You want to learn another language. Perhaps you’re planning to work or travel abroad, or maybe you want to converse with foreign language speakers in your community. Learning another language opens up a lot of doors for you, especially with how diverse America is becoming. More and more people from other countries continue to pour into the US, which means a lot of cultures and languages are mixing together. Having the ability to speak a second language and relate to others is an amazing skill to have.
Whatever your reason for wanting to learn a second language, you will find that there are many ways to do it quickly. Here are five of them.
Take a Class
In a foreign language class, your teacher can help to quickly sort out challenging issues with grammar or pronunciation that might bog you down if you were studying on your own. If there are no classes where you live, consider looking for online classes or finding a private tutor. You can even find worksheets in Spanish, German, or Portuguese online for free. A few classes are available online for money, and if you think learning over the internet would be worth it, these programs are usually worth your time and money.
Have Conversations With a Native Speaker
If you’re too busy or can’t afford to attend a language class, a more convenient and inexpensive option is to have casual conversations with a speaker of the language that you want to learn. Conversing in a second language with a native speaker is an excellent way to get help with pronunciation and to learn slang or other vocabulary that you might not study in a foreign language class.
Immerse Yourself in Media
The Internet is a great resource for finding television programs, radio shows and other forms of media in the language that you wish to learn. Even if you don’t understand every word that the speaker is saying, you might be surprised by how much you can pick up.
Label Household Items
Find words for items in your house in the language you’re learning. Write these words down on sticky notes, and attach them to the corresponding items. For example, if you’re learning Spanish and want to remember the Spanish word for “table,” write that word on a sticky note. Attach it to your table. You will be reminded of that word every time you walk by your table. Having reminders in the form of notes is an effective way to learn new vocabulary.
Travel to a Country Where the Language is Spoken
Many people believe that this is the most effective way to learn a second language. If you’re immersed night and day in the language you’re studying, you will pick it up more quickly than by studying it for an hour a day or four times a week.
Learning a new language can be a rewarding experience. Trying one or all of these methods will help you to learn a second language quickly.
