You have to become aware of the fundamentals of a new language you are trying to learn, things like accents, vocabulary and the grammar. It is possible that even if you studied a foreign language in school, you may still realize that understanding a native speaker is very difficult for you.
It can be a bit tricky to learn a new language but it can be even more difficult to use it in a practical way. Learning a language from a book is how many people try to learn. Languages are really meant to be spoken and heard.
Gain fluency by using the following tips.
You don’t need to be perfect. Even if you are not a fluent great speaker, you can still be understandable. Consider for example this really awful sentence: “Going to store us with?” In many cases most English speakers would understand the meaning being communicated.
- You are probably learning a new language to communicate with others, not to write the next great novel.
How did you learn your native language? When you were young, did you intentionally try to learn your native language? You learned by listening to other people talking around you. You learn a lot more through context than by being taught.
- Immerse yourself in the language using foreign language movies and videos.
Have a language goal. What is your weekly learning schedule for the language you want to learn? You need to really understand how well you want to speak the language. You can achieve great dynamic results when you have a strong work ethic.
Find a native speaking buddy. A native speaker can be easily found using the Internet. There are websites that can match you with the right people that speak your target language.
- If you want to learn English, you may be able to find someone that wants to learn your native language that you can meet online and help each other.
- You could send each other emails and correct each other’s mistakes. You could talk to each other through the Internet or even use video chats.
Use photos and pictures. A challenge that you may encounter is trying to translate everything back into your native language.
- You may see a truck, think about the word “truck” and translate the word “truck” into your new language.
- Most bilingual people think in the language they are currently speaking. You could make flash cards to help with the other language.
It is possible to have fun learning a new language while at the same time be challenging and enriching. In some parts of the world many people understand multiple languages. When you try the tips here, learning a new language can become a lot easier and more fun.
Finding a native speaker to work with will help you to become a better speaker. You can contact me at michael@languagewings.com and we can discuss how we can work together to help you improve your English language speaking ability.
To your language success
Michael W
P.S. To learn more about working with me, you can visit the “Work with us” page by clicking on the button below.
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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash