Learning a new language is very difficult! I’ve tried to learn many languages over the years and have found multiple methods, but which method is the best?

For me, languages are a vast ocean of knowledge; they unlock so many doors and paths of reading and communicating, and they may even change how you look at the world. Learning languages is one of my hobbies, and it definitely has changed how I see the world with every language I learn (even if I only manage to learn a couple of phrases). English is my second language and I have managed to learn it with the methods below.

Some absorb languages like a sponge, while for others learning it takes time and patience. I have personally struggled with learning a new language (especially as a student, and the test is the next day). Without the pressure of being tested, I find myself picking up the language faster than I could ever imagine!

There are so many suggested learning methods out there, so which one is the best? I am here to share my journey and the methods you might want to try.

Method 1 – Study

With this method, you’re going to study the language, this includes:

• Palm Cards
• Following a set routine to study
• Memorising the vocabulary
• Understanding the structure of sentences
• Perhaps a study buddy?

Does that sound fun? No? Then skip to Method 2. I personally think that the fastest and most effective method of learning a language is to enjoy the process and not force yourself.

I have used this method to learn a language (In high school), below are the steps I took. I have also prepared some FREE resources that you might like to use, these are resources that I have created and used for my own learning journey.

How do I execute this method?

Step 1: Find a learning resource for the language of choice, this can be:

• Website
• Textbook
• Video

Step 2: Create a study schedule/plan to follow.

Step 3: Learn vocabulary and understand the structures of sentences.

• Learn and memorise the vocabulary, this should be both listening and writing
• Understand the sentence structures

Sounds like a lot of work doesn’t it? Learning a language is supposed to be fun and curiosity is supposed to drive it, but sometimes with all the effort it takes to get started we tend to give up.

Well… I’m here to help you out! I’ve constructed a FREE template to help you begin your language learning journey! This is a template that I’ve created for my personal use and have found to be very helpful in organising my ideas, so here I am sharing it with you 🙂 !

Step 4: Write or speak sentences

• Depending on your learning style (writer or listener), choose the one that’s easier to pick up for you.
• If you learn more effectively through reading, choose to learn how to write first.
• If you learn more effectively through conversations, learn to speak first.
• Once you have completed a sentence, learning the next (writing or speaking), should be more fun and hopefully easier.

That’s it, you have reached the end of the list! But we all know, learning a language requires practice and patience, so talk to your friends in the new language you learn (drag them along to learn with you) or perhaps talk to people fluent in that language. Talking in another language during a conversation is much harder (and fun) compared to normal practice.

Method 2 (This method is what I personally use and prefer)

Without the pressure of studying a language, I found that I am able to understand the language more. I’m currently learning 3 languages using this method. THREE languages?! Yes, this is because it’s no longer tedious, there is no vocabulary to memorise every so days. Below I will explain to you how I do it (it’s very fun!).

This method includes:

• Picking a language you are curious about, something that you know you will keep learning purely out of interest
• Watching videos
• Listening to music
• Learning random words (and perhaps using it in your day to day convos with your friend)
• Spending your screen time learning the words (don’t worry this will be fun, perhaps you already using this method)

To me, learning through this method has really integrated the languages into my life, it’s just become second nature to learn something in the language of choice before I go to bed.

How can I integrated this into my life?

As I said before, this method is fun. You learn the language subconsciously (well you do have to put at least a bit of effort).

Everyone is on social media now days, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and so much more! Here is what I do, and how you can easily do it too.

• Pinterest: Who uses Pinterest? I sure do. How much time do you spend scrolling on Pinterest? I spend at least half an hour a day. Ok last question: Have you seen the amount of language pins?!

Here’s an example, just search the language you want to learn, for example French.

Now imagine, if those appeared on your feed. Scio (“I know” in Latin) for certain they show up on my feed, random phrases here and there. And all a sudden I have added a new word to use in conversations. I share them with my friends and use it in our every day conversations, integrating the language into my life.

• Instagram: Same concept as before (in Pinterest), there are so many videos and aesthetic images of phrases in nearly every language you can imagine! Isn’t that amazing? These social media platforms are a gold mine for language learners, making it very easy for us to learn and pick up languages subconsciously.
  
• YouTube: Its the same concept used for instagram and Pinterest: How many hours do you spend on those platforms? Wouldn’t it be great if it could help you learn a language? I found watching Youtube videos really helpful. Those language learning videos? NO, whilst I find them helpful to grasp the fundamental background of the language, I’d much rather and prefer learning through movies. You can search up [insert language] movies, or find any entertaining clips.
  
• Music: Do you enjoy listening to music? Who plays music whilst doing their homework? or perhaps whilst they make their lunch? I have created a playlist with some songs in the languages I’m learning because it’s really fun. I think this is one of the easiest way to learn how to speak the language. So I do encourage you to give it a go.

I found through this method that learning subconsciously was the best and most effective method for me, who doesn’t have hours upon hours of screen time? Why not make use of that? However methods can be combined. Have fun and keep curious!

Language acquisition is an intuitive and subconscious process, similar to that of children when they develop their mother tongue. Acquiring a language happens naturally, it does not require conscious effort or formal instruction; it is something incidental and often unconscious.

– The conversation (link to article)

If there is a method you found helpful, leave a comment below and together we can learn and stay curious 😁