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10 Tips For Learning Languages Faster and Easier.

 

Learning English takes time, there is no doubt about that, but in this article, I would like to share some helpful tips for making the process quicker and more efficient.

I hope that they help

1. Tune In

Whether you’re at home doing the housework, on the bus, or driving to work find some radio stations and podcasts on iTunes and listen in. Find music groups and artists and download their music.

There are tonnes of podcasts about all topics imaginable including entertainment, politics, news, and science. A good way to find great podcasts is through a TV channel you usually watch. Look up topics that interest you and listen to it.

Even if you’re not actively listening you’re still learning subconsciously. Your ear will become accustomed to the sound and flow of the language.

Mix up the kinds of things you listen to. Listen to the news, interviews, documentaries, narratives, and of course music! By changing up the format you’ll start to recognize words in context. Music is even more powerful as words will stay ingrained in your memory.

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2. Watch Videos, Movies, YouTube, Netflix…

The next time you sit down to watch a movie put the subtitles on and/or turn on dubbing. Get subscriptions to Netflix, Disney+, HBO or one of the other multitude of streaming services so as you are able to have access to a huge variety of different shows. Put the subtitles on of the language you want to learn.

Another great tip is to watch your favorite movies with English subtitles on. That way you can focus more on the language and less on the plot and storyline. 

Next time you watch any movie, look up the original and foreign title on IMDB.com. More often than not the translation won’t correspond directly to the original. But find out what the title really means. Ask yourself how the translation makes sense. What is its relation to the movie? You will never forget a new word that once it’s associated with an unforgettable movie. Works every time!

Get on YouTube and watch documentaries or interviews with your favorite foreign actors. Try looking at the comments to pick up some words and sentences you aren’t familiar with, but be careful there are all kinds of bizarre things in YouTube comments.

3. Use Your Mobile Phone or Tablet

Change the language of your mobile phone or tablet to English. This is a great way to learn the imperative tense as well as intuit new words because you have an idea of what their meaning is.

Hear someone speaking English on the bus? Or in the restaurant? Try and sit near them. Listen in…, see what words you can pick up, and listen to the flow of the conversation. How much did you understand? What were they talking about? Did you hear an interesting word you might want to look up after?



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5. Pay Attention to Ads

Pay attention to billboards, signs, advertisements, magazine stands, and establishment names. Look and think about what these ads mean. How many words do you recognize? Did you see that same word elsewhere? This is a great way to learn figure of speech as well and brush up on the imperative tense.

6. Learn the Lyrics

Try figuring out the words/lyrics of your favorite songs. You can even watch video clips with lyrics on YouTube and sing along. Read the translation and build up your vocabulary.



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7. Watch TV

Start watching TV shows, movies or soap operas in that language. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand what they’re saying, watch anyway! Try to understand why something is funny or sad. If the joke is related to the word itself, then maybe that is why the joke does not make sense in your native language. What would be the best translation into your language then?

8. Use Social Media

Engage in a conversation on Facebook with friends who post in that language. When you have foreign language speakers on your timeline, you see their posts daily and get inside information about news and viral videos in their language. Your friends can be your teachers! Their timeline basically sorts out the best material for you to study.



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9. Start Talking

No matter how shy you are or how much you don’t “get” the language, force yourself to speak. Maybe you help out a tourist who looks lost. They won’t mind you struggling with the language while you’re doing them a favor!

After class, talk to your teacher about how things are going and what you need help with within your studies.

When traveling, ask around for directions in that language, even if you don’t need them! Try purchasing things online and by phone, or using the customer support. It does not matter if you talk slowly, you are learning, that’s only natural!

10. Join a Group and Socialise

Use Meetup.com to find organized social events in your area where you can have language exchanges or day trips. This is a great way to make friends and brush up on colloquial expressions.

If you live in a major city, use Meetup.com or other tourist services to find guided walking tours in the language you’re learning. See how much you know how your city and brush up on the historical and past tenses.

Well, I hope that these tips are helpful for you as you endeavor to learn and improve your English.

Good luck.


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