Would you like to speak Portuguese with your foreign colleague, order your favorite fajitas in Spanish flawlessly, or ask for directions in Italy? Being able to speak multiple languages is a luxury, but learning a language takes time. Or does it not at all? In this article, we suggest ways to learn languages quickly.
Learning languages has never been easier than it is today. In app stores you can find hundreds of different games and apps to help you learn languages. While playing memory games, puzzles or crossword puzzles, you can acquire new knowledge of a language at the same time. Or maybe you prefer a more serious approach? If so, download an app like Duolingo. By pairing words with matching pictures, translations or articles, you can quickly learn how to ask someone for directions or even ask them out on a date.
It’s also useful to change the language settings on your phone or computer. This way you can learn new words. Educational games and apps can be really effective! Try engaging with them for five minutes each day. You can do this during your coffee break, on the toilet or just before you go to bed. Don’t take it lightly and choose a level that suits your knowledge.
News is everywhere and is very easy to access. You can learn something about your favorite subject, and learning a new language will be a nice addition. Whether you read about lifestyle or political situation abroad, understanding it in a foreign language will become easier and easier for you if you keep regularity. Moreover, you can see which sentence constructions are used in practice. Moreover, journalists often use simple sentences so that everyone can understand the topic. This will also make it easier for you to learn.
There are also podcasts available on every possible topic and in every language. Listening to people speaking in their native language ensures that you quickly pick up possible nuances and intonations. You can also improve your pronunciation by repeating sentences. Turn on a foreign podcast when you’re riding the bus, standing in traffic, or just before you go to bed. Who knows, you might wake up with the knowledge of a native speaker? Many podcasts also include a transcript of what was just said. Reading this will give you even more exposure to the language.
Practice makes perfect, and the more often you use the language you want to learn, the faster you’ll master it. If you do simple tasks in that language, you’ll spend more time with it than you think. Do you make a to-do list? If so, start writing it in the language you are learning. You can also do this for appointments marked on your calendar.
Every time you learn a new word, write it down and tell a funny story. Your brain remembers words much better when it associates them with a funny situation or a special moment. When you’re on a long train ride, you can check your index cards and ask yourself questions. This is also easy if you put them in thematic order. That way you also know synonyms or words that go together.
Of course, no one knows every word in the dictionary, but it’s a good idea to look it up. If you come across a word that you would use regularly, write it down on a card and try to form a sentence with it. Don’t fill your head with words you’ll never use. It doesn’t make sense, and the chances of you ever coming across them are slim.
Look around, because someone may want to learn the same language as you. Learning together is more fun than trying alone. Try starting a group. With a friend, you can have conversations in the language you want to learn or you can help each other with questions. It’s also helpful if you can schedule regular meetings in this arrangement. For example, choose a friend with whom you often have coffee. The more you practice, the faster you will master the language. It’s also a good idea to give each other small tasks.
Few people like to watch commercials. Nevertheless, advertising is an ideal way to pick up a language quickly. This is because commercials often repeat the same words. This way, the product stays in the listener’s memory longer. If you want to be able to flawlessly order your favorite dish in a restaurant or want to understand the best recipe from your Greek mother-in-law, choose food-related ads.
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