How Smartwatches Can Help You Learn New Skills and Languages

How to Learn a New Language Faster

How to Learn a New Language Faster

Learning a new language doesnt need to be a slow or tedious process.

Ive studied five languages while living in four different countries. Although nothing can replace the hard work and effort it requires, its definitely possible to speed up the process!

Follow these 23 tips on how to learn a new language fast, and youll be on your way to mastering that new language quicker than you ever imagined.

Contents

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1. Set language-learning goals

The first step to learning a new language fastis to setgoalsfor what you want to achieve.

When faced with the idea of learning a new language, most of us feel overwhelmed. There are so many words to learn and so many different ways to study.

Research shows that people who set the right kind of goals are more likely to achieve success. Setting goals narrows your focus so you can stop worrying about the details and get down to business.

Use these guidelines to get the most from your goals:

• Set short-term goals.Its good to have an ultimate goalthe thing you eventually hope to achieve. But long-term goals aretoo overwhelming to motivate you on an everyday basis. Break down your ultimate goal into smaller bits, and set smallergoals for each week or month.
• Challenge yourself (but not too much). Goalswork best when they makeyou push yourself. If theyretoo daunting, they can actuallydiscourage you.
• Focus onspecific, tangible outcomes.Set detailed goals, andfocus on what you plan to learn rather than how much time you plan to study. An example of a good goal might be, This week Im going to learn 30 Spanish vocabulary words related to shopping.
• Write down your goals. Writing down goals helps you commit to them. Post your goals in a prominent place, like your bathroom mirror or the home screen of your smartphone.

2. Learn the right words

Strategize and prioritize your learning by focusing on what matters.

The exact amount may differ, but for many languages you need between 1000 to 3000 words to be conversational. So why waste time trying to learn more words, especially at the very beginning?

Identify what words, phrases and expressions will get you the most bang for your buck, and work from there. You can start with practical, colloquial topics then work your way up from there.

Also check out these lists of the top 1,000 words in these languages:

By focusing on learning these words first, you can eliminate wasted time and increase the amount of information you understand very quickly.

3. Use flashcards

When learning your words, youll learn faster by using the very best study techniques, such as using spaced repetition software (SRS).

For example, one of the best ways to do this is to use flashcards. Flashcards help you focus on individual words and allow you to test yourself, which helps you memorize new information.

When you learn with flashcards, follow these tips to learn fast:

• Try outelectronic flashcards. Paper flashcards work just as well as they ever did, butwith digital flashcards, you can easily carry large stacks on your smartphone or tablet. You can also take advantage of flashcards that other people have created and made public.

• Make sure to guess the meaning of a word before turning over the card.Flashcards work best when you use them to test your memory, so dont be too quick to flip the cards over. Even if you dont know a word, make a guess.

• Learn the translations first, then learnto produce the new words. Start by looking at the side of the flashcard with aforeign word on it, and memorize what the English translation is. Later, turn the cards over and use them to practice producing the foreign words when you see their English equivalents.

Practice makes perfect, but effective practice makes perfect even faster!

4. Study smart

Some more great strategies for integrating new words alongside and beyond flashcards include:

• Visualize and vocalize.Visualize the word youre learning, imagine the image of what it representsand say the new word aloud. This helps you connect the concepts and can improve memorization.
• Gesture. The brain learns better when you use physical actions whilelearning. Take advantage of this by gesturing. If you want to learn the German wordSchuh (shoe), say the word while you pretend to put ona shoe.
• Talk when you read and write.It will help you remember faster if you vocalize your target language. Read anything that you read or write out loud and try to mimic the accent of a true native while doing this. Remember that the goal is to eventually speak, so this step is important!
• Use mnemonic devices. Make up a sentence with the new word youre learning, the meaning of the word and a word in your native language that sounds similar. For example, if you want to learn the Spanish wordmesa(table), you could make up a sentence like, My kitchen table is always a mess!

5. Think in your target language

People say youre not fluent in a foreign language until you catch yourself thinking in it. That makes sense.

