Tips and Tricks for learning a new language

As the world becomes ever more connected, the appeal of learning a new language is growing. Whether for business or pleasure, being able to communicate on an International level can bring many benefits. To support you on your learning journey, we take a look at some top tips and advice on how to learn a language.

Here are the best language-learning tips, along with additional insights from a life of multilingual mastery.

The Best Language-Learning Tips

1. Know Your Motivation

Learning a language is such a long-term project that you need to take active steps to keep your overall motivations high. Getting the right language learning techniques is crucial, but so is having an intuitive understanding of why you’re spending your time on a language in the first place.

2. Learn the basics like grammar

Though plenty of free online language learning apps are available, it is always a good idea to enroll in a language class where basics like grammar and punctuation can be introduced and improved to save your time on learning by making mistakes!

3. Find A Partner

A sibling is the best partner when it comes to practicing. Even if you can’t get a sibling to join you on your language adventure, finding a language buddy will push both of you to try just a little bit harder. Practicing with a partner aids in confidence, vocabulary building as well as pronunciation.

4. Talk To Yourself

If the previous suggestion on our list of language-learning tips isn’t doable because you have no one else to speak to, there’s nothing wrong with talking to yourself in a foreign language. It might sound really weird, but actually speaking to yourself in a language is a great way to practice if you’re not able to use it all the time as it can keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind. It also helps build up your confidence for the next time you speak with someone else.

5. Set your language goals

Setting goals brings all kinds of benefits when it comes to learning. It can help with things like motivation, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Goals also help you achieve success. When you’re first figuring out how to learn a language, you should focus on some short-, medium- and long-term goals. These can help to give structure and direction to your learning. With this approach, you can start to systematically build your knowledge and tick off your progress. Adding timescales to your language-learning goals can help to keep you on track and motivated. Your language trainer would be the best person to guide you on setting your customised language goals as per your learning speed.

6. Learn common vocabulary

According to some studies, by learning the most common 800 to 1,000 words and variations, you can learn to speak a language quickly and effectively. So, when you’re wrestling with how to learn a language, a useful place to start is by learning some common vocabulary. This can help to quickly build your understanding in a day-to-day setting, allowing you to have and follow basic conversations.

7. Consume media

To get familiar with the different ways in which people use your target language, you might want to consider watching, reading and listening to as much media in that language as possible. There are so many media you can choose from. Whether it’s watching TV and movies or webseries in your target language, listening to music and radio, or reading the news, you have plenty of options.

8. Engage with the experts

Language often evolves in line with the culture of the groups who speak it. Therefore, to really master a language, you’ll want to make sure you’re also familiar with the cultural context that goes with it. Language experts have experience working with the culture. Their insights can help you understand nuances that a textbook can’t teach. That’s why courses at Language Services Bureau are a great way of starting your linguistic journey.

Final thoughts

So, there you have it; everything you need to know about how to learn a Language. Clearly, it’s a worthwhile project, but it isn’t one you want to rush. There are many hours of study ahead. So taking time to set goals, learn vocabulary, and practice with native speakers can help you improve your knowledge.

Learning a language can help in both your personal and professional life. Along with adding to your CV, it can boost other skills and improve your cultural understanding. Whatever your language goals are, you can find one of our courses that can help you on your way. Language Services Bureau offers a variety of language classes for your perusal. You can join the Special hobby classes if you want to learn languages at a slow and steady pace. Or you could go for the Language Classes for Students to understand the basics of the language as per your school syllabus. Or you could try out the Language Classes for Professionals to learn a new language for a professional setting.