Do you want to learn a new language?
Or are you struggling to make any progress with learning a new language? Learning languages can become quite easier for if you follow these tips and tricks of memorizing and implementing what we learn.
image from multilingualbooks.com
As a multi-linguist (English isn't my first language), I have used these methods of learning and I can really say that they have actually worked for me. There have been a few times where I started learning a new language and gave up in the middle just because I was not following these methods, at least that is what I have noticed throughout the years. These methods have really aided me in learning languages without even making me feel like I was making any effort to do it.
These should be the basic steps that one should keep in mind when learning a new language, as they will surely aid you in developing a strong vocabulary and understanding of grammatical structures instead of just blindly memorizing stuff out of a book.
1. Listen to the Natives:
Imagine you've been learning a new language, say French, for a while now. You've read a few books, watched some videos, listened to some podcasts on it and you feel confident that you can finally speak conversational French with the the natives on your trip to France. Well, surprise surprise! Once you get there, you can't really understand what they are actually saying because either they're speaking too fast (definitely not how the people in the videos spoke it!) or maybe they're using slang.
What's the point of learning any language when you can't even communicate with the natives that speak that language?
So, here's the most important thing about learning a language, listen to the natives. Just immerse yourself into their culture. If you don't already live in the country which speaks the language you are trying to learn, at least try to watch their talk shows (with subtitles), listen to their music, listen to their radio...just do anything that enables you to actually listen to the way these people talk in different situations as they actually would if they were in that in real life.
Sure, when you are starting out, you should learn the pronunciation first. Watch the videos and listen to the podcasts willing to teach you how to speak that language. However, in order for you to sound like a native and have good vocabulary you have to listen to what the language actually sounds like while rolling off the tongues of the natives.
How to build a strong vocabulary? That leads me to my next point that is:
2. Don't Just Read the Subtitles:
Yeah, you read that right. (haha...sorry) Whether you are watching a show or watching a music video with subtitles, don't just read the subtitles, or focus only on their pronunciation. Try to break the sentences down into smaller parts. If it works for you, write down any sentence that catches your attention and notice all the grammatical devices as well as the words used in it.
When listening or watching, try to understand what they're saying. You don't have to memorize the meaning of each and every word of the whole song. Take it slow, but keep on moving forward.
Another thing is, when you listen/ watch something, try to memorize at least a few words from that whole show/song/anything. Okay, you've learned them but are you going to remember them? Well if we keep the
Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon in perspective, you might just see those words pop up quite frequently in the next show you happen to watch. Ain't it super cool?
There have actually been times where I've learned a new word (easiest example: Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon) and BAM, I see it being used everywhere. So, I think this can actually be used when learning a new language. So, look out for the words you have already learned among the sea (or pond) of words, you are yet to learn.
Challenge: Listen to a song/watch a show without looking at any source of translation and then see how much you are able to understand. After you feel like you have gained more proficiency in the new language, open the same song/show again and see how much you are able to understand now.
3. Do not Memorize Whole Sentences:
Although, it makes us feel really accomplished when we are able to speak complete fully-formed sentences in a language we just learned. However, if this is your first day learning that very language? Not that helpful.
When we memorize a line of something that sounds like complete gibberish to us, it definitely sounds cool but in the long-term, it doesn't help us. Our brain is not very good at permanently storing information that doesn't make sense to us, you'll probably just end up forgetting about it in the long run.
So, the thing that is best to do is try to understand how the grammatical structure of a language works. However, I don't want you to just memorize all the tenses and the helping verbs and stuff like that only. Learn the basic mechanism, play around with the words, try forming sentences with the same words but in a different sequence. Also, (as said in the first point) when you listen to how the natives talk, you'll be forming sentences on your own without even having to wonder which tense should be used where.
Each language is different from the other, and has its own set of rules and grammar.
