12 tips to learn another language faster.

Hi

How fast do you think you could learn to speak another language?

There’s no one answer that fits all here so here are 12 tips to help you learn another language faster…

1. Stick to your language learning style

The more you can use your individual learning style, the faster you’ll learn another language.

Each of us needs different activities to reinforce the knowledge we learn on a daily basis.

Some people learn best with visual stimulation, while others need auditory cues or engagement with other people.

Do you remember your learning style?

2. Take one-on-one language lessons 

The quickest way to learn another language is one-on-one, with an experienced native language speaking teacher. 

You need to start conversing in that language as quickly as possible, which doesn’t happen in a classroom full of English speakers. In a typical class, you won’t get the personalized teaching you need, especially if you’re in a hurry to start using the language.

By the way, my friends at Live Lingua have a promotion on right now for over 25% off language lessons for you to take advantage of this tip.

3. Learn from a native-speaking instructor

Where are you planning to travel and use your language skills? Find an instructor who specializes in the right dialect and has the right accent. Better yet, learn online from someone who lives in the place you’re planning to use your newly learned language skills.

With the right instructor, you’ll develop an ear for the accent before you go. Otherwise, you’ll find it hard to understand what you hear when you arrive, slowing down your progress considerably.

4. Learn the most common verbs (& how to conjugate them)

Verbs are the basic building blocks of any sentence. Learning just a few common verbs can go a long way when learning to form sentences in your favorite second (or third) language.

This is one of the best methods to learn another language quickly, because it helps you form sentences early on so you can practice speaking.

Once you learn the most common verbs in that language, you should be able to form basic sentences. Practice using these verbs whenever you can, and before you know it, you’ll be comfortable having simple conversations.

5. Target vocabulary that you’ll actually use

When you recognize “why” you want to learn another language, your instructor can help design a course tailored to your needs. That way, you can focus on the vocabulary you expect to use and skip past the stuff you won’t need right away.

6. Immerse yourself in your new language as much as you possibly can

To reproduce an immersive experience at home, expose yourself to as much of the language as you can. You need plenty of exposure if you want to learn fast.

Consume as much language material as you can, in between conversing with native speakers at every opportunity.

Enjoy music, videos, food, and everything you can get a hold of. If you are feeling bold, you may want to configure your phone, tablet, and computer to your new language (you can do this by changing the settings).

7. Practice the language with children

One of the best tips to learn another language; practice with children. Children, like you, are also at a beginner’s language level, and they tend to use more basic vocabulary. Kids love to play, so practicing another language together is educational and fun!

Here are a few ways to tap into kids’ enthusiasm to speed up your langauge learning:

Watch kids’ television programs in your new language, which often combine visual and interactive learning with speaking.

Sing children’s songs in your new language to help expand your vocabulary (careful, those songs get stuck in your head).

Play games with kids to help learn the language like learning colors, numbers, days of the week, or names of animals.

8. Fake it until you make it

Often when people learn a new language, they feel too shy to start speaking right away. But one of the best language tips for beginners is to go out there and speak it!

Start speaking and having conversations right from the beginning. You’ll practice forming sentences. You’ll learn from your mistakes. Plus, you’ll have a chance to hear how other people speak, a great way to train your ear.

Let go of perfection. Sure, you might make mistakes, pronounce things the wrong way, or speak broken Spanish. That’s how you learn!

9. Think outside of the box

When practicing a new language, chances are you’ll forget a word (or not know it at all). When you don’t know or forget a specific word, think of other ways to explain what you mean.

Let’s say you forget how to say “I’m hungry”. Think of alternate ways of saying the same thing, with the vocabulary that you do know. For example, “I want to eat” or “I want food”.

You’ll get your meaning across, even when you can’t recall the exact words. This will help you speak the language faster, even with a limited vocabulary.

10. Set yourself up for success!

Design your life in a way that sets you up for success. If you’re trying to learn in a short period of time, you need to maximize productivity.

Here are a few tips to make sure you have enough time and space in your life for learning a new language:

Create a productive learning environment. Consider factors such as lighting, ventilation, and removing distractions. Light up a scented candle or use essential oils that help you focus.

Are you a night-owl or an early-bird? Knowing your most productive time of the day is highly beneficial. Schedule your language lessons and studying time around those hours.

Find opportunities to multi-task. When you’re commuting, cooking, walking, or working out — listen to podcasts, radio, or audio lessons in your new language. Use apps to practice while you’re waiting at the doctor’s office. Conjugate verbs during your lunch break.

11. Involve the mind and body

Learning a new language is a big commitment, especially if you’ve given yourself a short-term deadline. If you neglect your health while you’re focusing on this goal, your ability to learn will suffer.

Plus, you’ll improve your cognitive function if you combine your language studies with activities to sharpen your mind. Keep up these healthy habits while you learn:

Exercise: An active lifestyle=an active brain. Regular exercise helps you feel energized and stimulates the growth of new neurons and strengthens synapsis. Try workout videos with your new language!

Strengthen the mind with meditation. Meditation practices stimulate the brain and help maintain focus, two important aspects to keep your “head in the game” when studying a new language.

Eat a well-balanced diet. The foods that you consume form the building blocks of your body, including your brain. So feed your brain right! Eat brain “foods” that boost memory and cognition and avoid all that junk.

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration has a negative effect on cognition, according to studies. So stay properly hydrated!

Get enough sleep. Sleepless nights can play havoc on your memory and the rest of your cognitive skills. Getting adequate sleep is a tough one, we know it, but you should at least try so you can stay alert and focused on learning.

Take breaks. Don’t forget to schedule breaks as you plan how to learn Spanish fast. Burnout will only interfere with your ability to retain all that information. Pace yourself and make time for other activities.

12. Don’t limit yourself to one program or app

A lot of people start with basic online language courses, or practice with an app, and think it will be enough. No single program or app will get you speaking conversational in another language as quickly as a personalized plan with plenty of practice.

How many of these tips can you start using right now?
-  Ray

PS: My friends at Live Lingua have a Spring Sale on right now for over 25% off of your language lessons.