How to learn a new language? What you really need to know
Our path of learning starts when we’re babies and those around us urge us to be able to communicate in our native language, or sometimes, even in a foreign one. Then, as we grow older, it becomes a subject in school and based on our grades the idea of “being good” or “bad” arises. Further on, we realize that knowing more than one language is a skill that can be measured in our society in terms of money, career or success, thus we contemplate the idea of investing our time and money in it, as it will make us more valuable in the market.
You probably already noticed how the purpose or motivation behind learning a language shifts from being able to communicate to gaining recognition “measured in terms of” and here is were the problem relies. However, you don’t have to worry, because this is not another article about “learn for survival as if you are a baby” or “speak to strangers everyday so you become fluent in 2 weeks”. It’s not that this type of advice doesn’t work, but personally, they didn’t suit me very well, and I usually ended up failing to apply them, resulting in self-disgust. Nevertheless, through the process of learning first English and then Japanese, I found a way that helped not only to keep myself consistent and actually learn, but more importantly, to enjoy the process and to value the effort I put on it. These are the key ideas that helped me to reduce stress and insecurity and increase results and a feeling of self-acceptance:
Take your time, create habits
In this era of accelerated learning, we’re constantly being exposed to talented people who are able to learn 4 languages fluently in 6 months or so, and who will tell us that it is very simple and that anyone can do it. At the very beginning one might feel vigorous and motivated, however, as the days go by, our motivation to continue the challenge decreases... Why? Because even though it is true that anyone can do it, not all of us are actually willing to give up so much of our day right away, especially if it’s the first time trying to build such a rigorous habit. The truth is that learning a language takes your time, and succeeding is a matter of defining your priorities and creating a daily habit that matches your current schedule before trying to jump right away into studying 4–6 hours per day. In other words, the key to learning a language — especially at the very beginning — lies not in how fast one learns, but in whether or not one will remain consistent.
Set your timer and start with 10 minutes everyday, I promise you these will add up and in only one month you’ll see the difference. It will also become a habit and you’ll reach a point when is not going to be tedious, then you can start adding more time to your routine. Remember, it’s not only about focusing on the ultimate goal (to learn x languages in y amount of time), but to create the habit of studying first (committing x amount of my time daily for studying y language), and then use it as a tool to achieve your goal.
Sharing is caring
Let’s say we’re being 100% honest when one says that being able to read a book or to understand the lyrics of a song is the sole reason why we want to learn a language and thus speaking is not necessary, however, one cannot deny the fact that speaking and writing are part of reading and listening too. Despite the fact that one doesn’t feel ready to speak or write in a new language, it is important to create the habit of doing so, although it’s uncomfortable. Believe me, even when our reading and listening skills are advanced, that moment of “feeling ready” won’t come by itself, one must create it.
One way you could start working on it now is to take initiative and find people who are also interested in studying the language, and then interact with them using that language as much possible; you could start by using only one word such as “do you have a mascota [pet]”. Just remember to avoid the “for how long have you been studying x language?” type of question — as they will result in us comparing ourselves with them — and instead work on the simple question such as:
1. Where are you from? (what is that place famous for, how many relatives do you have, what’s your hobby, etc.)
2. Why you’re interested in the language (what’s the first book you want to read or the first movie you want to watch without subtitles, which artist do you like, etc.)
These questions are likely to become almost like a script when you start talking with actual native speakers. It may seem off topic, but it works because first, constantly remembering why you started this journey will boost your energy and motivation. This is necessary first in order to remain consistent, and second because having the initiative of creating your own community and then practicing within it will give you the tools and prepare you for the moment when you actually talk with native speakers.
Forgive yourself
Learning from our mistakes is another well-known piece of advice for learning a language that seems easy at first but is actually quite difficult. Yes, we all make mistakes, but no, not all of us will learn from them naturally. Have you ever thought that what really stops you from trying is not the fear of what others might think but your own harsh-self-criticism? If not, let’s take a moment to reflect before jumping into learning a language assuming that we understand this advice. Am I currently nice enough to forgive myself for making mistakes? Unless the answer is yes, and forgiving ourselves is already a common practice in our lives, then one is not going to be able to learn from them, which is essential in this process.
Another habit that we must create is one that allows us to swap merciless self-criticism for self-forgiveness. This can be done by understanding that it’s not the result that defines us, and that the process of learning a language is just that, a process. It has nothing to do with us being more capable than others. Making a mistake is not a “game over” that pops up on the screen and that everything we have learned so far is lost, thus we have to start all over again. Learning a language is a process that adds up, not one that subtracts, just like any other skill. Therefore, remember that we shouldn’t be afraid of failure because in this path there is only one direction, and it is forward.
Stop what you’re doing, start right now
Reading articles and/or watching videos is indeed part of the learning process, but remember it doesn’t end there. If you have already done the initial research, then you’re more than ready to start. You don’t know when or how to start? I’ll give you a proposal:
- Measure the time you spend searching for tools, tips and tricks to learn a language rapidly. Perhaps you didn’t notice, but the time that you’ve already been taking from your schedule is the first step towards commitment, you just have to become aware of it and write it down.
- Now that you have your schedule, use your time to commit to learning the language. Seriously, focus. No distractions or excuses, if you were able to stay still while reading this article, you are more than able to write x words in the next 6 minutes and repeat them out loud. If you start feeling tired or hungry, think of it as your lazy inner voice trying to make up excuses to not start. But if you made it to the end of this article, I can tell you, you can start, and once you do keep going.
Practicing a language is going to be uncomfortable at the beginning, so if there is no visible/measurable progress today, don’t worry, just remember: look inwards, forgive yourself and keep going.
Give it a try, let me know how it goes.