Thinking directly in your target language as much as possible will help you avoid errors and speed up the learning and speaking process. It could also help you avoid confusion in the middle of a conversation.

If you do need to translate, be strategic about it. Referring to the languages that you already know and using translation can be used to your advantage, but there are ways to do it efficiently and correctly.

What you could do is think about all the short and simple sentences you use in your daily communication.What sentences do you need at the grocery store? At the post office? At work? At home?

Use a trusted resource for your sentences so that theyre guaranteed to be correct. Learn how to say them, and then always think them to yourself as you go about your daily business.

6. Start using the language all day, every day

As a beginner, it can seemoverwhelming to try to use the language all day, but its not as difficult as it seems. There are many easy and even fun ways to make the language a part of your regular life.

You can use your normal everyday activities as part of your language learning process.

• Make use of every moment you have to learn new words. Take flashcards with you, and study them during your train or bus commute (but not while driving, please!) or when youre waiting to meet a friend.
• Switch your cell phone to the language you are studying. You can also do this with your other devices or social media accounts.
• Immerse yourself in the language at homebydesigning your home environment so youll be surrounded by the language. For example, you can place pictures of vocabulary words you want to remember at the walls of your home or even write grammatical rules.

You might also want to consider checking out Olly Richards language courses, which helps solve the commitment problem by walking you through the immediate concerns of learning a language to fluency.

7. Pick a word from the day

Lets say you want to learn German:Track down a handful of new German words youd like to learn. Write one word per piece of paper, including its translation, pronunciation, part of speech and sample use in a sentencebasically, a dictionary entry.

Pick common nouns, verbs, adjectives and prepositions that you need to know. Your pool might contain:stehen(stand),laut(loud),bekloppt(crazy) andauf(on). Keep these little papers in a bowl near your bed.

Every morning when you wake up, pick from the set. That lucky word will be theoneyoull practice all day long.Use it in conversations with dogs, Facebook chats and comments, in your journal, etc. Use it 15times at least!

This repetition will store the word in your long term memory. For more effective results, incorporate past words-of-the-day in your activities so you can keep everything fresh in your mind.

8. Get plenty of comprehensible input

When you start to feel tired, switch from active learning to passive learning by doing what you would normally do in your native language in your target language. In other words, take in comprehensible input.

Comprehensible input means material in your target language that you can understandbut its still slightly above your level because there are some words or grammar concepts that you dont know.

According to one of the mostinfluential theories in linguistics, getting comprehensible input is how people acquire and become fluent in a language. To get good at a language fast, youd want to get a lot of comprehensible input (listening and reading), especially at the start.

This is pretty fun to apply because input can mean TV shows, comics, online videos, podcasts or even actual conversations that you overhear in your target language. Keep reading for tips on how to use these resources in the best way!

The catch is that they have to be comprehensible, though. If you watch a movie without understanding the lines at all, take it down a few notches and choose easier material!

This video explains how comprehensible input speeds up the language learning process:

9. Watch movies and use subtitles

This is the time for movies and video content to make an appearance in your language program. Theyre a great example of comprehensive input. Plus to make studying fun, bring in some resources that you actually enjoy!

It might seem like a time-waster but I assure you, its not.Netflix is a pretty good source for movies across different languages.

Think of all of the idioms, conversational phrases and essential vocabulary that show up in them. Aside from being interesting, they also immerse you in the culture.

There are a few phases in watching a foreign movies if you want to maximize their potential for language learning:

• First, watch the movie or one scene while reading the subtitles. If theres a word you dont understand,writeit in your personal dictionary and define it.
• Pronounce those words and try to get the accent right. If you can, fit them into sentences of your own, so youll understand how they can be used in different situations.
• Now, watch the movie or scene again without the subtitles. Its important to understand as much of the speech as you can. That way you can take your listening comprehension and fluency to the next level.

10. Listen to music and learn the lyrics

If you love listening to music and do it anyway, why not listen to it in your target language! Words tend to flow more naturally when you sing, and singing makes it easier to get the pronunciation right.

