7 Ways to Learn a Language Outside the Classroom
With minimum effort.
Bored of your textbook? Languages aren’t just something you learn — they’re something you live. So to learn them well, do your best to integrate them into your everyday routines. Here are a few easy ideas how to do that!
1. Watch TV! Lots of it
Pick a TV show or movie you have already watched and watch it with both the audio and subtitles in the language you are trying to learn. You will already know what the plot and some of the dialogue is about, so you can focus on the new vocabulary and comprehension. As you become more advanced, try watching it without subtitles!
2. Learn to cook
A great way to learn new vocabulary in another language is to buy a cookbook and follow the recipes. This will make it easy to remember the words as you are associating them with either the ingredient you are using or the actions you complete. For added cultural immersion, try a cookbook of traditional recipes from the country in which the language is spoken!
Some great examples: British | French | American | Spanish | Mexican
3. Change your phone/computer language settings
An easy way to learn vocabulary without even realising it is to change your phone or computer’s operating system to your target language. In this way, every time you turn the volume up or turn the device off, you will see the word for the feature or action you perform. If you use Chrome, there is an amazing plug-in that partly translates websites to ease you into a new language.
4. Read your favourite children’s books
Making the jump into literature can be a scary milestone when learning a language, as usually the vocabulary is very difficult. Starting with children’s books makes it much easier as the sentences are less complex, the grammar is simpler and if you have already read the book in your mother tongue, it will make it even easier to understand the plot.
5. Discover new songs
Most of us know a bit of other languages simply from songs like Shakira’s Waka Waka or Luis Fonsi’s Despacito. Listening to songs in your target language can help you easily remember words and phrases — so choose 5 popular songs, look at the translations, add them to your playlist, and you’ll be belting them out flawlessly in no time. A great website to do this is LyricsTraining, which lets you pick a language and listen to songs with lyrics on the screen.
6. Talk to native speakers
The best way to immerse yourself in a new language is to travel and talk to locals. If this is not possible, try meeting people by joining local activities in your target language. Alternatively, you can find a private language teacher here and connect for online lessons!
7. Sign up to a newsletter
Signing up to a newsletter ensures that you practice the language every day (or every time you check your email/social media). Depending on your level you can sign up to services that send you one new vocabulary word every day, or a full rundown of the local news in a different language. There are many apps and services for you to use!
— Daniela Alvarez is a Marketing Intern at Langu. She speaks Spanish, English, French, and Italian.
Originally published at heylangu.com on September 15, 2017.
