10 tips for those who want to enjoy learning a foreign language

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Learning a new language can be compared to mastering a new profession. In both cases, the amount of work is such that you don't immediately understand where to start. We've put together 10 tips to help you learn new languages and make learning more fun.

We are dozens of times about how important it is to know foreign languages. In this article, we have put together all the ways to learn a new language. Their distinguishing feature is interesting, something that was never in many old textbooks. Don't get me wrong, I myself learned from the books of Golitsinsky. But now there are much more interesting ways.

1. Learn while surfing the Internet

It's not that hard. I'm sure you spend a lot of time in the browser, so why not devote a small part of it to the language? For example, the Language Immersion extension replaces the language of some words and phrases on the sites you visit. does about the same, but also creates cards for later practice.

2. Remember the surrounding objects

Besides the browser, you also spend a lot of time interacting with the surrounding objects. This does not mean that you should stick a sticker on your cat, but, for example, on your phone, refrigerator or computer you can. This will increase your vocabulary at least a little.

3. Use the Anki service

We have already written about this. Anki is considered one of the best learning tools in general. Smartcards teach you through repetition and adapt by recognizing your strengths and weaknesses.

4. Open Duolingo if you want to learn in a playful way

Learning with is pretty fun, but most importantly it's rewarding. Many such services do not respect the line between play and learning, showing cards with the word "car" when you already know all 12 tenses of the verb. Duolingo avoids this problem and allows you to learn and meet native speakers. And it will help you test your knowledge.

5. Take courses

We make a selection of the best courses on Coursera every month, but that's just a drop in the bucket. For example, hundreds of courses for studying 48 languages have been collected. The selection is quite old, but has not lost a single drop of relevance.

6. Remember that a smartphone is useful too

Hundreds or even thousands of language learning apps can be useful too. However, not all of them. If you feel like learning in a fun way, try Cat Spanish. This app teaches Spanish using funny pictures of cats. Since learning with a smartphone is momentary, many applications adapt to this. The duration of training sessions is no more than five minutes. For Android, there is an alternative -.

7. Write down everything you hear

We remember information more efficiently when we write it down by hand. So when listening to an audio tutorial or podcast, grab a pen and write down everything you hear. Or at least those phrases that cause you doubts, so that you can double-check them later.

8. Learn while having fun

I talked about why I try to read books in the original. Not only do you eliminate the intermediate link in the form of a translator between you and the author, you also develop your knowledge of the language. You can start with less - watching movies with subtitles. Then, as you become better at understanding the spoken language, Russian subtitles can be replaced with English, and then completely get rid of them. It's the same with music. When listening to foreign performers, try to understand what they are singing about.

9. Chat with native speakers

This can be done both live and with the help of services. We will not teach you how to talk to people live, we will rather tell you about interesting services. For example, or they allow you to find an interlocutor or teacher who will teach you individually or in a group with other students online.

10. Follow proven tips

Our colleagues at Lifehacker.com have published scientifically based tips to help you learn new languages. Here is some of them:

• Use delayed repetition (Duolingo works this way).
• You can study a little before bed. During sleep, the brain sends all the temporary information to the "storage".
• Study the content, not the language itself. Read, listen and watch what interests you.
• Learn every day and in small portions. This will make it easier for the brain to remember information.
• Mix new and already learned. Use only learned words with familiar ones - the brain will get used to them faster.