I have always had a great passion for foreign languages. I started learning English when I was 5 or 6 years old. Even though I couldn’t read in my mother tongue at that age, I was always more interested in the sounds and words of other languages. My older sister used to buy BBC English books called Ozmo and I found them fascinating just to look at. The bright colours and well-drawn characters were very appealing to a child of that age. I was also curious about the cryptic-looking words.
I learnt to read in my mother tongue when I was 7, but it was probably because of my love of English at that time that I was able to do it. It pushed me further because I needed to learn to read in order to explore more. If you start learning when you are younger, it also makes things a bit easier. That’s how my language learning journey began, and even writing this article brings back all those wonderful memories.
Photo by Soner Eker on Unsplash
Before I dive into this article, I would like to make it clear that my ability to speak, write and read English is limited. Unfortunately, I am not a polyglot. However, because of my passion for languages, I have always looked for ways to explore other languages. I started by looking at languages from the same family tree, and then became curious about languages with unusual-looking alphabets. Atari games made me curious about Japanese, Italian films made me want to learn Italian, and Latin American soap operas taught me at least a word or two of Spanish. When you realise that you are surrounded by different languages — especially if you have a strong desire and curiosity — you feel lucky to have them.
I won’t dwell too much on nostalgia for fear of boring you, but all my life I have always tried to teach myself languages, or at least some aspects of the language and culture of the countries where they are spoken. Especially in the past, when the world was more offline and localised, teaching myself felt like being a member of a community full of strangers, even though I was doing it all alone, with very few resources. Nowadays, it’s much easier to access language learning materials, no matter where you are or what language you want to learn. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn a language.
I must remind you that as long as you have a serious ambition to learn them, you will surely succeed. I trust you.
There are many ways to learn languages, and the effectiveness of each method may vary from person to person. However, I believe there are some strategies that can make language learning more efficient — for most people. Of course, no one can claim to have the ultimate secret to learning a language. Unless you are in a country where the language is spoken, learning will always take time. Being in that country may bring challenges and struggles, but it will also make you realise how important it is to learn certain terms and words in order to communicate or simply survive.
Now, as a non-polyglot, I would like to share some key points that I believe are useful for learning and speaking any language. They have always helped me, no matter what language I was trying to learn.
Taking Notes
I know it looks so easy, I do it, but always, always take notes. It doesn’t matter what you’re studying, whether it’s maths, music or languages, it’s important to take notes. You can choose to write them down physically or digitally. Personally, I prefer the physical way because it takes more effort and time, and I think it helps with retention. I remember writing everything from my English workbook into a separate notebook to study as soon as I got home. I even drew shapes and diagrams in the notebook. Looking back, I realise that some of this may have been unnecessary, but it helped me at a time when I knew nothing about the language. I still remember what I drew. I even keep the notebook as a symbol of the beginning.
Repeating and Talking to Yourself
Repetition is a must. You need constant reinforcement of what you have learned. Give yourself homework if you like. Keep repeating what you have learned until it becomes second nature. As I mentioned in my article on the Feynman Technique, study the material and then try to teach it to someone else (or to yourself if you don’t have a study partner). If there are parts you’re not sure about or don’t know how to express, review your study material until you have a solid understanding in your mind.
Even if it is a simple thing, talk to yourself as if you were teaching another person. This is what I do, sometimes unwillingly, every single day of my life. I am not even exaggerating. So I can come up with words that nobody expects. But I have already repeated them in my mind for such moments or situations. Again, this becomes my daily habit! I am not crazy! (not yet)
Comparative Reading
This technique is extremely useful for improving your reading skills in the target language. Find books with the target language on one side and your mother tongue on the other (or vice versa). For example, if you are learning Turkish, my articles would be particularly helpful. (Because I try to translate as accurately as possible, without getting lost in translation). Look for books like this, whatever you are reading, so you can see how sentence construction works or define certain words you come across. This experience is invaluable for your language learning journey.
Adverb-Conjunction-Preposition Usage
If you want to improve your speaking skills, as well as learning the most common words in the language, you should also focus on adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions. These elements add to the aesthetics of a sentence. Even in your own language, they can enhance the way you speak. They can make your speech more poetic, beautiful, intelligent or understandable. They add meaning that simple or ordinary words alone cannot convey.
When communicating with others, the most commonly used words can still convey a basic idea. For example, saying “I go bar my flat, I no have friends” may be understood to some extent. However, you can make your message clearer by using adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions. Imagine saying, “Although (conjunction) I no have friends, I go bar against (preposition) my flat happily (adverb)”. This not only gives a clearer (even if the phrasal structure is not quite right) picture of your situation, but also shows off your language skills. Who knows, a friendly chat with the bartender might even get you a free beer.
Not Using Your Native Language
This is more of a social approach to learning. If you practise with a friend, a teacher or someone who already speaks the language you are learning, challenge yourself to always use the target language. It will be a more difficult experience, but also a more rewarding one. The moment you start to incorporate complex words into your sentences, or understand the nuances behind certain words and when to use them, it becomes a joyful experience. Practising with others may also teach you more than you expect, depending on their level of proficiency in the language.
During my first Erasmus experience in the Czech Republic, I found myself in a hospital waiting for a friend. As I sat there, an elderly lady approached me and began to speak to me in Czech. Despite my limited knowledge of the language at the time, my self-study habits came to my aid. I had practised certain words and phrases which allowed me to convey that I was a student who had been in the country for a few months but was still struggling with the Czech language. It is at moments like these that you realise the immense value of such opportunities for language enthusiasts. I wished I could have had a deeper conversation with her and explored the language further.
These are my tips. Don’t expect a magic solution that only a few people know. Everyone learns in their own way. You should combine different approaches — speaking, reading, understanding, writing and listening — whenever you feel you are lacking in one area. Maintaining a balanced study discipline will take you further on your language learning journey.
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