Tips for learning a new language

Tips for learning a new language

1. Lose your fear of public speaking.

Before putting any other advice into practice, start by getting rid of the embarrassment. It doesn't matter if you make mistakes when you try, it's a new learning experience you are acquiring and it's normal not to know everything.

2. You must be constant

A good way to stay motivated about your learning process is to remind yourself of the goals you have in mind, and the reason why you decided to start learning this new language in the first place. By constantly reminding yourself of this, you will surely find all the reasons to keep going and zero excuses to abandon your process.

3. Look for resources that are in the language you are learning.

One of the easiest ways we have to learn a language is to consume products that are in the language we want to master. Whether it is music, books, movies, series, podcasts or magazine articles, look for your favorite materials in the new language and you will see that it will become a natural part of your life.

4. Surround yourself with people who speak the language you are learning.

Talking and speaking in the new language is a key aspect of your process. We know it can be tempting to talk to your usual friends about your interests, but that will only stagnate your learning. So it's time to find other people who can support you and with whom you can have extended and effective conversations.

5. Use your vocabulary in sentences

The first thing you should understand is that learning a language is not about memorizing words but about knowing how to use them in a given context. A good exercise to master the vocabulary you are learning is to start using it in sentences so that you learn basic conjugation rules.

One way to do this exercise is to write it down on paper: when you learn a new word, write it down along with its meaning and use it in a sentence and in different verb tenses. 

6. Don't be afraid to make mistakes

Don't be afraid of the mistakes you may make along the way; keep in mind that one of the most effective ways to acquire any knowledge is to learn from your own mistakes.

7. Think about the new language

Try to plan your daily activities in the new language, or make your daily thoughts and reflections an opportunity to become much more familiar with the language you are learning. Or you can also make immediate translations of any information you are receiving in Spanish.

8. Change the language of your electronic devices

An infallible and effective method is to change the default language you have on your electronic devices, such as cell phone, tablet or computer. 

The recommendation would be that you do not remain in doubt about the meanings of some new words that appear in the process. On the contrary, take this exercise as an opportunity to expand your vocabulary.