Studying foreign languages has always been useful and popular among people of all ages. It is never too late to find the right motivation to learn one or even many languages of international use.
In order to support the idea of studying languages, so much needed in everyday life, a good Chinese proverb says that “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” So, learning a foreign language, you enrich not only your intellectual level, but also spiritually, you explore various countries and cultures, you think freely and openly, you constantly improve yourself and reach new heights.
If we succeeded to convince you to learn a new language, then this article is just right for you and your friends. Below, we show a selection of 10 guide steps for studying a foreign language.
- Find the right motivation
When you want to study a foreign language, it is important that something motivates you to do it. You need to know what will studying a foreign language help you for and have a serious attitude throughout the learning process. If you have found the right motivation, you can move on to the next steps.
- Move outside your comfort zone
The comfort zone is the environment in which you feel the best, but it often acts as a barrier that you have imposed on yourself and it is difficult for you to pass. At the first stage this may seem difficult, but being supported by teacher and family and practicing the subject studied, you will be able to easily overcome the language barrier and gain self-confidence.
- Do not neglect the knowledge of the mother tongue
If you are planning to study a foreign language, it would be good that you revise your mother tongue. You can’t understand another language well, as long as you don’t understand your own. Therefore, we recommend you to revise a little the grammar and spelling of the mother tongue, so that it will be easier for you to understand its differences and similarities with the new language studied.
- Make a maximum effort
It is well known that studying a foreign language requires a lot of work and effort. It is difficult to learn a foreign language in a short period of time. Even after completing a level of knowledge of the language, it is necessary to proceed immediately to the next level, or to practice and consolidate the knowledge previously acquired. Thus, we recommend you to go on studying the foreign language and practice it constantly. Make a maximum effort and it won’t last too long to see the results!
- Learn vocabulary in context
Memory can be trained when you learn the vocabulary of a foreign language. But does it make sense to store a series of words that we will not know how to use later in concrete speech situations? Therefore, we recommend you to memorize new words by association, i.e. in context. Make sure that the vocabulary you are studying is relevant and is extracted from texts or excerpts that represent various speech situations.
- Handwrite the new information
Although handwriting is losing popularity and is being replaced by typing, we recommend you to write down on the sheet, notebook or various stickers the information learned during the lessons. Handwriting increases concentration, develops memory and helps you better understand the topics studied.
- Subscribe to foreign language content
There is a lot of free foreign language content online. Videos, audio, news, movies, series, news spots, language blogs and many other effective sources of learning that will increase interest and pleasure in studying the foreign language and will familiarize you with the accent and pronunciation by native speakers of the language concerned.
- Study using the interactive method: I Hear-I See-I Repeat-I Learn
“Lingvistica” offers you the study of the foreign language in a unique, easy and efficient way, based on the interactive method of teaching I Hear-I See-I Repeat-I Learn. Foreign language classes are conducted exclusively in the taught language, using audio and video means that will allow you to master the information subconsciously, showing excellent results.
- Think in the target language
When studying a foreign language, you tend to think first in your mother tongue and then translate the information into the target language. If you are a beginner, then the teacher will help you formulate simple sentences in the target language, but if you start to progress while studying the foreign language, then try to think directly in the language you are learning. Do not hesitate to make some mistakes, being supported by the teacher during the learning, you will express yourself freely and you will gain confidence while speaking.
- Visit countries that speak the language you are studying
It is proven that the knowledge of a foreign language can be best used in the environment where that language is spoken. If you have the possibility to travel to foreign countries, then at every opportunity try to interact with people, initiate a conversation and always be open to communication.
Following these guide steps, we assure you that it will be rewarding. Good luck in studying foreign languages and we look forward to seeing you at “Lingvistica”!
Respectfully,
Zasadnii Maria, translator/teacher
