7 Tips for Learning a Foreign Language Without Effort
Learning a language can be a long and tedious process. Spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, sometimes even a new alphabet. And then there’s grammar, which is boring enough in your own language, let alone trying to learn it in a foreign one.
What if I told you there were ways for you to learn a language without going through all of that? Don’t believe me? Try some of these tips and see how fast you find yourself speaking a new language:
1 – Listen to Music in That Language
Everybody likes music. Music speaks to every person from every culture. Music is also a great way for you to get to know more about another country’s culture. Pull up some YouTube videos with the lyrics accompanying the music. Start by writing down the lyrics in the original language. Then learn the translation. Sing along to the music to help with memorization. In no time, you’ll have the song memorized and have a whole song’s worth of vocabulary under your belt. Simple!
2 – Use Study Apps
There are so many handy apps for studying foreign languages on the market today that you might even feel lost when choosing one. Most such apps allow you to learn by playing. You can develop your vocabulary, improve grammar and in some cases even communication skills. If English is the language you are aimed to learn, consider these apps for studying English.
3 – Join an Online Language Exchange Network
Take advantage that we’re in the digital age and join a virtual language exchange. There are dozens of them. Sites like Mixxer, My Language Exchange, Coeffee and many more all link you to native speakers so each party can get the most out of the language exchange experience.
4 – Watch Films, Television and Videos
This is another great way for you to absorb a language without hitting the books. Find films in that language and watch their original versions. To start, you can watch with English subtitles. As you get better, you can put the subtitles in the same language as the film and eventually even take them off altogether. You can also watch television series and online videos in that language. The more you expose yourself to hearing the language, the better your listening comprehension and speaking skills will become.
5 – Find Facebook Friends from That Country
Social networks can be a great way for you to expose yourself to a different language. As you add friends, you’ll be more exposed to the way people actually express themselves on a daily basis, not just the formal language you learn in some course. You’ll be able to read their posts, chat with them and take advantage of the free and fun language lesson. Unfortunately, this way of learning a foreign language won’t help you speak that language – only write. Some tips on how to speak English as a native speaker are here.
6 – Do a Live Language Exchange
If you happen to live in a metropolitan city where it’s more likely to have one-on-one language exchanges and even language cafes, take advantage of it. Sitting down and talking in person with someone who is a native speaker is one of the best ways for you to learn how to speak. They’ll be able to teach you new words, correct your pronunciation and grammar mistakes and help you learn the language you want to learn while having fun.
7 – Travel
If you have the means and the freedom, why not simply travel to another country to learn the language they speak? That way you’ll be surrounded by the language 24/7 and be forced to learn how to speak it in order to make yourself understood. If you do this, don’t fall into a common trap: a lot of people travel to another country to learn a language and end up speaking English with other expats and travelers or relying on the English of the native speakers they meet there. Make sure you take the opportunity to practice your new language as much as possible.