Music is alsofun because its a direct line to the culture youre learning about. Of course, youll need to choose music with lyrics if youre trying to work on your fluency. Find the lyrics online and try to sing along.

Thanks to amazing websites like Genius, lyrics of any song in any language are usually availablealong with lyric meanings, translations and romanized versions (if necessary).

It doesnt matter whether you have a talent for music or are completely tone deaf. The only important thing is to follow the flow of the words. Theres nothing more fluent than the way words connect through song.

11. Multitask for more exposure

Youre gonna be doing other things at home, right? You could be doing aerobics exercises or cleaning your car. Why dont you incorporate language into these affairs?

• Exercise body and brain.You could be doing you usual aerobics in Italian, for example. Get some Italian aerobics tapes or find videos on YouTube. Instead of counting one, two, three, youll be puffinguno, due, tre.Instead of movingleft and right, youd gosinistraanddestra.The added advantage of this is that, because youre using new wordsin a specificcontext, youll find the words easier to remember.

• Keep your target language in the background.While cleaning your car or cooking, listen to language lessons or podcasts. This way, youre hitting two birds with one stone. If you could listen to lessons that talks about what youre doing at the present (like cooking), then so much the better.

Multitasking and incorporating your target language frees you from the excuse of being too busy for a second language.

12. Read local literature

Reading to further your language skills is another great strategy. It helps you with vocabulary, grammar, sentence construction, and is also a great way to further your cultural knowledge.

Miguel de Cervantes wrote in Spanish, Italy has Dante, Hugo presented the sophistication of French expressions, and the great Tolstoy and Dostoevsky revealed new dimensions of the Russian language.

If advanced novels and books are too daunting for you now, trylearning with bilingual books, childrens books or books designed for language learners.

13. Seek out real-life practice

Get talking right away, from the very early stages of your language learning journey! Some of the best learning happens in real-life situations, particularly when you have no choice but to use a foreign language.

This is the favorite approach of organizations like thePeace Corps, which regularly places people with little or no knowledge of a language into full immersion situations.

Although such situations can be uncomfortable, they provide enormous motivation to learn quickly.

Even without traveling abroad, you can immerse yourself in real-life situations that give you loads of language practice. Try these options:

• Find a language learning buddy. You can talk in the foreign language and correct each other when needed. You can also make plans and set goals together, increasing your level of accountability and keeping you on track toward fluency.
• Meet witha language partnerweekly or biweekly. Practice with a language exchange partner by exchanging half an hour in the language you want to learn for half an hour of speaking English (or other languages youre fluent in).
• Join a conversation club. Many cities and schools have conversation clubs where language students meet regularly to practice having informal discussions in their target language.
• Use a language partner site. Sites suchas Speaky, HelloTalkor Tandemcan introduce you topeople who speak the language you want to practice. Even if you dont see them in person, you can gain real-life language practice by chatting online.
• Volunteer with immigrants in your city. Find volunteer opportunities on a site like VolunteerMatch or Idealist,or directly contactorganizations that serve immigrantswho speak the language you want to learn.
• Visit businesses where peopleprimarilyspeak your target language. Perhaps theres a Mexican restaurant nearby where you can practice your Spanish with the owners, or a grocery store that sells food to the local Chinese community where you can practice Mandarin.

14. Make friends with native speakers

Open your house to friends and acquaintances who speak your target language. If you dont have any, go to language clubs and cultural organizations to make new friends who fit the bill.Invite them for dinner or a coffee. Youll learn much more from a native speaker than anywhere else.

Native speakers can give you insights into the language and culture youre interested in. They have firsthand experience. They know the dos and donts. They know what its like to be on the other side of the fence, too.

Dont be surprised if youre getting more than a language lesson over dinner. Youll get to hear great stories from their home country, little-known facts about their culture and tips onlinguisticnuances thatonly come from knowing the language in the real world.

15. Learn about the culture

Understanding a language is about more than understanding words on a page.Its important to learn aboutthe culture and history associated with these words.

