Tips for Learning a New Language!

I'm taking Language for my university degree, so I think it's no surprise that I completely love them- but my bias-ness (?) really doesn't make any of this post less true! 

I think language is one of the most interesting things you can learn, whether it's because you can say completely new things that are not even expressible in your native tongue, or because you can say normal things in a completely new way. I just think that's really cool? And it's not like language is the only thing you learn, the culture of the place it came from will accidentally come up because the two can't entirely be separated! A lot more things are open to you when you can use another way of conversing or reading or writing, like books or movies that haven't been translated (or translated well) or even just making a holiday 10x better because you can actually be a part of the culture and understand it- also no fumbling around with phrase books and awkward conversations. So yeah, I think languages are just the best, and will probably continue learning new ones for as long as possible. Because I like them, I thought I would do a small post on little things you can do to make yourself better at learning a language, and make it more fun.

1. Books Books Books Books Books

This is the boring part, but totally necessary! There are tons of amazing resources online that are made for this purpose, but even if a (decent) book wasn't most likely more reliable for the stuff inside- it's just better for something to follow. Like sometimes it's difficult to know where to start or what to look at next and that gives you an easy reason to get less interested or motivated. A book will probably stop this because it has lessons in an order that makes sense. A lot of the time they also come with homework book-type things that you can set aside a couple of hours for each week/day/whatever to keep motivation goooing!

I would suggest researching which books are better for the particular language you're trying to learn, and really, I would suggest spending some money on it. But that really does depend on your funds- still research though! Alternatively the library usually has a language section and can actually be super useful so have a look before going to amazon.

2. Internet Resources

Out of everything on the internet, I would most highly recommend Youtube. I would figure, as someone who is reading blogs (or just as a person who uses the internet actually), that you guys all watch youtube. The amount of content for language learning on there is incredible. As well as really really helpful songs for learning random stuff like verbs, conjunctions, weather, numbers, dates- you get the idea, there are actual structured lessons with people teaching you all these things and more. It depends on what kind of learner you are, but I think a hell of a lot learn visually, so youtube will be extremely useful. Please try it!

3. Audio Lessons

When I first started being interested in languages, not that I'm a master now, I began learning with audio lessons and this seemed to help me progress more than anything outside of physical lessons. I used Pimsleur but I know that people like others which you maybe can get naughtily online. They have structured lessons and help your listening comprehension a lot, obviously. They also make you speak a lot more authentically as you are listening to an accent and pronunciation. Even ignoring all of this, I think this is one of the best ways simply because you can listen to it at any time of the day. Even if you just listened to it whenever you were out of the house- that would be a lot of easy studying! yay!

4. Finding Lessons

This is an obvious one but worth pointing out. Physical lessons with other people also trying to learn that language is genuinely the best way you can learn. Doing this will get you learning all types of writing, speaking and reading much quicker because you are with other people and you are forced to go, so no chance of being like "uhhhh...not today!" which was me like, everyday. This isn't always doable for everyone because of time and money things, but I would really recommend it above everything else.

5. Apps

Apps are useful because I assume that you will always have your phone on you. I usually use quiz type apps when I'm on the bus or something so that time isn't wasted!
Also I think it's completely worth mentioning that Anki is one of the best programmes (computer & app) that I've ever used if you can get used to the way it works. It's literally made me learn much faster and remember much better than anything else.

6. Everything as a language tool!

Make you're environment and lifestyle a way of learning. Like Putting up post-it notes labelling the object in the other language or even just grammar notes that you can see frequently. My friend even put them up everywhere with questions on them that she would answer differently every time, just to make sure she was thinking in it everyday. You can also put up calendars in that language, write shopping lists in it, set a reminder on your phone with a question, change your phone's language, and again you get the idea. 

7. Hobbies 

I think immersing yourself into the language you want to know is a really good idea, it will help with casual, everyday speaking and cultural knowledge as well! So make an effort to watch foreign TV shows, movies, listen to music and all that. It will honestly help your little brain keep moving.


So they are pretty much the main things that have helped me a lot. Really though, you need to figure out ways to keep yourself motivated most of all because it's just so easy to fall out of something like this. You don't want to do that because you will feel so so lovely inside when you hear someone speak in that language on a bus or in a movie and you can understand what they said, its like voodoo magic and it makes you feel super smart and knowledgeable.

Good luck!