Tips for Learning Languages

Perfect Pronunciation:

Pronunciation matters. As in English, many words can have wildly different meanings if pronounced differently from the textbook guide. Focus on the vowels first, and don’t worry about speaking slowly at first – you will gain speed and fluency as you go along, but the foundations of the new language must be in place. Use online talking dictionaries like wordreference.com to check your spoken word.

Small Steps:

Learning a new language is a process of accretion. You can’t expect to absorb all of it in a few weeks. Put aside 20 minutes every day to learn five new words and practise the vocabulary you already posses. Children learn language through a gradual daily process, gaining more and more new words as they grow up. This ability to absorb language is still present, though less nascent in adults, so pick up your salsa heels and head down to the local Spanish dance class or tapas bar to practise. .