This week’s post is written by Kate Wilson. Kate approached me a few weeks back offering to write a guest post. Kate is a language enthusiast as well as a teacher.
She wanted to write about her own experiences as a language learner and I thought that her take on successful language learning would be well worth sharing with our learners. So without further ado, I present you Kate’s post.
Learning a second language isn’t easy. It can take years of practice to get it right. However, there are some daily tricks that can help make learning a language easier and more seamless. Read on to learn about the daily habits of successful language learners.
1. Listening to Music
Putting on some tunes with lyrics in French, Spanish, Russian or whatever language you’re learning in the background will help you practice your listening and comprehension skills.
Putting on some tunes with lyrics in French, Spanish, Russian or whatever language you’re learning in the background will help you practice your listening and comprehension skills.
Also, if you end up picking a playlist that’s in your target language and is catchy, you could be singing it all day, too, boosting your speaking abilities.
2. Reading the NewsA big part of learning a foreign country’s language is also learning its culture. There’s a reason that so many Chinese students seeking to attend college in America first enroll in programs that emphasize cultural education. This emphasis helps you get a deeper understanding of the language, and not just the grammar and pronunciation. By reading a news piece from the country (or one of the countries) of the language you’re learning, you can gain a lot. Making this a daily habit will both help you learn more about international news, and also boost your reading comprehension.
3. Watching Movies
One of the most enjoyable ways to get in your daily dose of learning is by watching a movie. If you’re learning a foreign language, watching a film in that language is a great way to improve your listening and comprehension skills. Whether you change the audio setting on a favorite DVD to your target language, or find a foreign film on Netflix, you’ll gain a host of language learning benefits all while sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.
One of the most enjoyable ways to get in your daily dose of learning is by watching a movie. If you’re learning a foreign language, watching a film in that language is a great way to improve your listening and comprehension skills. Whether you change the audio setting on a favorite DVD to your target language, or find a foreign film on Netflix, you’ll gain a host of language learning benefits all while sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.
4. Talking to Yourself
While this may sound odd, successful foreign language learners often admit to doing this on more than one occasion. As one of the key components in learning a language is being able to speak, getting in as much practice as possible is key. Unfortunately if you’re learning solo and aren’t in a country where this language is often spoken, speaking to someone isn’t always an option. So, talking to yourself is often the best and only choice. Whatever you choose to talk to yourself about, doing it in another language will take it to another level.
While this may sound odd, successful foreign language learners often admit to doing this on more than one occasion. As one of the key components in learning a language is being able to speak, getting in as much practice as possible is key. Unfortunately if you’re learning solo and aren’t in a country where this language is often spoken, speaking to someone isn’t always an option. So, talking to yourself is often the best and only choice. Whatever you choose to talk to yourself about, doing it in another language will take it to another level.
5. WritingAnother key component of language learning is writing in your target language. Writing often can help you improve your spelling and grammar and your ability to use both to clearly communicate ideas. While you don’t need to write essays or lengthy letters in your target language (though it couldn’t hurt!) taking the time each day to write a bit will greatly improve your language skills. So take the time to write, whether it’s a to-do list, notes to yourself, or even an essay if you’re feeling ambitious.
Learning a new language can be a big undertaking, and can sometimes seem impossible. However, making simple tweaks to your daily routine to include more language immersion can help make the process more natural. So make it a point to watch a movie, listen to music or talk to yourself in your target language.
These are some excellent tips that we could share with our learners. What learning habits have you found works with your students?
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