How to Learn a New Language
2020 was the year I finally got serious about language learning, and fully committed myself to learning German (not sure why I did that to myself but we’re too deep in now). Starting out, I made a lot of mistakes, but I feel like I’ve gotten into a groove now and I definitely notice myself improving everyday. Hopefully these 10 tips will help you on your language learning journey and we can all go into next year with new fluency goals!
10 Language Learning Tips
1. Come up with a learning plan and stick to it!
Coming up with and writing down a learning plan has helped me build a habit of language learning every day. Of course, there are some days that I slack off or don’t stick to it perfectly, but I like having it there to remind myself that my goals are possible. For me, I ensure that I am studying a little bit everyday (about 10 minutes of Duolingo or Babbel), doing more intense studying 3 days a week (30 minutes to an hour of listening, writing, speaking practice), immersing myself daily (watching a show, listening to music, or watching YouTube videos in my target language), and studying flashcards about 3 times per week. There are some other things I’d like to add to my plan eventually, like worksheets and journaling, but figure out your learning style and do what works best for you!
2. Learn about the history and culture of the language
If you’re a nerd like me, then you probably already watch copious amounts of linguistics videos on YouTube. I would highly recommend doing some research on the history and culture of your target language. This helps you get excited about the language and build a connection with it, which will make you feel more committed to your learning goals. One of my favorite channels is LangFocus. Paul makes tons of amazing videos where he talks about the history and evolution of languages around the world. It’s absolutely fascinating and you will definitely get hooked!
3. Don’t take classes too early
Depending on your learning style, this tip might not apply to everyone! Once I really committed to learning German, I decided to enroll in some iTalki classes with a teacher because I thought it would speed up my learning. While my teacher was super nice and patient, I found that I wasn’t absorbing much, felt anxious and embarrassed to speak (again, not the teacher’s fault), and didn’t know what questions to ask. Now a few months later, I think I have a better grasp on the language through self-study and might get a bit more out of formal classes. The same applies for me with tandem partners, I think it's better to wait until you feel a little more comfortable with the language before trying to speak with native speakers, you will be more confident and okay making mistakes!
4. Don’t overload yourself with materials
When I first started diving into German, I downloaded basically every language learning app I could find and started trying to use every single one of them daily. I quickly started getting burned out because...well, duh. I think it’s a good idea to try out a few different apps or programs to see what works best for you, but then stick to your favorite and add in a limited amount of supplemental materials that fit your learning style. One app or program isn’t going to give you a full scope of the language, but it will help you develop habits, and then you can find some other sources to practice listening, speaking, and writing!
5. Stop comparing yourself
Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes watching videos and reading blogs from really accomplished polyglots and linguists makes me feel super discouraged. Listen, I am JEALOUS af and I’m not afraid to say it – polyglots are amazing, but I’m over here still trying to master one language. That’s not to say that they don’t have amazing language learning advice, but if you’re anything like me and language learning does NOT come naturally, this comparison can just push you further away from your goals. Remember that we all have different passions and priorities, and it’s okay if you want to focus 100% of your energy on learning one language and getting to be the best you can be at it! Comparison doesn’t help anyone, so just stick to your learning plan and keep pushing forward.
6. Immerse yourself
Immersing yourself doesn’t have to mean traveling or talking with locals (although those are great ways to get more comfortable with your target language). I personally love to watch YouTube videos, listen to music, and watch TV shows to get myself more familiar with listening to native speakers and seeing how much I can understand. I highly recommend checking out the Easy Languages channel on YT, they have tons of spin-off channels for various languages—my fave being Easy German, of course—where native speakers interview people on the street. It’s a great way to hear colloquial speech and to learn more about the culture. Searching through Spotify to see some of the top artists in the country of your target language can help you build up listening skills while enjoying some new bops, and Netflix has a big selection of foreign movies and TV shows.
7. Do a little every single day
Language learning has to become a habit incorporated in your day to day. Commit to 5 or 10 minutes, no matter what your plans are, so at least there are no days where you haven’t had any exposure to your target language. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t commit to hours of daily learning. Watching a video, listening to some songs or a podcast in the car, or just doing a quick lesson is another step towards fluency.
8. Don’t hate on apps
A common message I hear when looking for language learning advice is to avoid language learning apps. Of course, as I said in tip #4, one app isn’t going to give you the full scope of a language and allow you to speak perfectly once you go through the entire course, but I think apps are extremely useful tools for habit building. They’ve made language more accessible, but in reality the key to getting the most out of apps is to stick to them! If your only access to language learning is using an app, don’t get discouraged. Make the most of your preferred app by ensuring you build good habits, and find some great free resources to supplement your learning. Sometimes you need an angry little owl to guilt you into doing your lessons, ya know?
9. Be okay with having an accent
There’s a big difference between mispronunciation and having an accent. Spend your time learning the grammar and vocabulary and don’t be so concerned about not sounding perfectly like a native speaker. Think of how often you hear someone speak your native language with an accent. Does it impede on your understanding of them? Most likely no, so remember that if you can’t pronounce everything perfectly. Your accent makes you unique!
10. Remember your why
Everyone has different reasons for learning a new language. Maybe it’s just for fun, to connect with your heritage, or out of necessity. You’ll inevitably get to a point where it starts getting tough, or when your motivation starts to waver – but remember your why! It’ll keep you moving forward on your language learning journey. Even if you have some off weeks, just try to keep up a daily habit. Progress will happen slowly but surely!
