Want to begin learning a new language, but don’t know where or how to start? Maybe you’re interested in some of the world’s hardest languages, like Mandarin or Arabic, but feel overwhelmed by their complex alphabets. Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this article I’m going to reveal a few tips that will not only help you learn a language but will also lead you on to a path of complete mastery.
Tip #1
Firstly, choose to study a language that has a similar alphabet to that of your native language. For example, if your native language is English and you wish to study a Romance language, such as Spanish or French, then you will already be at an advantage since these alphabets are quite similar. However, if you wish to study Japanese, which uses an incredible three alphabets, my advice here would be to fully acquaint yourself with hiragana – Japan’s main writing system. This will make it easier to recognise and remember words. This applies to all non-Romance languages, like Arabic, Scottish and Hungarian, which all use different writing systems. You’ll be amazed how quickly you begin to pick up a new language when you can already read and recognise new words!
Tip #2
Take it slow. Learning a new language can be a time-consuming but rewarding process; it doesn’t happen overnight. Once you’re fluent, you’ll be able to connect with people around the world and learn about new cultures. Dedication, repetition, and time commitment are instrumental to becoming proficient in your new language. Sometimes you may feel frustrated at the seemingly infinite vocabulary of Korean, or even annoyed at the very specific intonation required for Mandarin (a slight error can result in a completely different word) or maybe you just find pronunciation a little too tricky. The first thing to do here is to stop, take a break and try again the next day. You’ll be surprised how much more focused you’ll be and before you know it, you’ll be saying advanced sentences in no time. If you’re looking for extra support, an online tutor would be an excellent choice to help identify knowledge gaps and learn content at a faster pace.
Tip #3
Try to immerse yourself in the culture of your desired language. Watch movies, read beginner-level books, and listen to podcasts. Even read some books and write down sentences you have learned. This will also help with remembering those tricky and easily forgotten sentences or words. You could also get a friend to start learning the language with you – there’s nothing like a little friendly competition!
Tip #4
No Romanisation. If you’ve began studying a language that doesn’t use a Latin-based alphabet, like Chinese, Korean or Arabic, do not use romanisation. If you’ve just started, though, it’s okay to get an approximation of how the characters sound. But I wouldn’t recommend using romanisation continuously; it’s best to get used to the sounds of the language as you go. Because romanisation is just a close approximation, you’ll get confused quite quickly. So, try to learn the sounds of the alphabet first. The entire learning process will be much easier down the track.
Tip #5
Maybe one of the most difficult aspects of mastering a new language is getting the accent right. It’s not completely necessary, of course, but it will help to make you sound more like a native speaker. Again, my best advice here would be to watch movies and listen to music or podcasts. When you’re studying, try to speak like the native speakers you’re listening to and not in your native ‘accent’. It will be hard at first, but you’ll slowly get used to it.
Conclusion
Studying a new language may seem like a daunting task, trust me, but it does come with many benefits, both socially and mentally. You will have a sharper memory and more focus, as well as gain better awareness and overall cognitive function. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the doors you’ll open to new cultures and its people. But this is just if you learn one language. And who knows, you may even go on to learn three, four or ten! Remember, anyone can do it.
Anyone can learn a new language. From Spanish to German to Arabic or Chinese, there’s no ‘easy’ or ‘hard’ language; it all depends on your level of exposure (media, movies, or language similarities) and your dedication. Consistent, daily practice really helps. Be dedicated, focused, and if you’re passionate enough, you’ll be speaking fluently in no time.