Knowing something about a country or cultures history, current events, religious beliefs and common customs can help you understand a lot about what people say and do.

Researchershave found that children learn to read in a second language better when they understand the culture and context behind the pieces they read.

As you begin to study a new language, take some time to learn about the culture of the people who speak that language.

Dont feel this is a waste of time, even if it involves reading and watching videos in your native language. It will help you enormously and can evenprevent you from making embarrassing and potentially offensive mistakes.

16. Consider investing in tutoring

While its great that there are so manyfree language-learning options available, if youre trying to learn the most in a time crunch, you may need to make an investment.

• Hire a tutor. Thisis a good option for getting on the fast track to language success. Look for qualified tutors at universities and colleges, on Craigslist or even on the message boards in local businesses.
• Do tutoring online. Dont want to leave your home? No problem: There are plenty of online tutoring servicesyou can turn to.
• You could alsopay for a course, subscribe to a learning service or take classes on the side. Whatever fits your goals, budget and time availability!

Also, remember to interview any potential tutors to be sure youre finding the right person for the job. Discuss price, scheduling and language qualifications.

We wouldnt expect professional services for free. We shouldnt necessarily think language learning should be gratis, either.

By investing in a professional and high-quality learning resource, youll be giving yourself the best chance at learning effectively and quickly.

17. Test yourself

Knowing that you plan to take a test is a great way to motivate yourself to learn faster. Try to regularly test yourself in little ways or even prepare for some bigger exams.

• Take practice tests or complete the exercises at the end of each chapter if youre learning from a textbook. Dont skip these!
• You can also play online games or take online tests. Online practice tests can be found in almost any language, includingFrench, Spanish, Japanese andGerman.
• Planning to take a standardized testcan also keep you motivated, and having the results can help you prove your language level to potential employers, schools or even just yourself.

The ACTFL OPI test ispopular in many language-learning circles andwidely respected. It tests oral proficiency andprovides a score that ranks your level anywhere from Novice Low to Superior.

Some languages also have a standardized test specific to that language, such asthe JLPT for Japanese or the HSK for Chinese. Ask teachers or professionals who know the language what tests they recommend.

18. Plan a virtual trip

Who wouldnt love to fly off to a country to learn a language?But if you cant go traveling in real life, theres no reason you cant plan a trip.

Virtual travel wont get you a slice in a Roman pizzeria or a seat in a Munich beer garden but itll certainly engage you so well that youll want to learn as much about a cultureand languageas possible. And quickly, too!

The key to this strategy is to investigate traveling options as if you were actually going to grab your passport and head to your dream location.

You need to act as if time is of the essence, which makes it imperative that you gather as much informationparticularly language skillsas possible.

• Choose the target language and add some authenticity to your planning. And, dont forget to learn some travel phrases. Theyre often part of the countrys webpage.
• Prepare as if you had a one-way plane ticket. Read up on local attractions in the target language. Nearly every country has a webpage and most allow visitors to choose a language for the material they showcase.
• Find a virtual host in the destination country online. Start a friendly chat in the language. Ask questions about the area and its attractions and culture.

Who knows, maybe youll be so inspired that youll try to make the trip a reality!

19. Travel and immerse yourself

If youre able to, traveling to a country that speaks your target language remains one of the best options out there to practice and improve your language skills.

• Do an immersion program. Doing an immersion program is a great way to both quickly expand your language knowledge and also get corrected by a teacher in a safe learning environment.
• Go out there and explore the country during your time off. Put the language youre learning to immediate use when youre not in the classroom. Youll meet many native speakers who will be happy to help you learn the language better.
• Try Workaway. If you dont have the money for an expensive immersion course, doing a Workaway trip is the ideal way to stay with a host family, practice the language and learn about the country in exchange for some weekly work hours.

Traveling is not a simple decision to make, mainly because of the time and money investment involved. However, theres no goal you cant achieve with proper planning and budgeting. It will definitely be worth it!

20. Learn from every mistake

If you made it to an environment that allows you to practice your new language, congrats! Now get ready to make a lot of mistakes.

