Do you want to learn to speak a second language, but don’t have much time to do it? You need to know the fastest way to learn a language.
The most important rule for learning a language quickly is to set up a series of achievable goals. These milestones will break down your language learning into bite-sized chunks. This ensures you won’t be overwhelmed by the size of the task.
You Can Learn a Language Faster Than You Think!
Sometimes it can sneak up on you. All of a sudden, there’s an opportunity at work to go to a different country. Maybe the perfect chance to travel just came up, and you’d rather not depend on translation apps. Or what about that classic novel you’ve always wanted to read in the original language?
Regardless of the reason, nobody wants to commit to something like studying a different language, and then drag it out. Who really knows how long it takes to learn a language, after all? With a few practical strategies and some self-discipline, it may be easier than you think!
When you first dive into the process, don’t get discouraged about all the stuff you don’t understand. It’s easy to get cold feet when facing a whole new set of grammar rules and thousands of vocabulary words. That’s before you even put them together for a conversation with a real person! The good news is, it’s not as scary as it seems. With these 7 simple steps, you’ll be able to master the basics in no time. And if you’re looking for a longer list, there are plenty of options out there!
Step 1: Set milestones for yourself
How do you climb a mountain? By taking one step at a time. It’s important to be able to stop and take stock of your progress. If you set strategic milestones for yourself, you’ll be able to focus on learning things that’ll build overall comprehension. This helps you avoid the temptation to cram as much information as possible.
According to research, well-planned goals will increase your chances of overall success. For example, a goal that’s simply ‘learn French’ is too broad. You’ll probably waste a lot of time on inefficient study methods.
Here are some tips on how to develop your goals:
Set up reasonable, tangible steps for yourself. Make sure you focus on concrete results, not just time spent on a certain topic. Early on in the learning process, a reasonable goal could be “learn at least 30 French names for fresh”. As you get more proficient, another goal could be “write 10 sentences in French in the context of using public transport”.
While having a long-term is great, goals for the short-term are also vital to keeping you motivated. The final goal, speaking another language, is easiest to reach if you set weekly or monthly goals for yourself.
Make sure your goals are challenging. If you don’t have any trouble reaching a goal, that pretty much means you’ve already reached it. Don’t set goals that require more effort or brainpower than you can afford to give. This is just setting yourself up for disappointment, and won’t help you long-term. A good strategy for challenging yourself is to try for an outcome within a certain range. An example of this could be “in the next week I’m going to learn between 30 and 50 new words”. The lower end of the range will make it easier for you to get started. Every time you go beyond that will make you feel even better about your accomplishments.
Make a list of the goals you want to achieve. If it’s written down, it’s harder to ignore, and it feels better once you’ve reached it. Put it in a really obvious place, like on the fridge, or maybe the mirror in your bathroom. If you’re learning a language while working remotely, string them all around the house!
Step 2: Don’t study hard, study efficiently
You can reach your goals faster if you optimize your study techniques. Rather than mind-numbing rote memorization, try using flashcards. That way you can take things one word at a time. With flashcards it’s easier to identify which words you’re having trouble with. You can focus more on those and not waste time learning what you already know.
If you’re using flashcards, here are a few things you can do to make them even more effective:
In addition to flashcards, try these other methods of increasing your vocabulary:
Link the word to an image. Don’t just learn the word for “suitcase” and leave it at that. What does the suitcase look like? Is it yours, or is it one you’d really like to own one day? If you make it memorable, you’re a lot more likely to remember it.
Step 3: Focus on essential vocabulary first
If you don’t decide beforehand what you’re going to focus on, you’ll probably end up learning a bunch of stuff you won’t use. That will take up time and effort. Effort that could have been used more effectively to study vocabulary that comes in handy every day. Usually people decide to learn another language for a specific reason. Focus your studies around the context you’ll be using it in. The vocabulary needs for the employee of an international shipping company will be totally different from the needs of a casual tourist. If you know you won’t need it, just leave it for later.
Every language has thousands of words, but only a small percentage of that gets used consistently. For example, English has from 600,000 to 1,000,000 words (depending on who you ask). Only 1,000 of those words account for 90% of what’s used in English-language publications. Don’t get stressed out about all the words you don’t know. Instead, just focus on what you know will come in handy. If you’re traveling another country, words related to transport, numbers, food, and hotels are essential. That’s better than being able to talk about exotic animals or specialized cookware.
If you’re trying to communicate an idea but don’t know a couple of keywords in the other language, try to find a simpler way to say it. Maybe you’ll take a little longer to get the idea across, but don’t give up just because you don’t know a specific vocabulary word. Once you get some good foundations set, you’ll be surprised at how much you can say!
Step 4: Immerse yourself as much as possible
It’s hard to immerse yourself in a foreign language every day. However, there are a few things you can do that are actually pretty simple.
Remember how easy those electronic flashcards are to take with you? They’re right there, waiting to be picked up anytime you have a few spare minutes – during a bus ride, or maybe while you’re on break.
If you’re not up for studying flashcards, try a more passive approach by watching videos or listening to the radio. Resources like these are pretty easy to find on the internet – try Youtube, or radio stations that stream online.
Even if you just know a few words, this can help you get used to the sound of your new language. You’ll get more used to picking out the words you do know. It’ll be easier for you to understand people in real-life situations. It’s also great practice for figuring out what people are saying just by understanding a few of the key words. You’d be surprised how much that comes in handy!
Once you feel confident enough, try changing the settings on your electronic devices to your target language. It’s a simple step, but it can help you get acclimated to the language that much faster.
Step 5: Get some practical experience
It may seem a little intimidating, but interacting in another language with a native speaker can really speed up the learning process. The best way to do this is by traveling to a country where everyone speaks the language you’re trying to learn. You’ll be picking up new words and phrases by default. You’ll be able learn how real people use the language, as opposed to the way it’s taught via curriculum.
Obviously an extended trip isn’t an option for most people who are studying a new language. Luckily there are plenty of other ways to get practical experience. One option is to partner up with someone who grew up speaking the language. This could be something you pay for, or maybe you could exchange an hour or so of speaking the language you’re learning for the same amount of time helping them learn English.
Look for conversation clubs in your area. It’s is the same concept as a language partner, but on a larger scale. Students of languages can meet up to practice what they’re learning with a native speaker in an informal setting. Sometimes this can even take the place of spending lots of times on formal grammar lessons.
Step 6: Study the cultural background
Getting to know the cultural background of a language plays an important part in the learning process. Research has shown that when children understand the basic cultural principles behind a second language, they’re able to read better in that language.
Not only will your studies go faster if you study the cultural history of a language, but in real-life situations you’ll have a better understanding of where the other person is coming from. Even if reading up on the culture behind a language won’t add essential vocabulary, it’s still worth your time. You’ll be able to get acquainted with the history behind the language. You could also learn about social norms and taboos. That way, you’ll be less likely to make mistakes that could have been easily avoided.
Step 7: Test your knowledge
This is one type of milestone that’s a great motivator to stay on track. There are all kinds of tests you can take, depending on how advanced you are. They can be anything from vocabulary drills in textbooks, to a test that’s recognized by professionals in the field. Try to find drills, quizzes, and tests online that match your proficiency level as you get better and better. You could even take an officially administered test once you feel like you’re ready. This will not only prove your success to yourself, but it’ll be solid evidence of your new skills that you can include in job or school applications. If you’ve tried some of these steps, why not leave us a comment below to let us know if they worked?
