You can be fluent in any language in no time. Remember these tips!
It’s a cliche and known to everyone that the world has become a global village and people interact from around the globe, which creates the natural need for a common language of communication. So above 30% of the native English speakers and almost 100% of the non-native English population learn a new language in their life time.
English is not my first language; in one way or another, I have been connected with language institutes and students learning the language for fun or academic purposes. One thing I observed is that the languages themselves are not difficult to learn. But it’s the learning or teaching method which traps students into such a vicious cycle that speaking a new language becomes a nightmare for them.
I have seen students stuck for months. No matter what they do, they find it impossible to get better. Their teachers work hard to explain the rules and give them extra time, but nothing works. Rather, the student feels helpless and becomes frustrated. And learning a new language starts to intimidate them, which is supposed to be a fun task. If you’re one of those, this article is a must-read.
Here I’ll guide you about the few things that every student should know beforehand learning a new language so they can avoid making mistakes and become fluent in no time.
Do not apply the rules of your native language to the new language.
Each language has its structure and style. And some structures are unique to a few languages and non-existent in others. For example, the Arabic language doesn’t have a future tense; and in French, subjectif and objectif tenses are very common and rare in the English language. So much so that sometimes we see differences between American and British English.
So always be ready to learn and adopt new rules in languages.
Try to master sentence structures before memorizing vocabulary.
I often see students who know the meaning of each word individually but are unable to make sense of the whole sentence. They have memorized tens and hundreds of words but are unable to speak even a little. Students with a non-European language as their first language face this issue mostly. It’s crucial to learn that sentence structure can differ very often for various languages.
Focus on the sentence structure and composition of the language before you rush to the vocabulary. As you practice speaking or writing, you can learn words quicker than ever.
Try delivering the message rather than translating.
Every learner of the language should bare in mind that their target is not to translate the message from one language to another but to deliver a message. Students are always stuck in finding vocabulary and matching the best structure, which impacts their fluency and shatters their confidence level. Translation exercises are good for mastering structure and grammar skills, but it consumes a lot of your brain energy and time, which is always a barrier to gaining fluency.
Translations have another adverse impact: they never let you speak like native speakers. Because language embraces the paramount culture in it, for example, a native English speaker will say, ‘I’ll be around,’ which means that he will be available or nearby at a given time which is not equivalent to what you say in your native language.
When practicing speaking, try translating a scene, image, or visuals into your target language. It will not only help you gain fluency but also acclimatize you to your host culture.
Write!
Learning a new language has four sections: listening, speaking, writing and reading. All of them are crucial, but the writing section is mostly undermined, which you must not do. Make writing your top priority. Writing makes us think and research and engage our brains for a longer period.
What is unique in writing from a learner’s perspective is that the writer gives time to each section of the language (grammar, vocabulary, structures) and helps himself to be comfortable using the language. It enhances their flow and understanding of the language.
So try to write every day, no matter how much!
Forget about the accents and learn the correct pronunciation.
A lot of new students are confused and unsatisfied with how they speak. It’s crucial to know beforehand that your speaking style or accent has to be natural but correct. It implies that your accent doesn’t matter whether you’re pronouncing the words correctly or not.
Firstly, try to focus on the sounds of each alphabet and then on the sounds of each word. Use google to learn the pronunciations of the new words. English is not my first language, and almost all of my teachers used to pronounce English words wrongly. So make sure that you don’t learn the wrong pronunciations.
I only focus on pronunciation, and often people misjudge my nationality. So forget about the accents and learn the correct pronunciation.
In the end, always maintain patience. Sometimes, it feels impossible, but it’s the test of your psychological strength. Never give up!
Use the comment section below for any questions. I’ll post tips for advanced learners too. Follow me to receive notifications.
