Things to Know Before Learning a New Language

Starting the process to learn a new language is not as easy as picking up any beginner’s books of your chosen language. It takes careful planning and investing hours of your time. This article is to provide guidance on the basics steps to consider when getting started.

Researches have proved that learning a new language can provide benefits to our memory, increase our creative thinking, increase problem solving skills, and improve our verbal abilities. Picking the right language can be all up to you. Some choose a language that is closer to their primary language and others choose a language based on their interests. For example, there are many that begin to learn Japanese due to their anime and manga interests. There are some that learn Korean due to their intake of K-Pop and K-Drama.

Starting with a set of language goals will be helpful to create a plan on how to tackle your learning. What is it that you are trying to achieve?

• Read at a proficient speed.
• Speak fluently or like a native.
• For traveling purposes.
• Basic conversational.

Depending on your goal there will be different aspects that will have to be enforced. If it is reading, more time studying the alphabet and sentence structure would be needed. If trying to speak fluently, there will be a need to learn by practicing with others for extended periods of time. For traveling, memorization of sentences and basic reading will be required.

That is why thinking about your goals can help to acquire the necessary information to move forward at your suiting speed. Not everyone learns at the same pace or using the same methods. Fluency can take years to achieve but consistency is key to achieve any goal while learning a new language.

After creating a goal, finding the right material and giving a designated time to study can make all the difference. The internet can be your friend. There are many language apps that can help with practicing. You can find instructive books and exercise books to test yourself. Use flashcards to help with memorization but do not limit yourself to these standard techniques. Using you own way of learning can benefit you in the long run.

YouTube has an endless supply of tutorials on how to begin to learn.  There are language teachers that post videos from beginners to advance language learners. Apps like Duolingo and Tandem or websites like Rosetta Stone could possibly propel you into spending your study time wisely.

Practice makes you better one day at a time. Practice against the mirror. Practice with a friend. Practice with one-on-one teachers. Practice listening. Practice reading. Follow your designated study time to move forward. Immerse yourself in the language whenever possible. While you immerse for purposes of learning the language, take the time to learn about culture and history of such language. In order to speak like a native, it is important to grasp the context of language that is intertwined with its culture.

There are different places where you can find free content to continue expanding your knowledge. Research as much as you can to get your hands on materials. Local libraries often carry language learning books and audio books. Libraries can provide language, culture, and history books for free. All you need is your library card.

The most important part of learning a new language is to have fun. Enjoy the process. With your invested time and consistency, you will grasp words without thinking about it. Let the audio run on in the background and get your brain accustomed to hearing the language. One day, you will be doing your daily activities and will notice that your vocabulary has been expanded and you understand a little more.

Enjoy the fact that you are getting closer to another part of the world. Communication has the power to bring us closer. Can’t deny that learning a new language is good for your mind, your education, and the world.