Learning a new language isn’t always fun. For some people, it is an obligation or a duty. Sometimes it’s necessary, whether it’s because of a job requirement, international career aspirations or a study trip abroad. Other times it’s because we want to learn new skills and pick up a foreign language, like English, so we can still converse on our multiple travels. Whatever the reason, whether you do it on purpose or not, we’re happy to tell you that there are ways to make learning a language easier.
Let’s discover together some tips to help you in your learning.
Understand how your brain works.
Have you ever wondered why some people speak fluent Spanish while others have trouble pronouncing the word “hola”?
According to some research, the particular wiring of our brain could facilitate the learning of new languages.
Brain regions involved in speaking and reading showed higher connections in high performers in some studies.
This implies that some of us are simply better at learning a foreign language than others, but that doesn’t stop anyone from trying.
Pay attention to how you learn.
There are a multitude of ways to learn a language, including online courses, study abroad, the use of specific applications, exchanges with a foreign partner and even immersion abroad. stranger.
It is obvious that we simply cannot acquire a language implicitly in the way small children do. Unfortunately, the learning process is hampered by the increased sophistication of our adult brain.
Adults often learn by expanding their vocabulary, but they often overlook how a word interacts with others to create grammatically acceptable language. Indeed, according to research conducted by MIT, adults’ propensity to over-analyze their ability to understand the intricacies of a foreign language, and putting in increasing effort may not yield the desired results
Identify similarities between languages
It is difficult to learn a language which is noticeably different from one’s own, especially a language which does not have the same origin. As if you already know a foreign language. Slowly start learning a new language that has similarities, for example if it shares a Latin root. Your previous learning experiences will help you filter the new language more successfully.
Interestingly, research indicates that these difficulties are due to neural preferences rather than a personal aversion to the problem.
Research suggests that when two languages have a similar structure, our brain uses the grammar and other aspects of our native language to help us understand the other language.
Be just as curious and eager to learn as children.
Although our minds aren’t as adaptable as they were when we were young, we can still exhibit the same curiosity!
Immersion and learning through play are essential. Adults can benefit greatly from a language course that combines both language instruction and cultural exposure.
Be motivated.
It’s one thing to start learning a language from scratch, but it won’t help you if you lack motivation. To enhance your language learning experiences, you need to be highly motivated, and motivation has always been associated with successful language learning. This is what will maximize your desire to learn, to go the extra mile, to be curious to learn more, to do better.
Immerse yourself in an immersion of the language learned.
Change the language of your social media accounts, computer and phone. Watch movies in the language you are learning with subtitles in that language, listen to music and podcasts, read novels, blogs and magazines, watch documentaries and prepare recipes from other countries that you will read in their native languages
Recognize that nothing is ever perfect.
Remember that you are developing a skill. Especially in the first few sessions, do your best and don’t be afraid to make a mistake or crash. Recognize that as a non-native speaker you may not understand everything and your accent may not be the most appropriate.
Your interlocutors, on the other hand, are well aware that it is not your mother tongue and they will respect you for the effort you have put in rather than criticizing or judging you.
Being able to understand and converse in a foreign language other than your own says a lot about your commitment.
