Language Learning | My Tips & Tricks

You, like most of us, have probably, at least once in your life, wanted to try learning a new language. I have always loved learning, and picking up a new language is a fantastic way to use your spare time because it’s both fun and useful. I personally speak Serbian, which is my mother tongue, English (obviously), German to some extent, and am currently learning French. Therefore, I feel qualified to offer you some advice that has helped me on my language-learning journey.

1. Use Language Learning Apps

We’re always on our phones. We carry them everywhere we go; they are accessible and easily portable. Since you're already scrolling away mindlessly, why not use that time for something useful instead? One way I like to do that is by using apps. Here are some of my favorites (beginner to advanced):

1. Fun Easy Learn... (insert language)

Fun Easy Learn is a great app for total beginners. If you’re completely new to the language and can’t speak a word of it, this is the app for you. It’ll teach you basic vocabulary that you will actually need, and the lessons are sorted by topics so you can choose what you want to learn. There is no grammar yet, so don’t stress out. However, if you feel like you have mastered the basic vocabulary, you can jump to the next stage in your journey.

2. Duolingo

Is this even a surprise? Duolingo is well-known and loved by many. While Duolingo won’t make you fluent, it is definitely a step up from Fun Easy Learn. It will teach you new words, phrases, and basic grammar. It will test your pronunciation, basic grammar, and association of words with pictures. If you are not completely unfamiliar with the language you're learning, this can be your starting point. On the other hand, if you’re feeling confident and/or learning new languages comes naturally to you, you might skip both of these stages and move on to the next level in your journey.

3. Memrise

Memrise is by far the best language-learning app I’ve used. It teaches you many new words and phrases and includes different exercises to practice what you’ve learned. You’ll learn pronunciation, spelling, and get used to how the language sounds. It explains grammar very simply and provides examples that you can revisit later if needed. With a variety of exercises, you will never get bored. After a few lessons, you will see a video in the language you’re learning and answer a simple question to test your understanding of the video. Additionally, every time you learn a new word, a native speaker’s video pronouncing it will help immensely with pronunciation. The app also tracks which words were difficult for you and quizzes you on them more often. Overall, it’s a great app and definitely worth trying.

2. Text With Natives

This tip goes hand in hand with the previous one, but I felt it deserved its own section. The best way to learn a new language is to speak it. If you’re uncomfortable doing that in person or don’t know anyone who speaks the language you want to learn, you can do it online. I used the apps HelloTalk and Tandem. When you text someone, they have the option to correct your message if you make a mistake. However, I have to warn you that some people on these platforms may treat it like a dating app and are not necessarily looking for a study buddy. But if you’re okay with that, it’s fine with me.

3. Watch Movies in That Language

For those who enjoy watching movies and aren’t fond of the idea of sitting down and studying from a book or an app, this is a great way to learn passively. Just put on a movie you want to watch and set the subtitles to your new language. If you want to take it a step further, watch a movie you’re very familiar with and set both the audio and subtitles to your desired language. Animated movies, like those from Disney or Pixar, can make learning easier because they are very expressive. You can often figure out what’s being said just by watching, even if you don’t fully understand the dialogue.

4. Consume Content

We are online 24/7, and despite what old people think, there are good aspects to the internet. When I say “consume content,” I mean doing what you already do—watching YouTube videos, listening to music or podcasts, reading articles—but in your new language. It will be challenging at first and not really doable without some prior knowledge, but if you have that, this is a great way to learn more. Incorporate it into your daily routine.

5. Read Books

This might be the hardest of all the tips I’ve shared, but if you stick with it, it can be the most rewarding. Try reading a book you're interested in in the language you're learning. It will be very difficult at first, but I promise it will get easier. For the first few chapters, you might understand only every fifth word, but by the end, you’ll find yourself comprehending everything on the page. You might want to have Google Translate nearby; you'll need it.

 

These are all the tips I have for today. Remember, just because something works for me doesn’t mean it will work for you. But if you take one thing from this blog post, let it be this: “Success is not the absence of failure; it’s the persistence through failure.” Good luck with learning a new language; keep pushing! Don’t forget to update me on your progress. As always, if you have any advice, drop it in the comments.

Until next time,

Jovana <3

09/09/2024