1)Grind out the grammar

Yes, it is extremely boring… but you need to learn the rules of a language before you can start to play! Understanding how to conjugate verbs or how to structure sentences are the foundational blocks of learning a new language. With even a slight grasp of these concepts, you can start to move on to the fun stuff.

2)Familiarize yourself with the language

Listen to some music or tune in to a podcast in the language you are trying to learn… just keep it in the background as you are walking or doing chores. While it may be mostly gibberish at first, you will start to pick up on some subtle things and your brain will start to make some crucial connections. When you get to deeper levels of learning the language, there will be some familiarity that will help boost your learning experience.

3)Absorb content

Once you feel like you have a brief understanding of some basics, find a show that interests you in your desired language. Keep the subtitles on and try to associate the speech with the translation. Once you get good at this, you can challenge yourself by trying to follow along without subtitles!

4)First hand experience

Nothing can beat getting into real-world situations where you test your language skills. Whether you are ordering food at a restaurant or trying to tell a joke at a party, you will learn the most by actually trying to apply your knowledge—and by making a lot of mistakes along the way! While it may be scary at first, communicating with others in a foreign language can be the most powerful way of learning. Oh, and it’s the most fun, too!

5)Practice, practice, practice!

While we can try and give you all the hacks in the world, nothing will get you over the finish line without putting in the time to master your new language. Seeking out opportunities to learn will greatly improve your chances of success and lead to more a more fulfilling learning process.

If you are looking for a language learning partner to practice with, check out our language exchange program!