Consider learning a new language as your next hobby!
From the beginning of lockdown and for the duration of quarantine, I found myself with a lot of free time at home.
After a while of just turning my mind off, binge watching different TV shows on Netflix or viewing funny movies on YouTube, I found myself bored. I wanted to be more productive and exercise my brain more.
Then I stumbled across an ad for Duolingo, and thought to myself,
“Okay. I’ll try learning a new language”
I have been learning Russian for a few months now, and I think that there a lot of things that I could improve on, especially with how I learn.
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If you are passionate in learning a new language, here are the tips I can share with you.
1. Make sure to set a weekly schedule when learning a new language.
If you are learning by yourself at home, it is good to have a time frame for the things you want to learn. Luckily there are many apps available for free to help guide you. You can set a schedule for an hour a week and make sure to make it a habit. Then, slowly you can try and raise your frequency of practicing to everyday.
Also, to stay motivated you need a clear reason to learn the language. Maybe you can learn a language to help you work hard for a dream vacation abroad. A friend of mine chose to learn Thai so he could watch his favorite show without subtitles. It’s all up to you.
2. Practice your chosen language consistently.
One thing about learning language is that you need to stay consistent and continue to practice. If you can find a partner to learn with, that is so much better since you can keep each other motivated and practice your chosen language together.
If you can’t, a good way to make sure you are getting enough practice is writing a daily journal or recording vlogs in the language you chose to learn. Also, reading books or articles in that language could help you get more used to understanding it.
3. Learn to listen to the language.
We all need to remember that communicating isn’t a one way street. When we speak to people, we still have to listen. A good way of practicing your listening skills for a new language is listening to their music or watching a film in that language. Since I am a beginner, it is easier to listen to nursery rhymes or watch kids’ shows, and I plan to build up towards other media.
4. Stop doubting yourself when learning a new language.
Many language experts say to approach a language like a child. You should not be afraid to make mistakes. These are opportunities to learn. Imagine how a six year old would speak, they try their best to express themselves and we don’t make them feel bad for making mistakes. If you’re learning a language, make sure to remember that you get better at speaking by speaking. Mistakes happen and we should learn from them.
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