In the English-speaking world, many feel they have little incentive to learn a second language. Which is a shame, because it’s such a wonderful, intriguing and strange experience, to learn how to communicate in another language. People assume English to be the most widely spoken language in the world, when it is actually the third in terms of number of native speakers, with 5.43% of the world’s population, far behind Mandarin (14.4%) and Spanish (6.15%).
With globalization and the incredible ease with which we can contact a large number of the world’s population through the internet, there is no better time to learn a second language. Here are our 11 steps towards being able to speak fluently.
1. Get a Good Grounding
Read at least two beginner’s guides, and download a few apps for your phone or tablet to run through during otherwise idle moments, like waiting for the bus or sitting on the train. Getting to grips with the basic phrases and accent is, in some respects, the most fun part. It will benefit you to learn this before diving straight in and immersing yourself, trying to learn as you go along.
2. Constantly Revise & Revisit Old Material
During a recent trip to South America, I had a go at learning Spanish; however, I found just reading my Spanish guide or going through my app once was not enough. During the early stages, as the language was so alien to me, I had to constantly re-read material I had already learned to get myself used to the accent and embed it in my brain.
3. Surround Yourself With It
Design your life so you have more exposure to the language you are trying to learn. Keep a newspaper or magazine in the language on your kitchen table. Set your internet home page as a news site for your foreign language – then find interesting articles to read. Change your phone’s operating language, and listen to a DAB radio station in that language. Find good movies in the language, here and here are good places to start. Put subtitles in your chosen language on anything you watch, and make a conscious effort to read them.
4. Give Yourself Some In Field Training
Get some practice in with native speakers by going to a restaurant where you know the people that run it speak the language, or visiting the country on holiday. A fantastic way to make friends and learn a foreign language is by joining a Spanish speaking group – there is likely to be one near you in one of the major cities. The website Meetup is great for finding these types of groups, not to be confused with meetme, which is more of a seedy dating type of site.
5. Fake It Until You Make It
When conversing with native speakers, it is better to roll with it and try to engage them in conversation in the language, even if your knowledge is little to none. Otherwise it is difficult to get a start, and if the native speaker knows English, they will instantly revert to it. When speaking, stick to what you know, and try to listen to and learn what you don’t.
6. Sub-vocalise Your Life In The Language You Are Trying to Learn
Try to think in the language. When grab your coffee cup in the morning think of the word for coffee cup. When your friends walk into the room, think of how to say ‘They walk into the room,” or if you are not that advanced yet, just the words for “they” or “walk.” This will really boost up the amount of hours you spend practicing the language.
7. Get A Native Pen Friend
Develop a long term friendship with a native speaker and offer to help them learn English in exchange for helping you learn their language. This is the best way to get a good teacher without having to pay for it, and you will get a more realistic grasp of the language than the one you learn in books. Two great sites for finding pen friends are Penpalworld (free) and Ipfworld (fee).
8. Keep A Journal In That Language
Commit to writing in it monthly. This will give you a never-ending list of new words to learn.
9. Start Your Own Dictionary Or Phrasebook
Carry a notebook with you in which you have written your most used phrases and words. Every time you come across a new word write it down in the notebook to look up when you get home. It will give you something to refer to — not to mention you’ll see how much you have learned as you fill up the notebook — and the act of writing it down will help you remember it.
10.When You Feel Ready, Go For Full Immersion
Meet with a native speaker who doesn’t speak English, run an errand on your own when holidaying, or explore a non touristy part of the country where they speak the language you are trying to learn. If possible, spend some time living in the native country. Full immersion will give you far more memorable ways of learning new words as you are learning from direct experience rather than a book.
Remember, you learn by making mistakes, so make it your goal to make as many (unintentional) mistakes as possible. The same as a chef comes to be able to cook a perfect steak from cooking it wrong many times, and a young bird learns to fly by unsuccessfully trying to fly and hitting the ground, you will lose and then find your footing with your new language.
11.Persevere and Don’t Give Up
You will have loads of fun learning and picking up the basics, but it takes a while to get fluent. Just keep moving with it, learning new words and relaying over things you have already learned. You’ll get there.
What is the best way you have found to learn a new language? Please share in the comments below.
Recommended Reads:
Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World by Benny Lewis
How to Learn Any Language in a Few Months While Enjoying Yourself: 45 Proven Tips for Language Learners by Nate Nicholson
Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It by Gabriel Wyner
About The Author
Sam Lloyd-Bennett is a mathematician come writer, residing in Manchester UK. He believes in love, happiness, and working together to create a better world. Please visit his site The Junto Times for more of his writing, and to join many others for his famous Free Book Club. Live and let grow!
Jessica Festa
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Hi Jessica, I have really enjoyed that guest post by am. Learning a new language isn’t always about how widespread it is. It’s more of learning a different culture and appreciating others too.
I really love these tips, I think they are worth sharing and using a s a resource for beginners who are learning new languages, so I will be sharing with some students I know of. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work guys.
Cindy
@Cindy: Thank you so much!
I don’t travel much but I really love the idea of learning new languages. & for that purpose i read e-books. With free online e-books I was able to learn French to large extent.
Though I really love your tips, the 8th point specially about keeping a journal of the language you are learning 🙂
@Gene: Journaling seems to be good for everything..language learning, stress, growing your relationship with yourself. We should probably all have them!
This is some really good information about learning another language. It does seem like a good idea to get as immersed as possible. Finding a native speaker does seem like a good way to learn. It might be best to find a native speaker who speaks your language as well.