Being multilingual (being able to speak more than one language) is a brilliant ability to have. Not only will you be able to communicate with many more people but it makes you more attractive to employers. It is also said that being able to speak another language can help you understand your first language better.
You do not necessarily need to become fluent (although there is nothing stopping you). Even learning enough to be able to hold some basic conversations can prove to be useful. You can then build on your vocabulary and gradually improve your ability to communicate in your chosen language.
First thing you need to do is choose which language you would like to learn. Try to select a language you will enjoy learning or will be of benefit to you in the future. Is there a particular county you would like to visit? Or do you plan to move abroad for work/study? It may be that you have simply always wanted to speak this language.
Once you have decided on a language, you can begin learning. You could take a free online course (OpenLearn is a good learning source), download a smartphone app, purchase a tuition book or listen to a CD/podcast.
Here are some top tips for learning a new language.
Start simple
You will not become fluent straight away. Do not put too much pressure on yourself to become an instant expert.
Learn the basic words first such as:
Hello
Goodbye
Please
Thank you
My name is
Even knowing some basic words when you travel to another country can be of huge benefit. For example, you could say please and thank you in restaurants or shops. You can then expand your vocabulary to be able to order food and drink, ask for directions, ask someone else’s name and state where you are from.
Make a list of 50-100 words or phrases you would like to learn first. Depending on how much time per day you are going to spend learning, set yourself a target of how many you are going to learn daily.
Have a set time each day to learn
Set a dedicated time each day to focus on learning your language and try to stick to this. You don’t need to study for hours and hours. Even just 30 minutes to 1 hour per day or even less than that depending on what your preference is. A good time to learn is when you are travelling in a car (assuming you are not driving of course) or on public transport.
Buy a dictionary
I would definitely recommend buying a dictionary for your chosen language. These can be purchased from many retailers at a reasonable cost or you could pick one up second hand. If you prefer you could purchase the online version as an app for your phone.
You should carry your dictionary with you as much as possible (unless you have it on your phone then you will always have it). Not only does this allow you to easily check a word if needed but if you have some spare time during the day i.e lunchtime, travelling etc you can use this time to read over some vocabulary
Clubs or societies
Your school, college or university may have clubs or societies dedicated to learning a particular language. If not and you are confident enough you could ask if you can start one yourself. You’ll need to find out if there is a demand for this first.
Flashcards
You could download some flashcards that have already been written or if you prefer you could create your own. Use these to test yourself and practice your vocabulary.
Listen to the language
Use the internet to find video clips of the language being spoken and listen to these on a daily basis. You could also purchase an audiobook in the language and listen to that.
Speak the language out loud
Practice saying words or phrases out loud. This helps refine your accent and pronunciation. It may seem silly talking to yourself but this will boost your confidence and prepare you for when you are talking to someone in this language.
Consider learning alongside someone
Some people find learning something easier if they have someone to learn alongside them. Perhaps you could convince a sibling, parent, friend or another family member to learn with you. You can then test each other and most importantly have conversations in your new language.
