How I Learn and Study a Language
For those of you wondering how to go about learning a new language this is how I do it. I’ve tried breaking it down to the best of my ability since I know starting to learn an entire language is pretty overwhelming.
To start off, I download apps and use websites and pdf files to learn basic vocabulary and grammatical structures. Some of my favorite apps and websites are
I also search on the App Store and on google for any apps or websites that are specifically for learning my target language.
Click here for a folder of pdf files in several languages. The titles of the files are in Portuguese but majority of the resources are in English. This has been an amazing tool for me to use.
First off to take notes I keep a separate section in my binder for each language and I usually use graph paper to take them because it looks neater in my opinion.
I never do exercises or any work in my notes just to keep it more organized, I will use a separate notebook or paper to do them on. I also use several different colored pens to organize different things such as masculine and feminine nouns. I will also use and make flashcards on quizlet.
Once I have completed making my notebook and filling it with vocab and structures, I will use Duolingo as a testing tool to see where I’m at with the language.
Once I have finished my course for the target language I consider myself to be at a A2 to B1 level.
Getting Further in the Language
Eventually you will hit a plateau in your language learning journey. Check out @lovelybluepanda‘s helpful post here on how to overcome the plateau. Now is when I will start working by my language learning schedule you can find here.
I will start reading books and using the higher level language courses on Memrise and do some reading, listening, and speaking practice. I will also start using the other apps and sites specifically for learning the target language.
When I am reading anything in the language I am trying to learn, I write down any new vocabulary I haven’t yet learned and look up the definition so I can keep a running vocab list.
To Keep Learning New Vocabulary
I will usually try to find more pdf files and use apps and such to keep expanding my vocabulary in my target language. If you want to get to a proficient level in that language it is essential to be learning new vocab even after the beginning stages of linguistic studies.
As I said above, when I am reading I summarize each paragraph or page on a separate sheet of paper and I write down and define any new vocab into my notes. Usually, on the same sheet of paper as the summaries, I will try to infer the meaning of the word using context clues.
Afterwards I will usually add the new words to my quizlet, as I create a new folder on quizlet for every language I study.
Skype, Tandem, and HiNative
When speaking with a native speaker of the target language, I will sometimes prefer to use Skype since I can practice my speaking and pronunciation skills as well as work on my accent.
Tandem is also quite a useful app. It lets you talk to native speakers of your target language. It has quite a cool concept where you help someone learn your native language while they help you learn theirs.
HiNative is an app where you can ask native speakers of a language any questions regarding that language. Usually I will ask for help with grammatical things I’m confused about and examples with words that I don’t have enough context for.
My 6th grade Spanish teacher taught me this trick which was to watch my favorite movies that I knew most of the words to or at least understood the plot of and to change the audio to the language I’m learning with subtitles on (Disney movies work great for this since they are dubbed into so many languages).
I will also watch YouTube videos and listen to podcasts and music in the language I am learning. I will also sometimes look for audio files on 50languages or BBC Languages.
To practice my writing skills in my target language I will either use a notebook or Tandem. I especially like tandem because I can get direct feedback from someone who speaks the language fluently and the app lets them make corrections to what I write and send them back to me.
I will also use a notebook and either write a journal entry or look up writing prompts and write them in the language I am learning.
It is important to learn expressions and idioms in the target language, sometimes I will find them on Memrise but if not I will just do a simple google search for them and make a quizlet set.
Make sure you can here a native speaker saying the words you are learning so you know how to properly pronounce the words and you can hear and work on your accent.
Try setting your phone in the target language since it is something you are constantly on and looking at you are bound to learn new vocab.
Google Translate is a helpful tool but be careful with is. There are quite a few words it mistranslates. Try finding an online dictionary for the language you are learning.
Don’t just learn phrases, make sure you know the structure and grammar behind them.
I find it very helpful to talk to my dog in the target language, considering he can’t say anything in return, he does make for a really good listener.
Read news articles in the target language. This can be a good way to learn and practice vocab and grammar.
Make goals for when you want to be at each fluency level.
