learners has shown that people willing to go out and use the language poorly end up becoming fluent much faster than those who strive for perfection.

Instead of worrying about getting the details right, focus on communicating what you mean. That means, using whatever you can (hand signs, gestures) along with the target language to effectively communicate. Doing so creates many positive things: it takes you out of your head, it gives you much-needed practice time and it boosts your confidence by just a little every go-round.

Chatter away without thinking too much about it, focusing only on whether you’re being understood and adjusting when you’re not. Don’t even think about your interactions until later when you’re back home, where you can jot down mistakes you make and work on improving them for next time.


10. Don’t fixate on individual language words.

One problem I used to have been trying to remember a particular word for whatever object, idea or emotion I’m trying to say. I’d pause for a long-time during conversation trying to find it, which would just lead me to get nervous and mess up the rest of the interaction.

If you deal with the same issue, here’s a solution: forget to try to recall the vocabulary item and just describe it. For example, if you wanted to talk about a fruit and can’t remember its name, then describe the fruit — its color, size, skin type and any other distinguishing characteristic. That way, you’re still able to communicate your meaning without being bogged down by words you can’t remember. Doing this helps you stop attempting to translate phrases word-for-word, teaching you to rely on the language elements you know instead.


11. Join an online Language community.

We advise people to either form or join a language group in their community all the time. The reality, though, is this thing is easier said than done. If you live in a big city and are learning a popular foreign language, then this should be easy. If not, you’re bound to have a difficult time.

With the internet, though, you don’t have to be stuck looking for language buddies in your town. While chatting online doesn’t beat face-to-face interactions, it’s a lot better than learning by yourself. Chances are, there will be a website with members learning the same language you’re studying where you can exchange information with people who are in the same boat as you.

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About Sally Morgan

My name is Sally Morgan, I'm American and currently a Language Teacher in New York State Schools for French and Spanish. I have studied Foreign Languages, translation and teaching at the Columbia University in New York. I lived for 3 years in Europe including France, UK and Italy.

I am a passionate linguist and love how speaking another language opens the doors of communication and therefore a whole world.

Please ask me any questions below

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