Essential tips to learn any language quickly without spending a penny

Speaking a foreign language always grabs people’s attention.

I think you’d agree with us…..

For instance, most of us were dazzled when we first saw Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg’s presentation in Chinese. Every language learner was inspired and energized by his performance.

If that didn’t sway you then, maybe it was a friend who swept a girl/boy off their feet on holiday or you are just attracted by the language itself and can see yourself speaking it one day.

Whatever your motivation to learn a foreign language, one thing is for sure, you NEED these tips to guide you towards your goals and reach a level of fluency quicker than you imagined.  

So let’s start…..

1. Common words

It’s a well know fact that we each use the same 100 words weekly. Start by making a list of those words in your language, translate them into the language you’re speaking and use them for 2 weeks. Every time you notice a word on your list, remind yourself of the translated version.

2. Language Exchange

This is by far the most popular method to reach a level of fluency. We all have resources that were not available to us a few years ago. If you cannot find a language group or partner locally, Google is your best friend. By joining language exchange sites, there is a world of possibilities for you out there.

Mastering a language without having to leave your comfort zone, can it get any better than this?

3. Consistency

You already know this, so why mention it? The reason for this is being consistent doesn’t have to be boring. It does not mean you need to stick your head in a book or site for 2 hours a day. Now that is BORING!

Consistency can be anything you want it be. Like watching the telly, listening to music, playing a videogame but remember, this requires your commitment and investment each and every week. 

Technology makes all this possible, pick something you like doing everyday but instead of doing it in your native language, test it out in a foreign. Being consistent doesn’t have to be a tedious experience, make the journey enjoyable for you.

4.  Talk to yourself – ‘Thinking out Loud’

For instance, when alone busy tidying or sorting at home, most people have a running monologue in their minds.

They think about what needs to be done next, how they should do, when etc… So why not use this time to practice talking to yourself in the language you’re learning?

And if you feel comfortable and confident enough talking aloud, listen to yourself speaking. This is a great way to develop your conversation skills.

5.Recognize your failures

This is hard for every language learner, no matter how many languages you already know.

This might be one of the main reasons why a great deal of individuals end up give and it’s all at the risk of looking a little silly.

When learning a language there are going to be numerous occasions when you’ll make mistakes. A classic example is when you build up the confidence to say something in front of a group of people and no-one understands what you are trying to say or you don’t like the sound of your own voice when speaking.

You need to accept that this is part of your learning journey and honestly, it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes. Acknowledging these only makes you courageous and builds confidence that even you maybe didn’t know you had.

Have fun with it, like you would when you generally speak your own native language.

6. Apps

This has become one of the most effective learning techniques amongst language learners today. Apps are a great way for translating words quickly when needed but also passing that hour long journey on the train going to and from work.

There are plenty of free apps out there, not only are they charged up with little exercises but common sentences and phrases that you would use daily.

The fact that they are so interactive makes the learning process enjoyable and less of a lifeless experience. For any beginner this would be a great way to compliment your current learning technique.

7. Learning Environment

When people imagine themselves taking up a language as an adult, they automatically come back to those school days with a text book, reading, learning and repeating for an hour a day.

In some respects, this will be the case but that does not mean you have to lock yourself away from the world and go back to school.

Take the learning out of the room! Go to coffee shops, to the park (on a sunny day), the beach (if you are lucky enough to have one close by) or even to your favourite spot.

Make your learning experience fun and do the things you enjoy at the same time.

Here you have 7 essential tips to support your foreign language campaign. If you’re going to stick to it, we encourage a personal happy and fun rule for which you’ll always remember the good and bad.

Good Luck Guys!