Want to learn a new language easily? I have 10 tips for you.

Learning a new language can make you excel at the workplace, find opportunities in new places, and meet new people. We know it’s a difficult path to travel, which is the reason why many people give up, because they don’t see immediate results, but this article will make everything a lot easier and practical.

Here I provide you with some tips and tricks that will help you during this fruitful and rewarding process:

1 - Start conversations constantly

Let's start with the most important advice. If there is a secret to learning a new language, it is to have hours and hours of conversation with a person who already has an advanced level, no matter how uncomfortable can it be.

One hour of conversation is more effective than five hours of just listening to a class or ten hours of just reading.

2 - Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

It’s very common to be afraid of making mistakes, but this must be avoided if you want to follow the previous advice correctly.

People who know a language well can be the ones who teach you how to speak, so any attempt you make to communicate will be your starting point for them to guide you into the correct use of this new language.

3 - Intensity is more effective than time

This works when it comes to studying. Practicing four hours a day for two weeks brings more benefits than an a couple hours a day in two months. This is the reason why many people who see language subjects in school, don’t remember anything at the end of the course. Each class is very separate from the other and that can delay the learning process.

4 - Your new language is an opportunity for new experiences

Adding another language to your repertoire can open many doors for you. There are many easy-access resources in other languages that you can use once you reach an advanced level. From movies, series and cartoons, to study guides, cooking recipes and any other type of content.

5 - Set realistic and specific goals

You must ask yourself what you want to achieve and when do you want it. Learning is more bearable when you can achieve goals in just a few months, because it is much more motivating and realistic.

Maybe you feel very optimistic and your propose is to speak fluently in a short time by studying with great intensity, but this might not be the best idea, because you will feel quickly overwhelmed. A recommended goal is to finally read a blog article without having to search anything in the dictionary.

6 - Do not underestimate the importance of translation

During the different stages of learning a new language, you need different approaches. When you get to an intermediate or advanced level, you may feel stuck at some point. Therefore, in order to give continuity to your progress you must always make full translations.

This is a very important exercise, because it does not let you paraphrase and it pushes you to a next level.

7 - Start with the 100 most common words

Find the most used words and make sentences with them over and over again. Learn enough grammar until you feel comfortable with all the phrases you’ve created along the way.

8 - Practice in your head. Always.

Let’s be real, you will not always have someone to talk and practice. So you’re going to have to make up those scenarios in your head. Challenge yourself to have thoughts in your new language, make monologues about what happens in your day and keep building common phrases.

9 - Take your time with pronunciation patterns

After so much reading, it is normal to confuse the way some letters are pronounced between your native language and the one you’re learning. A very common example is everything that ends in "-tion" in English, it is the equivalent of "-ción" in Spanish and "-ção" in Portuguese.

Investigate these rules and learn them, it will be very important for your sentences to make sense.

10 - If it’s possible, travel to the country where your new language is spoken

If you’re getting very serious about this new language, you should know that the most effective learning tool is to immerse yourself in the culture and daily life of the people who speak it. Those who spend a good time in that country, come back knowing slang words & gestures to go along with phrases and other conditions, giving you the best results possible.

Leave me a comment with the new language you want to learn & master!
Mine is french, tell me what's yours.