Hello! Bonjour! 你好! ¡Hola!
Language is fascinating. Hearing foreign languages is magical.
I have been studying languages since 7th grade and have been able to achieve high grades. I understand the overwhelming nature of learning a language, so I thought I would share some tools that have worked for me.
1. Read the text before class
I’m pretty sure most of you have heard of this or do it already, but I highly recommend reading the next day’s lecture topic before going to class. I normally do it the night before so that my brain has a chance to put some of the information into long term memory. The next day in class I don’t feel as overloaded with information and I get more out of the class. I know that not all teachers and professors let you know exactly what you will be learning in each individual class. But looking at the syllabus or how you’re progressing through the book can often give you a pretty good idea.
2. Use flash cards
They can be very tedious at times, but are very beneficial especially when learning vocabulary. Flash cards are also easy to use during breaks in the day when there isn’t time for much else. If you don’t like using physical flash cards, there are many websites and apps out there where you can make virtual ones. The one that works well for me is called Study Blue. It has an app that syncs with the website. It tracks your level of mastery over time, not just during a single study session. I find this helpful because it gives me a more tangible idea of how well I’m doing.
3. Use language learning apps
I’m sure there a number of you have heard of Duolingo (the little bird in the right-hand picture), but I’ll go over a rough explanation of it for those you haven’t. Duolingo is an app that helps you learn languages in a way that has a bit of a game feel. It has you do a number of different activities from matching and fill in the blank to sentence translation. It also has a speech function that enables you to practice speaking the language. I find this app slightly addicting, which I actually think causes me to practice more. Duolingo has a great number of milestones, as well as ways you can personalize your learning experience. I have been using this to keep my French fresh and to learn other languages.
I’m fairly certain there are other apps for many languages not included in Duolingo. I use ChineseSkill (the little panda).It’s very similar to Duolingo. My Chinese professor told our class about this app and had us work through it for extra credit. I liked it and found it helpful. I’ve been using the app over the summer to keep my Chinese from slipping away.
Another app I find helpful is specifically for Chinese, but I’m sure that there are apps out there for another pictographic (character) languages. It allows me to draw a character and then gives me the definition. I have found this to be a good tool for expanding my vocabulary. Also, there are other apps out there that help expand your vocabulary in a number of different languages (not just character based ones).
4. Watch movies and TV shows
This bit of advice is a pretty fun one. I recommend watching movies or TV shows in the language you are wanting to learn. You can find some on movie streaming websites. This one isn’t much work, and it really helps to see how the language sounds when spoken outside of class. It can be encouraging when you are able to start picking out words that you recognize. It’s a fun and relaxing way to work on your language skills. Plus, who doesn’t like a good movie?
5. Don’t be scared to speak
This might be one of the most important. When learning a language you need to read, write, hear and speak. While is class there are ample opportunities for the first three. However, in my experience, there is often less time for speaking because there are other people in the class who need to practice speaking as well. I highly recommend trying to translate random sentences you encounter in your everyday life. I often think “now how would I say that in French?” I find it helps me translate on my feet and I start to gather a group of everyday phrases instead of a just smattering of words. If your family and friends don’t like you talking in a different language around them, or you personally don’t want to, there are clubs and groups that get together just to speak the language. I have found this kind of group very encouraging. They help me get over the nerves of speaking and messing up. Messing up is part of learning a language, everyone does it (even the native speakers mess up from time to time), just try not to let it hold you back. Use it as a way to propel your learning forward and step out of your comfort zone.
If you ever feel stuck when learning a foreign language, just remember that it’s as if you’re doing a puzzle, it takes time but every piece brings you closer to your goal. Being able to speak a foreign language can open hundreds of doors. You will be able to interact with the world in new and interesting ways.
Keep working at it and those doors will start to open.
Good luck! Thank you for reading! Merci! 谢谢!¡Gracias!
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