How to teach yourself a new language

So many people say to me that I’m fortunate to speak several languages. I speak four languages: Haitian creole, French, Spanish and English. I know people who speak seven to eight language. sI prefer to believe that I can communicate rather than being a polyglot.

Human being usually chooses the path with the less obstacle. that what I would do if I had the choice. I would speak only one language. Nevertheless, I couldn’t. When I went to university I realized that English was the main language. Moreover, English book was cheaper. I was too busy to take an English class. They were too slow for me, because I wanted to speak quickly. I bought book. I read them then I practiced with whoever wanted to practice with me. I had a mechanical conversation. Then someone talked me about an English toastmasters Club. I went there, and become a member. I practice with more people while improving communication and leadership skills. I won in 2009 a grant from the US department of state for an intensive English course in Vermont (USA).

In 2010, I flew to Mexico as a natural disaster refugee. It was a different country with different culture and language. I needed to speak their language to survive. I began a Spanish class. I got bored at the tenth week. I dropped off. I took back my personal formula. I had plenty people to practice. I bought mostly spanish book to vocabulary.

Now, six years later I can give some advice about learning a new language.

1. Be interested more in the culture than the language: a new tongue is not a lego game where you bring one word after another. Many times you’ll make a sentence that can’t be translated literally. The best way to perceive such pattern is by being interested more in the culture. learn to know how those speakers live, love and relate among themselves and with foreigners. What are their values? What are they afraid most? How can you help them? are some questions you should ask yourself. if you can penetrate their mind and see how they think you will be able to speak easier to them. You’ll discover particular word they use or interpret differently.
2. Link it to your passion: I love reading. As a result, I bought several spanish books. I could spend hours reading without feeling the time passed. Find your learning style and the topic you like the most. For example, if you like philosophy or psychology you may buy book or visual material in that foreign tongue. You’ll learn it faster and with less pain.
3. Speak as much as you can and with as many people you can: the best way to master a new language is to open your month. Do not worry about making mistake. If your sentence is not correct the worst that could happen is an appropriate correction from. What scares you is not the mistake is the lesson. Be comfortable on being wrong or doing mistake. Back in the years, you did many mistakes as a baby, but your weren’t conscious enough to give up was. Don’t let your higher level of consciousness plays against you. Speak. Make Error. Correct. Speak again. Make more error. Improve yourself. Speak again.
4. Be patient: today you are better than yesterday. Tomorrow you’ll be better than today. You’ll arrive to your destiny as soon as you don’t give up no matter how slow you go. It makes take you one year or five, but you’ll make it. Some people will go faster than you, but you are not in a race. They are doing their thing, like you are doing yours. Don’t let others’ achievement intimidates you. Daily you’ll become stronger and more resilient. Give yourself a chance.
5. Have a journal: I realize that I master something as soon as I can write it, explain it or comment about it. I’d suggest you to find something similar that allows you to apply your language skills. It needs to be something that can make your think and use your new vocabulary. it may be a game or something else. The more challenge you face and resolve, the better your skill will be.

In today’s world there are more bilingual people than ever. As cultures are coming together, people are learning new and better way to communicate. A new language can open many doors and help you stand out. I was always known in my class for that. When someone needed to reach a French words, most of my colleagues would look at me. I served as a translator for many patients to their clinician. Moreover, I 2014 I won an international essay contest on multilingualism. I received a free trip to New York City and spoke at the United Nations Headquarters.

Nobody knows where a new tongue can bring him. Nevertheless I’m sure it will lead your where your maternal tongue will never bring you. Go for that foreign language that you want to master. Expand your vision and knowledge. Be a better person than yesterday.