How To Quickly Learn A New Language?

While learning a new language is difficult for adults, there are tips and tricks that can help speed up the process

Many people travel beyond their native place, which could be for various purposes such as education, job or business. When in a new place, language barrier can be a major problem. If a long-term stay is likely, it will be better to learn the local language. Let us take a look at some tips and tricks that one can use to quickly learn a new language.

Start consuming content in the local language – The more data your brain has, the faster it can comprehend it. In the case of language, you need to learn as many words as possible. An easy way to do it is by watching movies or YouTube videos in the local language. This will not only teach you newer words, but also allow you to learn the tone and accent of various words.

You will also get a better idea of the grammar and how sentences are generally formed in that local language. You need to dedicate around 1-2 hours every day to watch content in the local language. One can also use dedicated new language learning apps like LingQ or FluentU.

Use flashcards – To understand and speak a new language, you do not need to remember the entire dictionary. For most everyday conversations, you can easily do with just around 1,000 words of the new language. To learn this easily, you can use flashcards. Some words you can remember easily, whereas for others, you may have to focus a bit more. These are the words that you can include in the flashcards.

Start speaking with yourself or a native language speaker – When learning a new language, you will first start understanding what is being said. But that is the easier part. The more difficult part is speaking the new language in a fluent manner. You need to remember the words and quickly make them into sentences. This can be quite challenging. People are usually afraid to talk in the local language, as they feel it might create an embarrassing situation.

If you have a friend or colleague who speaks the local language, you can start speaking with them in the local language. They can point out your mistakes without creating an embarrassing situation. You can also start speaking with yourself by repeating words or sentences that you may have learned via videos or other content in the local language. Speaking builds muscle memory for pronunciation and boosts confidence. You can also use language learning platforms like iTalki, Preply or Tandem to improve your speaking skills in the local language.

Identify patterns in the language – If you focus too much on the grammar, it can take longer to learn the new language. Instead, you need to focus on identifying patterns in the language. Pattern recognition helps you construct sentences naturally, bypassing complex grammar.

That is basically how children learn language and why it is much easier for them. Practice with new patterns and try writing them down for easy remembering. You can also use tools like Duolingo or Babbel for structured pattern practice.

With these tips and tricks, it will become much easier for you to learn a new language. You will be able to establish a strong connection with the native people, boosting trust and confidence. Learning a new language also acts as a tonic for the brain, enhancing memory, focus and cognitive flexibility.