Thanks to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, a large percentage of the world is under quarantine. This means we can’t go to school and learn new languages. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t learn a language at all. It just means we can’t learn it inside the classroom. The current global pandemic is actually a great opportunity to learn a language during lockdown.
In this article, I’m going to reveal a few of the techniques I personally use that help me learn a language all by myself. No classroom is needed, just learn while you’re working from home! And I’m going to show YOU how you can do the same!
Language Learning Myths
Before we begin, though, let me quickly clear up a few myths about language learning.
1. Adults are too old to learn a brand new language
I hate hearing this. Primarily because it simply isn’t true. In fact, adults are better equipped to learn a new language than kids. For one thing, they have experience, such as conversational experience, as well as key social skills. For another, they’re more efficient (or, at least, should be). They know what they want and how to get it. It doesn’t matter your age, you’re never too old to learn a language during lockdown.
2. It costs too much money!
It does not. In fact, it’s never been more affordable to learn a new language, thanks to the internet and things like free apps and games. As long as you’ve got a smartphone, you can consume as much content as you want for free or for a very small fee. For example, how about YouTube videos? There are lots of language learning videos on YT and they’re entirely free!
There are also libraries, and you can hire a private tutor for an affordable fee who you never even have to visit. You can just Skype or Zoom them (perfect for during this pandemic). If you want to learn a language during lockdown, cost should never be a barrier.
3. You must move to another country in order to PROPERLY learn the language.
This is exactly what someone said to me when I began learning a new language. It’s a common myth but I’m not sure where it comes from. The reality is that it’s probably harder to learn a new language if you move to a new country with the express purpose of getting to grips with your new language.
By all means, move to a new country if that’s your ultimate goal anyway. But don’t do it just to enhance your language learning capabilities. You can make just as much progress (if not more) from home. Moreover, you can hire a tutor and chat freely to them in your new language while acting as though you’re having a conversation in that country. There is a lot of online support available if you want to learn a language during lockdown.
You can watch videos such as foreign movies, too. Indeed, there are all kinds of immersion techniques that will help you get a feel for the country without having to live in it.
Learning a Language All By Yourself
The good news is that it’s not impossible to learn a language all by yourself. In fact, I’d say this is the best method. In a classroom your progress is often impeded by your slow-moving classmates, or a slow-moving tutor. Moreover, you can only take a few classes each week. On your own, you can move as fast as you like and take as many lessons in one week as you wish.
1. Videos and Podcasts
You could start by checking out free podcasts and videos on YouTube. There’s a lot on there so it might take a while to find ones you feel comfortable with, or which have a strong back catalogue of content. Videos are the way to go if you want to learn a language during lockdown!
2. Flashcards
There are lots of online flashcard apps out there. Whichever ones you go for, you want to find flashcards that let you learn with sentences. If there are no sentences, you’re just memorising single words all the time, which isn’t the way we learn languages.
3. Tutors
I can’t stress this enough: Private tutors are the BEST way to learn a new language. They know the language inside-out, and they’re ideal for practising your conversational skills in a new language. They help you to get up to speed in no time at all. Moreover, they’re really affordable. For example, there’s a website I use called italki.com that lets you hire a private tutor for $5 an hour.
If, however, $5 really is too much for you, or if you don’t fancy getting on Zoom or Skype with a stranger, then you could seek out conversational buddies. Two people who are looking to learn each other’s language get together and teach each other their native tongue. It’s really simple, costs nothing and you might even make a new friend in the meantime. However, you’ll both need to be disciplined. For example, you could spend 30 minutes teaching them your language before they spend the next 30 minutes teaching you theirs.
And if you’re still nervous about doing that on Skype, I say – just go for it! You will soon relax, trust me. I did it and it was fantastic. Once you’ve done it the first time and got over that initial hurdle, you’ll be on your way.
To summarise, learning a language away from the classroom is easier than a lot of people think. There’ll be no slow students holding you back, as well as no teachers who are distracted by other students. Any tutor you hire will be 100% focused on you.
Learning a language by yourself will also be much cheaper than going to a language school.
With all that in mind, the strategies and tips I’ve outlined will only work if you want them to work. Put time aside each day, commit to it and you can do this. Check out more tips elsewhere on this site. If you want to learn a language during lockdown, why not leave a comment below to tell us all about it?
