Learn a Language on Your Own
Learning a new language alone can be a great way to immerse yourself in the culture and learn before you begin your travels. However, it can also be challenging to stay motivated on your own.
Thankfully, there are plenty of resources out there to help you. But how do you know which ones are right for you?
Make a Plan
If you’re self-motivated and able to learn at your own pace, it’s possible to take the plunge and start learning a new language independently. But to make this happen, you’ll need a plan, a support network to keep you motivated, and suitable materials.
To help you set up your language learning plan, it’s essential to understand why you want to learn a language and what you want to achieve. A clear understanding of why you are learning will give you the motivation and drive to keep going.
Ideally, you’ll also want to establish short- and medium-term and long-term goals. These will help to give you direction and structure as you learn while also giving you a timescale for your progress.
One of the most effective ways to learn a new language is by practicing it in real life. This will get you used to using the vocabulary in a natural and relevant way, and you’ll be much more likely to remember it when you use it!
Another way to practice your new language is to volunteer in a community or business with a high concentration of people who speak the language you are trying to learn. These can be local restaurants, stores, or even community organizations that serve immigrants in your city.
It can also be helpful to find a language tandem, where you partner with someone who is already familiar with the language and has similar language skills. This can be done either in person or online. These are often free options to help you meet your language learning goals, and they’ll help to immerse you in the language.
Set Aside Enough Time
If you want to learn a new language independently, you must set aside time each day to practice. This can range from 30 minutes in the morning to a few hours each night, depending on your goals and what you’re learning.
Keeping a journal is another excellent way to keep track of your progress and check in with yourself about what you’re doing. Jotting down what you’ve learned and what challenges you’ve had can help keep you on track to reach your language-learning goals.
The best language-learning habits are ones that you can sustain over time. The best way to do this is to build a habit of studying regularly, says Bowles. She recommends starting with a fixed study time each day and increasing it as you gain confidence.
You can also make it easy to stick to your language-learning schedule by setting your phone, computer, and email to the target language. This will make it easier for you to stay focused and avoid getting distracted.
Use language-learning apps to keep up with the news and other topics in your target language. This can be a fun and convenient way to spend a few minutes daily.
Instead of trying to remember every word in a textbook, ask yourself questions about your life and how you would say them in the language you’re learning. This will be much more useful than simply memorizing tables of verbs.
You can also try using language-learning flashcards to help you remember words and phrases. They can be portable and are incredibly convenient if you’re on the go.
Make It Fun
If you are trying to learn a language independently, it is important to make the experience enjoyable. You will want to keep doing it to improve your skills.
One way to make learning fun is by trying new activities in the language you are studying. This can be as simple as listening to music in the language you are looking at or watching a foreign film or TV show.
Listening to music is a fun way to learn a language because it lets you hear different words and phrases regularly. It is also a great way to learn pronunciation because it can help you build confidence and improve your language ability.
Another fun way to learn a language is by reading children’s books in the language you are studying. This can help you discover new words and phrases by hearing them spoken aloud by an author native to the language.
Getting involved with local culture is also a great way to make learning a language fun. Taking part in cultural events such as festivals or museums is an excellent way to get a feel for the country and its language.
Meet with other language learners from your target country or find online chat groups to communicate in your new language. This will allow you to practice your vocabulary and introduce you to new friends who are also interested in your language!
Another great way to make learning a language fun is by making your notes super pretty. Using a variety of colours can be a great way to keep your notes organized and motivate yourself to continue studying.
Get a Tutor
Learning a new language can be a daunting task. With so many options, getting confused and hiring the wrong tutor can be easy.
If you’re looking for a great tutor to help you learn a language, choose someone who understands your goals and works with you to achieve them. They should also be friendly and approachable.
The first thing you should look for is whether the tutor has a good reputation online. It may be a sign that they don’t take their teaching seriously if they’re not well-known.
You can also check their profile to see how many sessions they have completed and how quickly they respond to messages. This will give you an idea of how much time they spend on tutoring and how much they take it seriously.
A tutor who has been around for a while will have gathered many resources over time that they can use to teach you a new language. They will also have experience with what works best for different types of students and what doesn’t.
Getting a tutor to help you learn a language can be a great way to improve your skills and have fun at the same time. However, choosing the right tutor for your needs and budget is important.
Choosing the correct language tutor can be difficult, but it’s worth researching to find one suitable for your needs and budget. Taking the time to get it right can make a big difference to your progress and satisfaction with the tutor.
Learn a New Language Quickly
Review What You’ve Learned
As with any language learning plan, you must review what you’ve learned. It can feel like a chore compared to learning new words, but it’s important to ensure that you’re not forgetting anything and are building on your progress.
This review should include any mistakes you’ve made along the way, so if you’re having trouble with a word or grammar rule, it may be worth spending some extra time on it in a future review session. It also might be helpful to team up with another learner to test each other and provide feedback and review.
Lastly, make sure to practice in different environments and situations. In other words, try out your new skills when travelling. This will ensure you don’t get comfortable with one problem and therefore lose your ability to learn a language.
