Science shows that learning a second language
can help you solve problems more critically,
focus more intensely, and even keep your brain alert as you age. That's not
even mentioning the practical benefits in life of being able to talk to more
people and travel more widely.
1.
Accept that
you're going to say many wrong things: In my opinion
this is the single most important piece of language learning advice you can
ever get. Take it to heart. Ask anyone who's lived abroad and they'll have
absolutely mortifying language mess ups to share. You cannot avoid these
stumbles without also avoiding learning. Figure out
pronunciation patterns.
All Latin-based languages will have similar pronunciation patterns based on
Latin words. For instance, any word that ends in “-tion” in English will almost
always end in “-ción” in Spanish and “-ção” in Portuguese.
English-speakers
are notorious for simply adding “-o” “-e” or “-a” to the end of English words
to say Spanish words they don’t know. But stereotypes aside, it’s surprising
how often it’s correct. There will be a
lot of ambiguity and miscommunication. Fact of the matter is that for
many, many words, the translations are not direct.
Nuanced
conversations over important matters will likely require double the effort to
nail down the exact meaning for each person than it would between two native
speakers. No matter how good you are in your new language, you’re not likely to
have a complete grasp over the slight intuitive differences between each word,
phrase or idiom that a native speaker does without living in the country for
years.
2.
Communication is essential: An hour of conversation (with corrections and
a dictionary for reference) is as good as five hours in a classroom and ten
hours with a language course by yourself. There are a few reasons for this. The
first is motivation. I don’t care how cool your study guide is. You’re going to
be far more invested and motivated to communicate with a live person in front
of you than a book or audio program on your computer.
The second reason is that language is something that
needs to be processed not memorized. I’m no expert on language learning, but in
my experience with memorizing flashcards does not compare to being forced to
use words in conversation.
I believe the reason is that our minds place more
priority on memories which involve actual human and social experiences. You’re
able to understand far more than you speak. Once you’re able to speak and
listen without thinking about it, you’ll begin to actually think in the foreign language itself
without effort.
3.
Concentration
of study is better than length of learning: This
means an intensive course of four hours a day for a week beats one hour a week
for twenty weeks by a long shot. It's better to allot a particular period of
your life even if it's only one to two weeks. Go at it one hundred percent,
than to half do it over the course of months or years.
This is
one reason why so many people take language classes in school and never
remember anything. It’s because they only study three to four hours per week,
and often the classes are separated by multiple days. Language requires a lot
of repetition, a lot of reference experiences, and a consistent investment.
4.
Keep practicing
in your head: Challenge yourself to think in the new language. We all have
monologues running in our head, and typically they run in our native tongue.
You can continue to practice and construct sentences and fake conversations in
your head in a new language. This sort of visualization leads to much easier
conversations when you actually have them. It rapidly builds new skills in the
new language.
You can begin to think about how you would
describe your job and explain why you’re in the foreign country in the new
language. Those questions will come up and you’ll be ready to answer them.
5.
One-on-one
tutoring is the best and most efficient use of time: If
you have the money, getting a tutor, and sitting with them for a few hours
every day is the fastest way to learn a new language." One-on-one tutoring is the best and most efficient use of time. It’s also usually
the most expensive use of time, depending on the language and country.
6.
Start with the
one hundred most common words: This is common
sense but totally bears repeating. Not all vocabulary is made the same. Some gives you a better return on investment than other.
Start with the one hundred most common words, and then make sentences with them
over and over again.
Learn just enough grammar to do this, and feel
comfortable with all of them. Focus on becoming
conversational.
One hundred words in any language account for 50% of all spoken communication.
The most common 1,000 words account for 80% of all spoken communication. The
most common 3,000 words account for 99% of communication. In other words, there
are some serious diminishing returns from learning more vocabulary.
The basic grammar should get you speaking
fundamental sentences within a matter of days. Once you’re able to joke
consistently in the new language, that’s a pretty good sign that it’s time to
expand your vocabulary out. Use audio
and online courses for the first one
hundred words and basic grammar. After that they
should only be used for reference and nothing more.
“Learning a foreign language, and the culture that goes with it, is
one of the most useful things we can do to broaden the empathy and imaginative
sympathy and cultural outlook of children.” (Michael Gove) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“22 Tips for Learning A Foreign Language” Mark Manson
·
“5 Tricks to
Learn a Foreign Language Way Faster” by Jessica Stillman
Topic suggested by my daughter, Allena Kinker
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