How to actually learn a language

How To Actually Learn a Language

We have to ignore the marketing promises of quick and easy and enjoy the complex process for the beautiful journey that it really is. The real way to learn a language has less to do with choosing the right product and more to do with YOU.

Step 1: Adjust your expectations a little (or maybe A LOT)

How many of us have googled “Does Rosetta Stone really work?”

🤚

Because same. But it’s the wrong question to ask.

I’ve browsed all the language learning apps and programs. I’ve read the reviews telling people that this program doesn’t work or that that program is not worth the money or (typically if it’s sponsored) that it works like magic. They all promise us language learners that they are offering the true fast and easy way to learn a language. And so, when we find that actually learning a language, an actual whole new code of communication that goes against the very wiring of our brain, is not fast and certainly not easy, we get discouraged. Unless you’re just one of the lucky learners with a natural aptitude for languages, it is not a so-called walk in the park, and you cannot expect an app to teach you how to speak a language. Some phrases and a few words? Sure. But not to a fluent level. It’s just not going to happen.

When I think about it language learning never actually ends. Even as native English speakers, we run into situations from time to time where we don’t understand vocabulary or thoughts but by interacting with English in our everyday lives, we learn every single day. It’s important we keep that in mind as we take on new languages.

Step 2: Be obsessed with your target language

Now, just because you can’t expect to learn a language from an app or program doesn’t mean they are worthless. They aren’t the key – you are. The speed at which you learn has more to do with the amount of time and dedication you have than the efficacy of any program.

Use the apps, Rosetta Stone, study, change your phone language to your target language, get a grammar workbook, listen to native speakers speaking on podcasts, on YouTube or by watching shows and movies on Netflix. If you are learning Spanish, give the streaming service Pantaya a try. It’s okay if you don’t understand right away, just listening counts for something. Read every single day, even if you don’t understand everything and it takes you an hour to finish a page.

The key is to expose yourself to your target language as much and as often as you possibly can.

Step 3: Get a tutor or sign up for a class

It’s not uncommon for learners to develop higher comprehension levels than their ability to actually produce the language. How often have you heard someone say that they can understand a language but they can’t speak? Or perhaps someone can speak to you in your target language but you respond in English? Speaking is also a skill that must be practiced, and the more the better.

Speak to the native speakers of your target language in your life. Ask them to correct you. If you don’t have any, and even if you do, sign up for a class in your area or online on platforms like Italki or Preply.

I am a big fan of online tutoring platforms like these. I personally have been using Preply for about a year now taking 2 one-hour classes per week. I improved my speaking tremendously and gained a really close friend. (Click here for 70% off your first lesson on Preply. You can thank me later.) They give the opportunity for language learners to practice speaking, learn grammar rules, ask for explanations or clarifications, and build relationships with native speakers. And doing so as it works with your schedule.

Step 4: Stick with it

Find what works for you, prioritizing the things that keep you excited and motivated. If you hate reading, reading in your target language may not be for you. Create an immersive experience and routine that is tailored especially for you, one that you want to keep up with and genuinely enjoy. And that is the REAL key to learning a language.

Here’s what I add into my daily routine to consistently improve my Spanish skills:

• For 30 minutes every morning before work, I listen to the audiobook of the Spanish book I’m reading at the time using Libro.fm (Audible by Amazon is another option that may be better for French selection. Let me know if there are others you use.) I follow along with my book. I practice extensive reading meaning I don’t look up words I don’t know but just aim for general comprehension.

• I watch a telenovela, a series or movie in Spanish online with Spanish subtitles. I google some shows to stream for free, or I use popular streaming sites. Language Learning with Netflix anybody??

• Two days a week, I get online for my one-hour class with my Preply tutor during my lunch break.

• In the evening before bed or throughout the day I read my Spanish book out loud practicing pronunciation and looking up and making not of words I don’t know.

Tip: The internet is your friend! I’m really just maximizing the amount of native speaker content I take in. I follow native Spanish speakers on social media and listen to lots of music in Spanish. And here are the episodes of a telenovela I’m watching featuring my favorite telenovela actress.