Speaking foreign languages has never been more on demand than now, the more languages you speak, the more successful you are able to become. It is known that speaking English language is a must when applying for jobs, but if you can speak three or more, you are a rock star. No matter how hard it seems, there are a few useful tricks when acquiring a new language that will certainly make your life easier.
Change Your Mindset
Many experts agree that the first step, when acquiring a new language, is having an open mind. Learning another language is never just about the language itself, it´s also about learning about a new culture and mentality that is often very different from ours. Once you achieve a certain level where you are able to communicate in that language, you are more likely to change your opinions on certain topics or even change your voice pitch when speaking that language. Some linguists even say that people who speak more than 8 languages are more likely to be affected by multiple personality disorder. This, of course, is very rare.
Watch Cartoons, Movies, TV Shows
It will be easier to understand what someone is saying in a foreign language with images, so feel free to watch some foreign channels, movies, series, shows or cartoons in the language you are learning. If you have the possibility to watch, for example, Italian or German television you will quickly learn new vocabulary. Even the advertisements – that are repeated non-stop, and then the TV series – you find one that you have already watched, where you know who the characters are and what it is about. Soap operas are the easiest to start with because they use a fairly limited vocabulary of everyday words, so you can memorize them very quickly. You can watch it with subtitles or without, either way it will definitely help you achieve higher level of the language in question.
Enjoy Hobbies in Another Language
Another way of improving your level in another language can also be while doing what you like most. For example, if you enjoy playing tennis you can find a tennis partner who speaks that language and practice while you play, or if you are a yoga fan, you can also find many you tube tutorials of yoga lessons in many different languages. Furthermore, people who enjoy playing games online can also find foreign websites where they can enjoy playing their favorite games in a language they are learning. For example, there are many websites with new casino bonuses, where you can make the most of the bonuses they offer and save some money in the process. These bonuses are all linked to casinos that are licensed to operate in your location and provide all the safety measures required.
Feel the Beat
Music is one of the best and funniest ways to learn a new language. Listening to the music, looking up the words on the Internet, translating and then listening until the whole song is in your head. That way you learn idioms, fixed phrases, and plenty of new vocabulary. That is much more effective than learning isolated words, taken out of context. You can try to just recognize the words, then check on the Internet if you understood them correctly. Find some online radio in the language you’re learning, ideally half music, half talk, and let it play in the background while you do house chores. You don’t have to listen to it actively; the melody of the language, the sentences, the expressions, it all enters your head along the way.
Create Your Own Dictionary
It is a good idea to buy the “student dictionary”, that small format notebook with two columns, at the stationery store. You write all the new words in it, and then you carry it in your pocket or purse. When you have to wait for something – at the bus stop, in the bank, in the supermarket, while being on the bus or train – take out your dictionary from your pocket and repeat the words. It’s unbelievable how much time we spend waiting in a queue without doing anything important. About 500 words can fit into one notebook. Learning so many words is not a minor thing at all, as it drastically increases your communication potential.
As you can see the possibilities are endless if you are motivated enough.
