Blog
Adapting To A New Language
- 27 November 2015
- Posted by: Amy
- Category: Learning English Study English Study in Australia Uncategorized
People decide to learn a new language for many different reasons. To travel, moving abroad, for their career, to communicate with friends and family, to widen their skills or even just taking an interest in the language. Learning a new language is hard work, its takes time and dedication. It doesn’t come over night, so be prepared to put the effort in.
Take Your Time
Taking your time is the best way to ensure you really understand the language. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much information that you feel like you need to know at once. Learn in small, bite sized chunks and set yourself small goals.
Focus on the Keywords
Concentrate on the key words, words you use in your day to day life. Don’t expect to get it right straight away, play word games such as flash cards to help you get used to the basic words. There are also some great mobile apps that can help you to play word games.
Get Used to Small Conversations
Once you’ve mastered the basic key words and sentences, you should try putting them into real life contexts. Have a small conversation with someone else that speaks the language. Try to order from the menu in the English and when you’re ready to take the next step, move onto more complicated sentences and words, learn the numbers, colours and animals and don’t worry if you don’t pick it up straight away, talk to people frequently that speak the language.
Listen & Watch
Listening to radio and TV, reading books and having conversations in the language will help you pick it up more quickly.
Don’t Worry About Making Mistakes
When having conversations with people, don’t worry too much if you make a mistake. The fun part about learning a new language is the challenge. So, if you make a mistake you can just learn from it for next time. If you get it right, give yourself a pat on the back!
Stay Positive
You will be surprised how quickly the human brain is able to memorise new information after repetition, association and use. Just remember learning a new language is a big process as an adult and it does not happen overnight. Be prepared for a long time of getting it wrong and remember not to give up. As long as you work at it and always make time to study, you will get the hang of it!
Interested in studying English? Contact Explore English today.