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Homepage Blog Foreign languages Nemtudum AKA how to learn languages fast

Nemtudum AKA how to learn languages fast

Nemtudum AKA how to learn languages fast
31. 3. 2021
Foreign languages

Have you ever travelled to a foreign country? And how did it feel when you didn’t understand the locals? When you needed something from them and didn’t know how to ask for help or the thing in question? All of us are flooded with thoughts running through our heads at that moment, something like, “Why didn’t I study foreign languages?” There may be several answers, as well as ways to learn a foreign language. While we won’t go through all of them in this article, we will introduce a few.

HOW TO LEARN LANGUAGES
1. Method: I get on the plane, and when I get off it, I will have a perfect command of the foreign language

Would you also like to know this method? You are not alone. However, in this case, we must disappoint you. No one has yet invented anything even close to this method. Still, with a little time and effort, you can achieve some knowledge.

The goal is to look up basic terms and phrases in the language at home before you go. Going to Italy? Then look up these phrases in Italian. Travelling to France? Feel free to look up basic phrases in French. Each language has its own specifics, but with online dictionaries that can also play pronunciation, words like hello, goodbye, please, and thank you should be no problem.

The time you spend preparing will definitely pay off in a foreign country. Not only will you have a good feeling, but the locals will also be pleased with your willingness to learn their language.

2. How to learn a foreign language in a few months

Do you think it takes years or decades to learn a language? If we really want to learn a foreign language thoroughly, sitting in school and completing exercises or learning vocabulary by heart won’t help us much.

The best way to really learn a language is to be in everyday contact with it. Take a flight to a country where it is spoken and speak. But not everyone has this opportunity. That’s what language courses are for, to teach not only grammar but also conversation.

The first thing to do is learn the most common expressions in the language, put the words into sentences, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Then, get used to a regular routine and repeat expressions or sentences. Just a few minutes a day will make your improvement visible.

3. Set goals

Set a goal that you want to achieve in the language. Is it for being able to order a coffee? Or to check into a hotel? How about meeting a local and having a few minutes of conversation with them? Plan your study plan around your goal.

You don’t need to know all the tenses used in the language to check into a hotel. But, on the other hand, to pass the exam and get the certificate, basic phrases won’t surely be enough. So don’t be afraid to set bigger and bigger goals.

4. Watch movies, listen to music and analyse texts

Everyone watches movies nowadays; everyone has come across some of those lyrics and articles on the internet – you are reading one right now. We understand you, yet this is not the type of article we had in mind.

If you want to learn to understand a language, movies, and TV shows are the best. If you feel like watching one, choose the original with Czech subtitles. When you start to feel confident about what the characters are saying, change the subtitles to foreign language, and when you have seen the film a few times, turn them off. Don’t despair if you don’t understand something the first time – if possible, pause the video and rewind a bit, you’ll understand it much better the second time.

Similarly, with articles or songs. Find the lyrics of the song and try to translate it, say what the artist is singing about, and sing along. It’s easy to sing along in Czech, so why not try it in another language. After all, we had to learn our language as children, and we often take singing, even if only for ourselves, as part of it.

5. Play and be rewarded

Do you think we are making fun of you? Not at all. For example, you’ve probably heard of Duolingo; if not, we’d love to introduce you to it. Duo is an owl that is your companion in your journey to learn a language. The app is great for repeating vocabulary. The game tests you and awards points for the correct answer.

You translate, listen, complete, or choose from pictures. There is no penalty for making a mistake, and because the mistake is your friend, the app will let you re-write the sentence and repeat the writing until it is correct. In addition, each week, you participate in a weekly chart and compete with other players to advance to a higher league.

The game will also remind you every day to be sure you won’t forget to practice the words. Looking at the amount of time you study – in days, you’ll be proud of yourself. And what do you get out of those minutes when you’re just aimlessly surfing the internet?

6. Talk, quietly, to yourself

Have you ever repeated out loud to yourself what you need to do during an activity? What is the next step? For example, when cooking, fry the onion, add the diced meat, season, and simmer. Or drill a hole, hammer in a dowel, put in a screw, put in the picture, and hang it,

Talk to yourself; it doesn’t matter that no one can hear you, it matters that you can hear yourself. Repeat the procedure in a foreign language. It doesn’t matter if it’s ingredients for soup or groceries at the store. Write your shopping list differently and use a foreign language instead of your mother tongue. This will expand your vocabulary and stop you from being afraid to speak.

You can also name things you see around you. For example, if you are walking down the street and see a car, say “car” and add its colour. You hear birds singing, you feel the wind, you see it’s raining, name it. If you don’t know, there is a dictionary to help you find the right word.

7. How to learn languages fast? Motivate yourself

Motivation is the most effective teacher in learning anything. Think about what you want to achieve and also how to achieve it. It is fundamental to decide how I will get the information, where I will get it, and how I will use it. Let’s transform it into a language – how will I learn the language, where will I learn the language, and what will I do with the knowledge. Will I just sit at home and never speak the language again, or will I buy a plane ticket and fly to this country? The decision is yours, of course, but the best teacher is the practice. So, take courage, get on a plane, and go. Don’t be afraid to make this particular trip your goal, and let motivation be your driving force to help you learn.

8. Avoid clichés

You know, the sentences that hold you back. Ideas that convince you of something that may not be a complete truth. Here are a few of them:

Don’t tell yourself you’re too old. You can learn languages at any age.

I’m not good at languages. It’s true that some people are better at math, others are better at languages. But don’t look for obstacles; look for ways to overcome them. For example, if you are not sure you can learn a language on your own without help, find a course.

I’m afraid others will laugh at me. But, don’t worry, the other people in that course are just like you. If you’re afraid of making a mistake abroad, don’t be. The locals will try to understand and help you, and if you embarrass yourself in front of them, it doesn’t matter; there is little chance that you will ever meet them again.

9. Don’t look for reasons why it can’t be done, but for ways, it can be done

Sit down on the internet and search. There are many methods to learn a language. Yet, the most effective one is a tutor. So, find agencies in your city, find out what method they use to teach the language, and try a sample lesson (some agencies offer it for free, others charge a fee). If you like the method, don’t hesitate to start learning. You will soon discover how important it is to have a tutor.

If, despite your best efforts, none of the methods used by the agencies suits you, don’t despair. People have to go to all sorts of places and try many tutors before they find one that is the right match. There is also a difference between individual and group learning; we have discussed these in detail in Organizational forms of teaching.

To summarise the information, the clear advantage of one-to-one tutoring is that you have a tutor all to yourself, he or she is dedicated to you, and you don’t miss out on anything. You can reschedule the lesson and say what specifically bothers you or what you need, regardless of the rest of the group. A good place to look for such a tutor is School Populo. At the information meeting, the coordinators will find your goal and a tutor tailored to you.

The whole lesson will be thus in your control, and you don’t have to worry about the tutor laughing at you. Just imagine, a few years ago, the tutor was in the same situation as you are now – knew nothing and now can sit in front of you and help you achieve what you want to achieve at the moment. How to learn languages? Contact School Populo.

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