Laziness is not the reason why most people stop learning a language; rather, it is the result of spending months memorizing grammar rules and vocabulary lists, using a textbook to help them learn how to have a conversation, and still freezing when speaking to someone who speaks the language. You do not have to experience this.
The first major breakthrough in learning a language happens when you stop pursuing perfection. Many students think that they need to know thousands of words before they can begin speaking. In actuality, when people have a conversation, there are a surprisingly small number of common phrases that are used. Once you feel comfortable using these phrases naturally, your confidence will grow much faster than if you wait until you “know enough”.
Most traditional classrooms have this concept backwards. Instead of helping students learn to communicate early on, they spend months focussing on grammar and written exercises along with a lot of vocabulary that will not be used in everyday conversation. Therefore, it is very common for someone to study a language for years and not be able to introduce themselves.
The solution is to treat language learning like a living skill rather than as an academic subject.
Think about how children learn to communicate. Children learn to communicate by listening, copying, and making mistakes gradually develop confidence and communication skills through repeated exposure.
Grown-ups have an opportunity to take advantage of this same process; however, it is generally more difficult for those who have grown up learning as an adult.
Due to the distractions created by work and school commitments, family obligations, and limited leisure time, it can be a real challenge for an adult to maintain consistent practice. That’s why developing a simple routine is significantly more important than trying to find the “best” textbook or learning application.
For example, practicing consistently for only 30 minutes each day may be more beneficial than spending many hours at the end of the week.
Another mistake made often by learners (especially new learners) is using only one method of learning.
To learn the language you want to speak (and to be proficient), you will need to practice using video/audio/visual and written formats. Practicing in more than two formats will allow for more effective brain stimulation and help to keep the learning process fun while developing multiple language skills at the same time.
Likewise, motivation is another factor that most people underestimate.
If you primarily use the goal of “someday I will be able to speak Spanish” as your foundation to learn, you may find it difficult to keep going. But if your goal of learning Spanish is driven by reasons such as to travel through South America, communicate with family members, work overseas, or to watch foreign films without subtitles, then all of your study sessions will all have stronger purposes.
Your “reason” drive (or ”why”) becomes just as important as your study program.
Confidence is another skill that you can develop, at the same time as gaining vocabulary skills.
Most learners do not take part in the conversation because they are frightened to make errors. Ironically, by staying away from conversations you extend the amount of time it will take for you to improve in our target language. Each time you stumble on your grammar, don’t pronounce the word correctly, or forget a word from your target language, you are not being unsuccessful but learning.
The fastest learners do not necessarily possess higher intelligence than others.
In fact, they are generally the people who are willing to risk sounding bad for some period of time.
There can also be a myriad of different types of memory techniques between two individuals.
For example, some people will memorize vocabulary through visual images; others may remember the same vocabulary through writing lists of words over and over again. Also, other individuals will learn new vocabulary through conversations and hearing that new vocabulary. Therefore, there is no one system that works best for every person, which is completely acceptable.
Maximizing your ability to learn a new language involves applying a number of different strategies that work with your unique method of acquiring knowledge.
When we learn languages, we often fail to understand how much of the experience is psychological in nature.
Expectations will have a larger effect on your success than you may be aware of; for example, if you think you will achieve fluency in a few weeks you will become quickly disappointed, but if you understand that your progress will come from repeating yourself until it is habitual, then you will celebrate each little step forward you take.
As such, you will begin to notice more of your progress as well.
When attempting to acquire vocabulary, one of the best habits to develop is learning words in context instead of as isolated lists.
Therefore, rather than trying to memorize random lists of vocabulary words, you should instead focus on learning phrases that you can use in practical situations; your brain will remember complete phrases associated with meaningful experiences much better than it remembers words by themselves.
As well, this allows you to produce (speak) using complete thoughts rather than having to translate each individual word.
You do not need to purchase an expensive airline ticket to immerse yourself in your new language; instead, you can use various forms of media such as music, videos (YouTube), podcasts, television shows, social media sites, books, etc., to build a daily habit of interacting with your new language.
Over time, these simple daily interactions will allow your brain to begin thinking in your new language without the perception of feeling like you are studying formally.
In the vast majority of cases, achieving consistent results takes priority over achieving intense results when learning a new language.
Ultimately, there isn’t a “quick fix” to learning a new language, but you will achieve success if you keep applying all of the methods and ideas discussed above.
The process of learning another language is still going to take time, interest, and practice. However, the use of “practical” ways (as opposed to the “overwhelming” ways) means fewer headaches for you during the journey.
Instead of focusing on how “perfect” your grammar is as a measure of success. You can assess success through being able to have an additional sentence understood than you did yesterday, being able to carry on a longer conversation, or confidently ordering food at your next foreign country trip.
Learning another language gives access to more than just conversation. It also allows you to access into different cultures, build new friendships, develop new opportunities and open up many ways to view the world.
As communication becomes less of a barrier, travel becomes richer in terms of experience on a personal level, and will feel “home” in locations that were once alien to you.
This is a great reason why there are so many great long-term returns on investing in learning another language.