You also have to know how to form sentences so you won't even feel the need to "memorize" any sentences because guess what? You'll be the one forming them on your own. So, learn how the grammar works, increase your vocabulary slowly and steadily and try to make sentences out of all the new words that you learn.
4. Try to Find the Origins of the Words:
According to Wikipedia," Etymology is the study of the history of the words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time. By extension, the term "the etymology (of a word)" means the origin of the particular word."
Okay, so in easy words, words have different origins where they stem from. Usually if you know a word, chances are there are other words in the language that belong to the same origin as the word you know. So, it makes it easier for you to learn the other words as well since they are likely to be similar in nature.
Besides, words from different languages over-lap with other languages all the time.
There's a chance you know how to say some words (just with slightly different pronunciations) in a language you haven't even started learning yet. Some very obvious example is, cafe in French means coffee and in English it means coffee shop. So, look out for words like that.
5. Focus on One "Area" of the Language First:
What I mean to say is, that when you learn a language you basically focus on four areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking. You can't consider yourself a master of the language if you lack in one of them.
So, start with the reading part first. I always start with the reading part. I learn the alphabets of the language and then learn how to pronounce them. Try forming words (with the languages that give you the ability to do that. For example, Chinese). Read magazines in that language, read the newspapers, read novels (you don't have to understand it that much at this point), just create flow and increase your speed each time you read something. Challenge yourself.
Then, comes the writing part. By writing, I don't mean write whole essays or paragraph or anything, what I mean is try writing the language down. If you are learning a language (for example, Japanese) in which the alphabets look completely different than the English alphabet, pay attention to how the alphabets are written and words are formed. Try writing them down. Look up how these alphabets are written and try to imitate the writing style.
The listening part now, improve your listening abilities (in accordance with the new language that you are learning). As I've mentioned before in the previous points, listen to how the natives speak and try to understand what they're saying. Everyone has their own speed of speaking/ their own "tone". However, you should be able to interpret what the speaker is saying if they speak using an average tone/speed. This skill will improve over time.
When you have gotten past the listening area, then comes the speaking part. At this point, you should be able to form sentences in your head/or on paper. Keep in the mind the proper pronunciation of the words and try speaking in a manner in which you would speak with a native. Keep on practicing, you should be able to form sentences without thinking too hard about it. Keep practicing until you are able to hold conversations without even making effort in putting all the bits and pieces together before you are able to form a sentence.
The thing to keep in mind is, while you are working on one area you will absolutely be gathering information from the other areas as well. I tried breaking it down in steps, so that it will be easier to learn the language at a good pace.
6. Do mnemonics work?
Mnemonic devices are learning techniques that you can use to help you memorize terms or any kind of information. Do mnemonics work when it comes to learning foreign languages? Yes, but it depends on the person.
You see, each person has a different way of learning. Mnemonics do not work too well for me, I have noticed. They do work, but to some extent. If I have use lots of mnemonic devices for a single topic, I end up forgetting half of them. Flash cards, however, turned out to work better for me.
Mnemonic devices and flash cards are really helpful if you are learning some words for an upcoming test. In the long term, They might be helpful for some people for long-term use as well.
Just find what your strong area of memorization is. Let me explain, do you think you are good with learning through audio? Or do you remember better when you read the words out loud. Experiment with different methods and find out which method works for you. Then implement it in your learning process.
Conclusion:
You cannot improve further or achieve any solid goals unless you keep practicing. Learning a language is a beautiful process through which you become more conscious of the different cultures and people that live with you in this world. You become more acquainted with their culture, their traditions and definitely their beautiful language and it is truly something that is very rewarding. It helps you grow into a person who is more aware of their surroundings (in a greater sense).
Learning a new language should be a fun process and it feels super cool when you are able to speak in a language you were not able to speak in before. So, just keep on practicing. Keep on learning. Keep on growing.
I hope these tips and techniques help you out. If you have any questions about anything regarding this topic, feel free to ask in the comment section.
