5 Effective Ways to Learn a New Language

Have you always dreamed of learning a new language? Although learning a second language may indeed, this does not mean it’s impossible for adults. Many adults have successfully learned one or more new languages at any age.

Do you think you have what it takes to learn a new language? With these helpful tips, effectively learning a language is possible no matter what stage of life you’re in. Below, this article will explore everything you need to know about learning a new language as an adult.

Reasons to Learn a New Language

There are many reasons people choose to learn a new language. For some, it opens a whole new world of possibilities for careers and career advancements. For those who enjoy traveling, learning a new language can enhance the experience greatly. In addition, research shows that learning a new language improves memory and enhances your ability to multitask.

Luckily, there are many online resources free and available to anyone, especially if you are a foreigner and want to study English, or you’re an English speaker and decided to study some of the popular languages, like Spanish, French, etc.

Start Learning the Official Language

First and foremost, individuals seeking to learn a new language must start with learning the official language. To do so, many tools are available that make the process easier. Language learning software such as Rosetta Stone is offered for over 25 languages, giving you lots of flexibility to explore different languages to learn.

The program uses a tested curriculum which makes it fun to learn a language. Furthermore, the immersion portion of the program poses real-world scenarios and provides activities that help further enhance your learning. While there are many approaches to learning a language, using a structured course can help keep adults accountable. For busy adults, the reminders and ability to access content through a mobile app are especially useful features.

Rosetta Stone is just one of many available learning tools available to adults who wish to learn a new language. Other top language learning tools include Babble, FluentU, and LanguagePod 101.

Terminology

After you’ve mastered the language in its textbook form, you’ll need to learn more specific terminology. Many Natives will speak in phrases or slang that you can’t learn from courses like Rosetta Stone. Often, you’ll learn these terms by immersing yourself in the language and interacting with Native speakers.

In addition to slang, you might wish to learn profession-specific words, especially if you’re learning a new language to qualify for career opportunities. Certain professions use specialty words which can be confusing to someone who is first learning the language. For example, those working in gaming industries may wish to learn Ignition poker terminology, whereas healthcare professionals may wish to learn medical terminology.

Immerse Yourself

The more you can immerse yourself in a language, the greater your success will be in learning the language. For example, switching your mobile device to your new language may be helpful, forcing yourself to function and learn without defaulting to your primary language.

 

Immersion can also be done by speaking and writing in the language as much as possible.  As difficult as it can be, immersion is a proven way to learn a new language. For this reason, many schools offer dual-language immersion programs to promote English as a second language.

Digital Communication and Media

Learning a new language includes more than just the ability to speak it. As you learn a new language, it can be useful to consume digital media in the language. For example, if you’re streaming a movie on Hulu or Netflix, add subtitles to your show or movie in the language you seek to learn. Given the context clues of the movie or show, this can be a great way to learn new vocabulary.

With lots of translation apps at your fingertips, consuming digital media in a new language can allow you to see the language written frequently. This applies to web browser searching, email communication, and other forms of digital communication. If you’re looking to learn a new language fast, you can even listen to music in that language and study the lyrics.

Be Patient When Learning a Language

While learning a new language can be quite rewarding and exciting, it can also be frustrating. As you learn a new language, remember to be patient with yourself. Learning a new language can take time, which can vary depending on your age and how often you study the language. On average, it can take an adult anywhere from three months to several years to fully learn a new language. The more you practice, the greater success you’ll have!

Learning a New Language Is Achievable

From learning the official language to learning slang terms and industry-specific terminology, learning a new language is a big task. However, with these effective ways to learn a language in mind, you’ll soon be well on your way to speaking fluently in a new language!

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