by Jakob Straub
Updated by Valentina Rampazzo on July 29, 2024
How to learn a new language: 8 tips for success
Aside from improving brain plasticity and memory as well as boosting creativity, language learning is a worthy investment1. Time and effort-wise. For some very good reasons too. Speaking a foreign language sparks genuine human connections, deep cultural understanding and a developed sense of empathy towards other life stories. How do you learn a new language, though? Where to start?
If, on the one hand, the best way to learn a language is the one that ultimately fits your style and motivation, on the other, any language learner can refer back to a few simple but efficient tips to make their journey less bumpy. So, without further ado, here are 8 of them to support your language-learning journey.
The Foreign Service Institute created a ranking system approximating the time that, as an English speaker, you would need to learn a specific language. There are four categories, from “easiest” (I) to “most challenging”(IV). According to this system, languages such as Spanish or Dutch can take at least 600-750 hours of practice to reach professional working proficiency. To do the same in Arabic, Korean, and Japanese, those hours would increase to 2200. This system isn’t meant to give the ultimate answer to the question. Learning a language is, first and foremost, a very personal experience. Timelines can be tricky and even when you seem to have it all planned out, life events, decreased motivation and personal circumstances might lead you off track. Also, the amount of time needed to learn German might differ, for instance, from how long it will take you to learn Spanish. Each language requires a conscious commitment but several factors affect how long it takes to learn them. Among others:
Taking these into account will help you outline a schedule to stick to as much as possible. Leveraging the following tips will also increase your chances of succeeding in your language-learning quest. Without forgetting to reward yourself along the way and celebrate every linguistic victory!
Start small and add up to your conquests. Learning a language can be intimidating. And being such a long-term commitment, it is fundamental to break your path down into smaller, feasible steps. Create a detailed plan of tasks to accomplish in a specific time frame. Lock time up for a fixed amount of listening and writing each day, learn a couple of words each day or aim to complete an exercise in a certain time. Especially when you’re overwhelmed with a new language at the beginning, step back and remind yourself why you’re learning it. You’re more likely to retain things related to your interests and needs. If pronunciation is important to you, start there; if you need to learn business English for your job, start with the important terms; if you need to be able to converse quickly in Spanish, tackle the most common Spanish phrases first.
Keep a notebook or vocabulary book and record all the words you don’t understand – while studying, watching TV in a foreign language or talking to people. Look up the words and phrases you come across, then study them to better retain them. When you’re staying or working in a foreign country, chances are the things to which you’re exposed daily will move your language learning forward if you pay attention.
The mimicking method entails detecting pronunciation patterns in a foreign language similar to your native language to learn these first. If you are an English native learning Spanish, look for common Spanish cognates and figure out the difference in pronunciation with English, as with “information” and “información,” for example.
Any kind of learning becomes easier in a recurring setup. The same applies to language learning. Devise a schedule for study and practice around the other commitments in your life. Keep in mind that all of us are different types of learners. Be feasible and realistic about sticking to your routine. Set your study time apart as non-negotiable and if you have to miss a session, make sure to never miss more than one in a row.
Alternatively, if some help with consistency is what you need, Lingoda has your back. If building a stable routine is what you aim for, sign up for Lingoda’s Language Sprint and commit to daily classes for one or two months. You’ll still be free to choose the time that suits you best, but if you comply with all the rules of the challenges, a sweet reward is awaiting.
A shorter study session is more beneficial if you’re really focused instead of eyeing the clock. Also, an overall shorter but intense period is better for retaining than a lengthy period of spaced-out lessons. If you can, allot a short period of intense studying rather than committing to just one lesson per week for a couple of months.
Language is for communication, so seize every opportunity to do so. Immerse yourself in conversation in a foreign language any chance you get. Speak up about questions and doubts and get as much practice as possible. Regardless of the amplitude of your vocabulary. You can even challenge yourself to repeat phrases in your head and try out that inner monologue in the new tongue. Or if you prefer an actual partner, guess what? Lingoda’s native-level teachers are there just for this. Start speaking from day one and dive deep into the language of your dreams.
Watching, listening and reading in a foreign language is great for picking up details, common usage of words and phrases, as well as cultural cues and context. Foreign-language films with subtitles, children’s versions or bilingual editions of books are great for beginners. If you’ve picked up a little already, you can listen to or watch the news and start reading newspapers and articles in the target language. Music is also a well-trodden road when it comes to training yourself to fluency, along with podcasts like El Viaje Espanol. Leverage platforms such as Spotify or Soundcloud for language learning.
While this is not available to all, if you have the opportunity, book that flight. Travelling to a country where the language is spoken will give you the opportunity to adapt to different accents and colloquialisms and to immerse yourself fully in the cultural aspects that accompany it.
You have to be consistent in your studies to reach your goals. Stay focused on why you want to learn the new language, celebrate your victories and track your progress. Narrowing your focus on small tasks will help you stay on track. Leverage different methods to enrich your experience, from Lingoda’s classes to movies and social media. To stay motivated, it’s useful to look at the breadth of learning and subject matter you’ve already covered rather than the depth because there’s always the opportunity to go deeper and deeper. And if you’re having a bad day, forget about progress and do a fun exercise to rekindle your enthusiasm!
Start small and add up. Approach the language in a way that builds towards your goal. Tune in a podcast and train your listening to the rhythm of the language (even if you don’t get everything) or note lyrics and expressions down and translate them. Try a new series in the new language and watch it with subtitles, speak as soon as you can and embrace the mistakes you will make. With that discomfort, experience, and confidence will stem, and with time, fluency too.
Effective self-learning revolves around structure. Learning a language by yourself is possible, but you’ll need to create for yourself a consistent routine. Discipline over motivation. Set achievable and clear goals, leverage variegated learning methods and resources to develop your skills comprehensively, and embrace immersive learning opportunities. Transform your surroundings into changes to practice the target language, and don’t forget to monitor and assess regularly with native speakers or practice tests.
