| Learning a new language can be a daunting task, but | | | | There have been many times when I will memorize a |
| one that can enhance your worldly travels like no | | | | list of 10 new words thoroughly, recall them multiple |
| other. If you decide to embark on the quest of learning | | | | times then realize a few days later that I have |
| a new language you might be surprised to find that | | | | forgotten them. The key is to force the words into a |
| you first need to learn how to learn a new language. | | | | longer term memory quickly. After learning a set of |
| There is a bit of a myth that says you can simply | | | | words it is crucial that you review them before learning |
| move to another country, listen to the locals and pick | | | | anything new the next day. A quick 5 minute review |
| up a new language gradually over time. Unfortunately | | | | will quickly link all the words back in your head and put |
| that not really true, I know some people who have | | | | them into a longer term memory. Ensure at the end of |
| lived in China for over 6 years and can only speak a | | | | the week you review each of the words you learned |
| couple sentences to get by. The truth is you need to | | | | during the week one more time, it will only take a few |
| create a system of learning for yourself because and | | | | seconds to reinforce each word again and have them |
| the speed at which you learn will completely rely on | | | | stored in your brain for even longer but failing to do so |
| how affective the learning practices you implement | | | | can have them drop out of your memory quickly. |
| are. | | | | Doing a monthly review is also recommended. After |
| I learned a lot about how to learn a language while | | | | this you will most likely have the words stuck in your |
| studying Japanese in Canada and now more recently | | | | head for good assuming you use them once in a while |
| while learning Chinese here over the past couple | | | | in the future. If you have access to someone else who |
| months. My training in teaching English as a second | | | | speaks the language you are learning use the material |
| language also lead me to some cool insights. I've also | | | | you want to review with them as soon as possible |
| spoken to travelers who have spent loads of time | | | | after learning it. Actually saying the new words in the |
| becoming fluent in new languages who were eager to | | | | context of a conversation helps them stick even |
| share what they learned to prevent others from | | | | stronger. |
| running into the same mistakes as them. | | | | 8. Five minutes when you wake up |
| 1. Ensure you know what you're getting yourself into | | | | The before way to begin your day is to spend the |
| My first advice is to make sure you really really want | | | | very first five minutes after waking up on the |
| to learn the new language. I don't want to discourage | | | | language. Keep a pad of paper with a review of the |
| anyone from doing it, because it's quite a rewarding | | | | previous day's words on it next to your bed and |
| experience, but just be aware that becoming fluent in | | | | review them before you do anything else. The first |
| a new language is incredibly time consuming and at | | | | thing you do in the morning tends to stick with you, just |
| times can be quite overwhelming. In the vast amount | | | | like how the first song you heard on your alarm clock |
| of time you'll spend learning a new language you could | | | | radio gets stuck in your head really easily. Beginning the |
| learn many other valuable things. Make sure you have | | | | day with the new language will get your brain geared |
| a good reason to learn to keep you motivated, if it's | | | | towards it and have lasting effects over the whole |
| just a hobby chances are your determination will | | | | day. |
| waver when things get tough. Learning a language | | | | 9. Five minutes before bed |
| takes hard work and dedication so ensure you're | | | | Your brain tends to process the last thoughts you |
| committed to it. | | | | have before going to bed through the night, and |
| 2. Get the basic pronunciation first | | | | making the last thoughts some new words or phrases |
| The reason so many people develop a thick accent | | | | is a good way to make them stick. Try this and you'll |
| when speaking a second language is that they don't | | | | be surprised how well they pop back into your head in |
| take the time to fix their pronunciation from day one. | | | | the morning. |
| Nearly all languages have a least a couple sounds that | | | | 10. Games |
| can't be properly said using the normal English | | | | Games are an awesome way to spice up your |
| pronunciation but when reading the words they will still | | | | language learning when you're feeling bored with your |
| be written with English letters. The R's in Japanese are | | | | traditional methods. Matching games, Word searches, |
| pronounced closer to a combination of 'L' and 'D'and a | | | | Speed challenges, and Spelling games are awesome |
| Zh in Chinese sounds like a strange 'Juh' sound. Find | | | | for being engaging and interesting. Games are |
| out all the quirks and new sounds you will need to get | | | | excellent because they don't take a lot of motivation |
| used to for your new language and practice them. | | | | and they also engage your brain in different ways |
| Otherwise you'll form bad habits very hard to correct | | | | further reinforcing what you're learning. If you really like |
| in the future. | | | | gaming then know Ubisoft has an awesome series of |
| 3. Basic Memorization | | | | language learning games. I own the My Chinese Coach |
| When memorizing a new word or phrase it's natural to | | | | and My Japanese Coach games and they are an |
| want to look at the word and say its translation over | | | | awesome addition to your learning arsenal. |
| and over in your head, hoping it will stick. This is a very | | | | 11. Constant exposure |
| ineffective way to memorize something. The trick to | | | | If you're surrounded by people who speak the |
| memorization is forcing your brain to let go of the | | | | language you are learning the constant expose will be |
| word and then perform recall on it. Take each English | | | | a huge benefit to your learning. One of the biggest |
| word put the translation in your head then let it go by | | | | benefits to my Chinese learning was meeting my |
| looking at or recalling a different word on your list, then | | | | Chinese girlfriend, she barely speaks any English so it |
| once you've forgotten the original translation attempt to | | | | forces and encourages me to improve my Chinese |
| recall it. | | | | constantly. We also still can have deeper more |
| If you don't know the word with decent certainty don't | | | | meaningful conversations using google translate which |
