If you are a language enthusiast, you probably know about the super polyglot twin brothers, Matthew and Michael Youlden. The brothers are fluent in more than 10 languages and have a working knowledge of about 20.
There are several benefits of learning a new language. It sharpens your brain, widens your connections, gives you new career openings, and more. Also, it’s just relaxing cruising through a foreign language as if it’s your own.
At first, learning a new language can be a daunting task. Many materials have different learning styles, and hiring a tutor can be expensive. Also, everyone has their way of processing information, and the classroom method may not be your cup of tea. So how do you become fluent in a new language for free?
6 tips to learn new languages
1. Set your goals
Like most undertakings, it’s essential to set your language-learning goals. That’s because learning a new language can be overwhelming for most people. You have so many new words to know and so many ways to learn.
Studies show that most people who set the right goals achieve them. Plans help you see the end instead of the time it takes to learn. For instance, you can say: “This week, I’m going to learn the names of my favorite dishes.” Your long-term goal may be to speak German or French fluently, but short-term goals break down the bigger goal into achievable bits.
It’s about the right balance. Don’t make your goals too daunting because you may become discouraged. But don’t make them too easy because you may not make any progress.
2. Learn the most-used words
Prioritize the words that matter first. Some experts advise picking 120 words to form your basic language tool kit.
“Linguists say that to ‘get by’ in a language, such as directing a taxi or asking for a phone number, it takes a vocabulary of about 120 basic words. It’s a manageable goal and a firm foundation for beginners,” says Anne Merritt, a South Korean-based instructor of English.
To be conversational, you may require about 1,000 to 3,000 words. Start with phrases or expressions you need most and work forward from there.
3. Get out of your comfort zone
Some people are more outgoing than others and may find it easier to practice their new-learned expressions. And the fact is communicating with people more often is among the best ways to learn a new language.
However, most people learning a new language shy away from conversing with natives or other students. This hinders progress.
It may be more challenging if you’re an introvert, but find someone you can communicate with, and you’ll learn faster. Also, it doesn’t have to be a physical meeting since some apps and sites offer virtual partnerships — you teach the person your language, and they teach you theirs.
4. Use flashcards
Communication goes hand in hand with repetition. For most of us, there has to be some repetition for the new words to stick in our long-term memory. That’s where flashcards come in handy.
Flashcards help you focus on individual words and memorize new information. For example, you can write a foreign comment and its English equivalent on the other side. Later turn them over and try recalling the foreign word each time you see its English equivalent.
You can also use digital flashcards instead of physical sticky notes. Better yet, you can practice with flashcards that others have created and shared publicly.
Tip: Don’t flip the cards too fast, but try to guess the word first before looking it up.
5. Learn through popular media
Books, TV, podcasts, and videos are great tools when learning a new language. Next, try reading your favorite book in your foreign language or books by famous writers. If this becomes too hard, books for children are excellent introductions to a new language.
If you’re not a reader, you can watch a foreign movie with or without subtitles and try to guess what the words mean. For instance, Netflix has a ton of foreign films that can help you sharpen your multilingual skills.
Besides movies, you can watch foreign videos or news on YouTube and try to decipher what they are saying from what you’ve learned. Also, alien videos, movies, or radio provide excellent ways to practice your accent.
6. Use apps and free courses
Several apps offer free ways to learn a new language online. They may not be on par with paid courses, but they are still suitable for beginners. And they are also an excellent way to sharpen your language or find a learning partner.
However, always be careful when finding a stranger online to learn with.
It is never too late
Children and young people learn languages faster than their parents. One primary reason for this is that most children don’t have inhibitions and are open to learning. On the other hand, most adults are anxious about making mistakes and being the butt of jokes, which stops them from even trying.
But you’re never too old to learn a new language. Talk to people and make mistakes because you learn from them. Also, local people appreciate it when you try to learn their language (even if you become a target of their ridicule).
Get out of your comfort zone and experiment with different learning methods. It will get easier with time — even if you’re learning Mandarin.
