With over 6,500 languages being spoken today, it’s no surprise that several people would like to learn a new language aside from their mother tongue.

There are numerous reasons as to why you’d want to learn a new language. You might want to learn the complexities of Chinese characters to gain a career advantage. Another person might want to learn Spanish to gain insights into different cultures and traditions, seeing as Spanish is one of the most commonly spoken languages worldwide. 

Regardless of your reasons, learning a second language will always give you an extra edge, be it at work or in your social life.

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Before you embark on the journey to being bilingual, you need to understand that this isn’t going to be a short process. A lot of people tend to feel a loss of passion during the first few months of learning, which is why you need to make your motivation very clear. 

Whenever you feel like you’re about to give up, you can ask yourself, why did you want to learn a second language? Then, you need to focus on those reasons. And don’t be ashamed to give yourself some pep talk; we all need it from time to time to keep going after our goals. 

Since languages have become so diversified, you’ll find that some languages can be a lot more difficult to master than others. It all depends on which one you choose. 

Chances are you want to learn a commonly spoken language, like Spanish or Italian. The good news is that these languages are easy to master compared to others like Arabic and Japanese. This is because they lack orthographic depth, which means that most words are written as they are pronounced. 

Regardless of what language you choose to learn, the most critical factors in learning a second language are persistence and patience. 

First Things First

The actual learning process can be daunting at first. We highly recommend breaking it down into smaller studying fragments. That advice doesn’t only go for the studying aspect, but the goal-setting one as well.

Try setting short-term, easily attainable goals. For example, you can set a goal for yourself that by the end of the first week, you’ll know at least 100 new words. 

Generally speaking, you should learn as much vocabulary as you can. This will enrich your conversations in the long run.

You can divide each week to learn different types of vocabulary depending on your reasons for learning the language. For instance, if you want to learn Italian in order to gain insight into Italy’s rich cuisine, try dedicating a portion of your week to learning food-related vocabulary.

Trying to learn a second language might make you feel like you’re back in school. So, in order for the process not to conflict with your day-to-day responsibilities, you need to set manageable timeframes for each short-term goal you set. 

A lot of people complain about not having enough time to learn a new language. If you’re truly motivated, though, which you need to be, you’ll go to great lengths to accomplish your goal.

Online Japanese Tutor & Teachers for Private Lessons 

Online Japanese Tutor &amp; Teachers for Private Lessons

Breaking Down the Process of Learning a Second Language

As getting into the grammar and intricacies of the language you’re trying to learn, you’re going to need some help. Luckily, there are numerous tools online and offline that can help you learn whatever language you choose. These tools will not only aid in the actual learning process but will also provide you with the much-needed inspiration and motivation to move forward. 

A pocket dictionary can go a long way. You can either carry a physical one or simply download one on your phone for your immediate reference. This can aid you the most if you find yourself already among foreigners that you’re having a hard time communicating with. 

Using flashcards may seem like a good idea, but it's usually better to use foreign words in an actual conversation. Our brains like word associations. For instance, if you’re ordering a cheeseburger in a restaurant, you’ll probably remember the word better than just memorizing it over and over from a flashcard. 

Getting a calendar and creating a learning schedule can not only keep you organized but also inspired to mark down those days until you finally become bilingual.

Online French Tutor & Teachers for Private Lessons 

Online French Tutor &amp; Teachers for Private Lessons

Prepare the Right Learning Tools

In a globalized world, you’re bound to connect with a foreigner that just so happens to speak the language you want to learn.

There are hundreds of social platforms that you can utilize to make meaningful connections. You can exchange your experiences and knowledge with others. 

Further, once you make a friend that speaks the language you’re trying to learn, you can even ask them for some good movie or TV show recommendations. These outlets will provide you with some great practice and help you nail hard pronunciations. In fact, some people learn new languages purely from watching TV. 

Not to mention that watching movies and TV shows that are based on the language you want to master will give you deep insights into the culture behind the language, which is quite valuable, seeing as culture and language are intertwined.

Online Portuguese Tutor & Teachers for Private Lessons 

Online Portuguese Tutor &amp; Teachers for Private Lessons

Pen Pals Are Still a Thing

Learning a second language doesn’t have to be such a strict, systematic ordeal; you can always think outside the box. You can set your phone’s language settings to the foreign language you want to learn. It might seem like a bad idea at first, but think of it this way: you’ll have an extra motivator to learn the language!

Remember those foreign hit songs that we loved so much? Alors On Danse, anyone? If those songs are in your target language, you’ll have even more fun singing the song by learning what the lyrics mean. 

Think of these tips as a short break from the schedule you set yourself, because let’s be realistic, we all need a break sometimes.

Online Dutch Tutor & Teachers for Private Lessons 

Online Dutch Tutor &amp; Teachers for Private Lessons

Use Your Imagination in Practice

Practice is the most obvious but essential step in mastering a second language, or any other skill for that matter. 

You need to be patient and trust the process. Mastering any skill takes a lot of time and effort, but as we mentioned earlier, persistence is key!

Try creating sentences, conversations, and hypothetical situations as a form of practice. This will truly test your knowledge and challenge you to become better. 

Further, try talking to yourself to hone your pronunciations. You can also make a journal and write about your daily comings and goings in your target language. 

Simply put, practice will make or break your learning approach.

Online Spanish Tutor & Teachers for Private Lessons 

Online Spanish Tutor &amp; Teachers for Private Lessons

Practice Makes Perfect 

Just as with trying to master any skill, learning a second language is a demanding process that requires time and dedication. 

You might start out saying the wrong words during the first few conversations, but that’s all part of the learning process, so don’t let it frustrate you. 

Note, also, that you may come across words and phrases that sound almost the same, like the German words ‘nackt,’ meaning nude, and ‘nacht,’ meaning night. It sure makes for some funny and memorable stories that’ll help you achieve your bilingual target. 

As long as you’re persistent and clear on the reasons why you want to learn a second language, you’ll get there eventually.

Learning a Second Language