3 Tips on learning a new language

Hi,

My name is Pavel, and while my English might not be perfect you can still understand what I am saying.

Have you tried to learn a new language before? How did you know that you succeeded or failed?

I guess "I passed the test" is not enough to say that you know the language, what really proves your knowledge and understanding is practice. You are successful when you can communicate using the learnt language. It is considered to be a very difficult task, it involves making sounds that you might have never even heard before, writing & reading symbols you have never seen and understanding the people who use that language. All of these are required in order to say "I know that language".

Tip number 1:

Set a proper goal,

"A goal is a dream with a deadline" - Napoleon Hill

The thing that will bring you the closest to your goal is setting a proper one. Why are you learning a new language is the most neglected question and the answer is usually "Because I have to". Well guess what, you can read this so you don't have to learn anything as English is a language that most people in the world understand and somehow you will get by. However if your goal is to get a job or closer to the people around you or even read original historical documents then you will be much more motivated to achieve it and have a measure for your progress. In most cases you will want to learn the local language for the purpose of blending in and getting closer to the people around you so lets say for the matter of Tip number one that a proper goal will look like this: "I want to be able to have a fluent conversation".

Tip number 2:

Take action,

"Action is the foundational key to all success" - Pablo Picasso

You will never move an inch unless you take the first step. After setting your goal, act! Start talking to people in order to get corrected. This is how children learn languages they try to speak, get corrected by the parent and then try again, instinctive learning based on experience is the best way to learn, it creates memories that are attached to strong feelings and by so makes the process of recalling the information much easier. It is always exciting to do something new, to be out of the comfort zone and if you are afraid then build up your confidence by speaking to someone you feel comfortable with.

Tip number 3:

Persist,

"The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried" - Stephen McCranie

When trying something new you are likely to fail at first and the reason for it is because you are gaining experience. The trick is to understand that at this point you don't need to have all the answers, that's why you are learning. Making mistakes is an important part of this stage as it will prevent those mistakes later and improve your understanding of the basic linguistic rules.  It takes about 30 days for your brain to adjust and develop a new part which is responsible for the specific language so tip number 3 is don't give up before trying for at least two months.

Take it easy I have no doubts you will succeed.

"He who says he can and he who says he can't are both usually right" - Confucius

Good luck!