Are you thinking about trying to learn a new language?
Studies have shown that there is a growing number of Americans speaking more than one language. In fact, about 20 percent of Americans speak a language other than English when they’re at home.
But it’s not easy to learn a new language. According to the Foreign Service Institute, there are some languages, like Spanish, French, and Italian, that people can learn in approximately 600 hours. But there are others, like Chinese and Japanese, that could take upwards of 2,200 hours to master.
Finding out tricks for how to learn another language is the key to doing it. There are all kinds of tricks that you can put to good use when your goal is to learn how to speak a language other than the one you first learned when you were little.
Check out 7 of these tricks below.
1. Figure Out Why You Want to Learn a New Language
Why do you want to learn a new language? Is it because:
- You want to be able to communicate with your grandmother more easily?
- You want to open yourself up to new job opportunities?
- You want to move to a foreign country at some point in the future?
There are so many reasons why people go through the trouble of trying to learn a new language in the first place. You should find your reason and use it for motivation as you set out to learn another language.
If you don’t have an end goal in mind, it’s going to be difficult for you to stick with your plan to learn a new language. You’re not going to be as committed to putting in the time and effort it takes to start speaking another language.
2. Find Someone to Learn a New Language With You
One of the best ways to learn a new language is by partnering up with someone who is interested in learning the language alongside of you.
When you first start trying to learn a new language, you might feel silly trying to say certain words and phrases. But you’ll feel much better about doing it when you have a friend or family member by your side.
You and your partner will be able to push one another and practice your new language together. Both of you will benefit in a big way when you commit to learning a new language at the same time.
3. Use Technology When Learning a New Language
Years and years ago, most people had to sign up for a class at a community college or pay a private tutor to teach them how to learn another language. But this isn’t the case anymore!
There are websites, apps, and even online courses that make it easier than ever to learn a new language. Whether you want to learn a bunch of Spanish words or brush up on your French pronunciation, you can do it by relying on technology.
Take a look at the resources that are available to you before you start trying to learn a new language.
4. Hire a Teacher If You Need Help Learning a New Language
While technology can be a great tool for those trying to learn a new language, there are some people who will learn a language better by hiring someone to help them. If you try the high-tech approach and find that it doesn’t work for you, look for a teacher in your area who specializes in teaching the language you want to learn.
A teacher can help you learn the ins and outs of another language. From explaining how to say certain words to showing you how to use proper grammar, you’ll learn a lot during your classroom sessions.
5. Practice Your New Language by Talking to Yourself
Regardless of whether you choose to download an app to teach you a new language or call on a teacher for help, you’re going to need to practice the language early and often to learn it.
You can practice by speaking in your new language with your partner if you’re able to find someone who wants to learn a language with you. But you can also do it by talking to yourself in your new language throughout the course of your days.
This will reinforce certain words and pronunciations for you. It’ll also make you feel more comfortable about speaking in a language other than English.
6. Watch TV Shows and Listen to Songs Featuring Your New Language
When you’re in the process of trying to learn a new language, you should try to surround yourself with it as much as you can.
One way to do this is by watching TV shows and listening to songs that have your new language in them. You might be surprised by how much you pick up when you’re watching TV or listening to music. It’s a fun way to learn another language.
7. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone When Learning a New Language
It’s hard not to feel self-conscious when you first start trying to learn a new language. You’re going to feel like everyone is going to laugh at you when you try to speak the language.
It can take some time to get over this. But embrace the fact that you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone by learning a new language! You’ll be better off for it in the end when you’re using a second language on a regular basis.
Use These Tricks on How to Learn Another Language to Your Advantage
There are times when you’re going to get frustrated while trying to learn a new language. You might even feel like giving up.
Don’t do it! Instead, use the tricks that you’ve learned here on how to learn another language to continue moving forward. Once you push past the frustration, you’ll get to enjoy all the rewards that come along with speaking another language.
Do you want to show off what you’ve learned once you’re done learning another language? Read our blog to see a few places you might want to consider visiting to use your new language.
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