| guess at it, incorrectly guessing at new words can | | | | is the best translation tool out there. |
| begin to program your brain into recalling the wrong | | | | If you're not lucky enough to be living in a country that |
| thing when you need the word in the future. Think | | | | speaks the language you're learning find other ways to |
| about it for a bit and if it doesn't come back to you | | | | give yourself as much constant exposure impossible. |
| simply look at it again. This process of forgetting and | | | | Use an online resource to meet a friend you can |
| recalling is what makes words stick. When learning a | | | | language exchange with. Take a class with other |
| new group of words stick to around 10 at a time, and | | | | people who want to learn the language and make |
| make sure to do it from English to the other language | | | | friends you can practice with. Find penpals on who |
| and then Vice Versa. It's just as important to know the | | | | speak the language on the internet who are also |
| translation one way for speaking as it is the other way | | | | eager to learn your language and exchange letters |
| for listening. | | | | with them and correct each other's emails. Print out |
| 4. Relating words | | | | new words and place them around your house so you |
| I find I can memorize a group of words in half the time | | | | encounter them often. Listen to music of the language, |
| if I use little memorization tricks. I find a way to link the | | | | or watch movies (even if you need subtitles). Carry |
| new word I'm trying to learn with an English word or | | | | little flashcards in your pocket. Use any and every |
| concept that makes me think of it. An example of this | | | | method you can to surround yourself with the |
| is the Japanese word 'wasureta' meaning I forget. | | | | language as much as possible. |
| When pronounced it sounds a little bit similar to | | | | 12. Use online resources |
| "Where's the letter?" This little association allowed me | | | | Besides Google Translate there are a lot of other free |
| to learn the word after hearing it only once. Anytime I | | | | online resources that can help you learn. Things such |
| forgot I was reminded by saying "I forgot... Where's the | | | | as flashcard websites, free online lessons, language |
| letter?" Even though the pronunciation isn't the same it | | | | learning forums, even interesting specialized sites that |
| was enough to trigger the recall of the actual word in | | | | allows you to, for instance draw Chinese characters |
| my brain. It can be hard to make associations to new | | | | and translate them can help you in your language |
| words sometimes, but it gets easier the more you do it | | | | learning pursuit. Do a Google search for your language |
| and can make memorization a lot faster. | | | | and see what you find! |
| 5. Tackling it from multiple angles | | | | 13. Thinking in the new language |
| Some people are better at learning with audio and | | | | During your daily routine try to think in the language you |
| others are better learning visually, however with a new | | | | are learning as often as possible. At the beginning this |
| language its best to learn both ways. Get some audio | | | | will be limited, but even early on you'll be able to count |
| lessons for the language in question but also grab a | | | | or read phone numbers in the new language. As your |
| good book as well. With a new language there are 4 | | | | skill builds see how long you can make the voice in |
| skills in question, Listening - Speaking - Reading and | | | | your head speak only in the new language. Even if |
| Writing. You may decide that you only want to learn | | | | there is large gaps in your vocabulary say as much of |
| how to listen and speak and therefore decide the only | | | | the sentence as you know in the new language then |
| thing you need is audio lessons, but doing this will turn | | | | fill it in with English words wherever you need. Thinking |
| out to be a mistake. Even if you will never need to | | | | in your new language is the ultimate form of constant |
| read or write anything in the new language, practicing | | | | exposure! |
| these skills will drastically improve your recall speed | | | | 14. The path to mastery |
| and fluency when listening and speaking. Why is this? | | | | Studies show when mastering new skills there is a |
| Every time you read or write a word you are further | | | | certain curve of progress that you should be aware |
| engraining it into your brain in 2 new engaging ways. | | | | of. As long as you apply constant effort, your |
| Even if you already know a word by listening to it and | | | | knowledge will follow a specific pattern. First will be |
| you can say it, seeing it written and then writing it | | | | smooth improvement, then it will slowly level out, then it |
| yourself will lock it into your brain in a way hearing it | | | | will seem like your getting nowhere or even getting |
| and saying it multiple times never can. Even just | | | | slightly worse then you will have a breakthrough. This |
| listening to audio lessons and writing down the new | | | | pattern will repeat many times as you learn, you'll have |
| sentences you learn can speed up your learning | | | | multiple periods of days where you'll feel you're not |
| drastically, you'll be amazed at how easily you | | | | getting any better, but then also multiple breakthroughs |
| remember something and how long it sticks when you | | | | that make you feel awesome about how far you've |
| practice it with all 4 language skills. | | | | come. For that reason never give up when you get |
| 6. Choose your tools | | | | discouraged because a breakthrough is right around |
| There are many different tools available when learning | | | | the corner. |
| a language and it's important to find out what kind of | | | | 15. Have fun every step of the way |
| tools will be the most useful to you. Take a look at | | | | While learning a language can be difficult and time |
| each of the following and decide which ones you want | | | | consuming it can also be really rewarding. Every time |
| to incorporate. | | | | you meet a new friend thanks to your new language |
| In Class Lessons, Sentence building books, | | | | ability it will make all the studying worth it. Don't be too |
| Phrasebooks, Flashcards, Computer Software, | | | | hard on yourself during real conversation, have fun |
| Language Games, Audio Lessons, Online Lessons | | | | with it and don't be afraid to laugh at yourself when |
| Forums, Penpals, Movies, Music. | | | | your ideas just aren't getting across right, and make |
| I have found the most effective audio lessons to be | | | | sure you are remember to be proud of yourself every |
| the ones from Pimsleur. | | | | time you effectively use what you recently learned. |
| 7. Review what you learned | | | | |