2023 Guide To Mastering A Language
This year is going to be different
January 1st and new beginnings.
1 January often begins with the most degrading and unrelenting New-Years hangover of the year. Which in turn kickstarts the annual “dry January” expedition. But it also marks the beginning of a means to change — rather like the sudden nationwide booze drought.
With 2022 behind us, many look at 2023 like they would a fresh start or do-over — a great opportunity to try something new. This desire for change can last anywhere from a few days, few weeks to months but is generally dropped when our natural habits get the best of us — even with the keenest attitude.
One of my favourite quotes comes to mind, “If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.” And its true! Of course its true. Its too easy to settle for what’s comfortable right now, rather than allowing ourselves any temporary discomfort to achieve what we really want. This is what we are working with and its time to challenge it.
Learning a new language is one of the more popular new-year’s resolutions — next to the obvious: eat healthy, exercise and lose weight. Its easy to understand why; with our world becoming increasingly interconnected, another language under your belt is considered an invaluable asset. Not just for things like travelling but being able to connect and engage with more of the world, while also preparing you for a culturally diverse economy.
Here’s how to make it happen.
Setting realistic goals
Don’t be vague.
This is where the slip starts. Avoid setting general goals for what you want to achieve — the more specific the better. Being definitive about what you want out of your learning experience, what time frame you are working with and how you are going to achieve these goals is the first step.
Also, don’t be afraid to do things differently to other people — what works for one person might not for you. If I have learnt anything about learning languages it is that creating a routine with your own individual experience and interests in mind buys the best results, and this is enhanced with the understanding that this is for you, and you alone.
Finding the right resources
It took some digging to find resources that were actually worth investing time into, this digging inevitably led to discovering applications that were pretty ineffective. Duolingo being one of them.
As of 2023, Duolingo teaches 43 languages (39 of those taught for English speakers). It motivates users to stay consistent via its streak system, which is accompanied by its friend feature, allowing users to stay connected, and encourage or compete with one another. Additionally, it allows you to work at your own speed, as little or as often as you like with the promise that you are gaining “real-life communication skills.”
At surface level this seems great but there is an undeniable flaw with Duolingo’s model. And that is simply, you cannot learn a language with it. Now, don’t get me wrong. Duolingo can be a great start, its good for learning vocabulary and keeping track of your engagement with the language, but in terms of functionality, it would be near impossible to use what you have learnt on Duolingo in real life.
And the internet is in agreement with me. Its no secret that Duolingo has some very bizarre practice sentences— most questionable run-ins having their own twitter pages and reddit threads. A couple of my favourite, “Without a doubt, I want to eat ham” or “Excuse me, I am an apple” which makes it easy to understand why these might not be helpful in real-life contexts.
Right okay, so we have bashed most people’s go to resource, where now? Google and the app store are your friend. We are living in an online age, everything is on the internet— everything you need, want, or can’t find, just waiting to be found. Sometimes all it takes is one good source and the rest fall in your lap.
At the beginning of my Korean language journey, I watched a lot of Korean Vlog content on YouTube; making note of all their recommendations. This included: learning resources, language exchange opportunities and cultural tips and tricks. Eventually, I had compiled a list of resources that would keep me on track and stay handy with my Korean studies and future language endeavours.
Staying motivated
Learning a language is one of the best experiences for those that live for exploring new things. If you are looking for a hobby that is going to push your limits, this would be it. I have fond memories of being in college, completely bogged down by the stress of overdue coursework and looming exams and still finding the time and enjoyment to study Korean.
From my own experiences of language learning, I can say with confidence that having a reason for studying is going to be your main motivation. Are you studying because you want to travel there one day, or to be able to make new friends from that culture? Always keep these goals in mind.
Additionally, finding your strengths is going to be one of the best ways to stay motivated. This is different for everyone, for some, this might be through social learning, independent study and for others through formal education. From here, you are building up the foundation of your routine.
Mix your interests
Sometimes wanting to learn isn’t enough. But integrating other hobbies or recreational activities with your study routine is immensely helpful. I discovered that journaling and music was my sweet spot when learning Korean, and even found these were great ways to make friends within the Korean community and also the Korean study community.
Korean culture especially has a very devoted fan base for K-pop idols and K-dramas; a lot of fans will go above and beyond to see and interact with their idols. While this might not be the same for every culture, the beauty of different cultures is that they are different! You might find your enthusiasm for learning through your love for food or history.
Exploring the culture
Being interested in the culture of the language you are learning can play a big part in how committed you are. For example, being interested in the traditions of the culture, like: its history, arts, customs and rituals, religions, and even architecture. You can base your study content around these things which can eventually lead to being able to have some amazing conversations in the culture’s native tongue.
It is a misconception that you must have some tie to the culture to excel in it. My father is Greek Cypriot, so naturally I grew up with a lot of Greek speaking relatives and a lot of loud, very-traditional, Greek music. But when it came to actually learning Greek there seemed to be a mental block.
This was not from lack of trying. I was desperate to learn, I begged my dad to teach me and had plans to live abroad to more efficiently learn the language but the ultimate reason for not sticking with it was simply that I found the culture intimidating. There seemed to be an unspoken pressure to learn Greek perfectly because of my existing family ties and so it was no longer something for myself.
Alternatively, Korean was a completely new experience for me. New people, new culture. I could start from the very beginning with no expectations. Which leads to my next point: mindset is powerful.
Finding a culture you can really sink your teeth into — figuratively and literally speaking — is what will make your language learning journey successful, because the culture speaks too. Culture provides context for the language.