• Leave any desires for perfection and any fears of judgment at the door. Its best to leave your ego out of the situation when doing something as difficult as learning a new language.
• Keep in mind that many natives will be grateful and appreciative of your attempt to learn such an important part of their culture. Congratulate yourself for even the smallest mistakes because it means you are trying.
• Resist the urge to judge each conversation as a success or failure as you go about your day-to-day life and practice using your new language.
• Approach each interaction as a new opportunity for you to learn something. Even though its tempting to be our own worst critic and beat ourselves up for not remembering a particular word or knowing how to clearly express a thought!

Reflect on each conversation and give yourself constructive feedback. Some things you might want to think about are:

• What words/phrases would have served me in that conversation?
• What new words did I hear/see?
• How could I more effectively have a similar conversation in the future?

When you start embracing the ups and downs of the learning process, youll better enjoy and appreciate the journey, which sets you up for more learning opportunities.

21. Practice with your pet

You may have taught your best friend a few dog tricks already, but when it comes to learning a new language he has one more trick to show you.

Doyou remember how many times you had to repeat command words when you first taught Sparky todo things likefetch or roll over? It took many repetitions before he even noticed that you wanted him to do something.

At first he just looked at you cluelessly. Then at the 10th or the 15th time you mentioned the word fetch, he noticed that you had the habit of throwing the ball. Then on the 20th or 30th time, he observed that you wanted the ball back. Then around the 35th time, he started playing the game and began fetching the ball.Guess how many times youhad to say fetch.

A lot! If you connect this with Psychology studies that point torepetitionas one of the main accelerators of learning, youll start to appreciate shouting fetch to Sparky in a foreign language.

So for example, you can repeatedly tell himhabla(speak in Spanish). Dogs learn commands in other languages very quickly, and hell be speaking Spanish too before you know it.Cool, huh?

22. Play games using your target language

If having fun makes for efficient learning, thenplaying games is a very important language learning tool.

Truth is, theres an infinite number of games one can play, limited only by your imagination. Lets look at one game in particularcharades, with a twist.

Lets say you want tolearn French. How are you going to incorporate that in this game?

Simple. Do French charades! (Keep in mind, youre going to need a few friends for this one.)

Heres how it works:

• Make a list of 20 common French verbs. Be sure to include key words like danser(dance),nager(swim) andsauter(jump). Write each of them on a small sheet of paper.
• Put the paper into a bowl or hat. If youve got enough participants, you can play this with two teams.
• One team member draws from the bowl and acts out the word. The other member has 30 seconds to guess the verb.
• When time expires and the team member fails to give the correct answer, the other team can steal and give one guess. Only one guess is allowed. If the other team guesses correctly, they get the point.
• Then the other team proceeds to take their turn drawing from the bowl and acting.

This game is particularly effective if youre a kinesthetic and visual learner who remember words better with movement and picturesthat is, you can recallsauterbetter when you see your partner jumping or feel your own legs springing for a jump.

23. Make a connection with food

Who knew making your own meals couldhave healthy linguistic consequences?

Getting busy in the kitchen can teach you vocabulary. A big part of cultural identity is food and its preparation. If you open your mind to this, youll get to tastelanguage in its most flavorful form. But where will the language lessons come from?

• Cookbooks.Read recipes online or get a cookbook in print.There, youll meet food-related Italian words likepesce(fish),manzo(beef),pollo(chicken),al dente(the correct degree to which pasta should be cooked) andantipasto(appetizer).

• Food labels.On labels you mightlearn the French wordsarme(flavoring),eau(water),sel(salt) andoeuf(egg).

• Menus.These provide Japanese words likeyaki(grilled),tori(chicken) andyakitori(grilled chicken)

Going to the kitchen and taking a break from your language lessons can be a language lesson in and of itself!

So there you have it! Once you incorporate these into your routine, youll be amazed at the progress you make in your language learning. Remember that consistency is key and youll be fluent faster than you imagined!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

And One More Thing...

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