Written by: Jessica Fender
Learning a foreign language could be quite a challenge. Stepping into a whole new world of words, rules, sounds, and expressions can be intimidating for most learners. However, with the right guidance and a clear goal, it doesn’t have to be that difficult.
There are some tips and tricks which can help make foreign language learning much easier and faster. If you feel like you could use a hand, just keep reading.Here are some of the most powerful psychology tips to make learning a foreign language easier.
Find Motivation
Motivation is key to success, and not only in terms of language learning.
With the right motivation, you’ll be able to do, learn, memorize, and achieve so much more.
Therefore, the first rule of learning a new language is to find motivation for doing it.
It could be anything:
Whatever it is, make sure you have that goal in front of your eyes all the time. This will give you the energy and desire to persist.
Explore the Culture
When you feel closely connected to the language you’re learning, you’ll find it much more interesting and pleasant to learn.
Perceiving language as a bunch of words you say differently than in your native language isn’t going to take you very far. However, perceiving language as a part of a culture is going to help you fall in love with it.
For example, if you’re trying to learn Spanish, you should:
- listen to Spanish music
- watch Spanish movies
- learn about the Spanish culture, customs, and habits
- travel to Spain and immerse yourself in their culture
“Language is a part of a greater picture. Make sure you get to know the whole picture in the process of learning the language. It will inspire you to keep on going,” says Daniel Francis, a psychologist and writer at Top Writers Review.
Break the Language Barrier
Fear of making a mistake is one of the biggest obstacles in the process of learning a foreign language.
People aren't afraid to learn the language and use it openly in a classroom full of students or with a language tutor. However, when it's time to use the language in real-life situations many people tend to get scared or ashamed.
It’s crucial for every language learner to overcome this, and here’s how:
- Stop waiting until you’re ready.
- Even though you’re scared, just start talking.
- Find a native speaker you can practice speaking with.
Unless you break the language barrier, you are never going to be ready to move on and improve your language skills. Be proud of yourself for daring to learn something new and don't let anything stop you from practicing.
Make it Fun
Learning is often perceived as sitting at a desk, reading a book, and trying to memorize as much information as possible.
However, languages are fascinating, and learning a new one can be a unique and interesting experience for each learner.
Instead of sticking to traditional means of learning the language, you should twist it up and make it more suitable for your character.
Here’s what you could do:
- Read foreign-language articles or books about the topics you're most interested in.
- Watch foreign-language movies in your favorite genre.
- Listen to foreign language music that you like.
- Listen to podcasts about topics you care about.
Language should serve as a tool for becoming a better, more knowledgeable, and open-minded person.
Enjoy the process of learning a language and you’ll be surprised to see how much it influences your language skills.
Final Thoughts
Learning a new language should be a positive, entertaining, intriguing, and inspiring journey for you. Don’t turn it into a boring obligation. Instead, make sure you’re enjoying it and making the most out of it.
Use the advice above to improve your language learning experience and reach your goals faster and easier.
This blog is written by Jessica Fender. Jessica is a professional writer and independent blogger. She is passionate about wise team management and self-development as a leader, and is featured on Forbes and Addicted2Success. You can connect with Jessica on LinkedIn and Twitter.
