“Be fluent in Spanish in just 30 days?” Or, “Learn how to speak perfect English in just three months?”
Have you wondered, “Is it possible to master a language within such a short time?” The answer is ‘yes’ at the same time and ‘no’. And it must have noticed how language classes fail to make every student achieve their goal. Have you wondered, “Is it possible to master a language within such a short time?” However, aside from the paid classes, what do people like us, who want to learn a language on our own and save money at the same time, do? I’ll share some of my personal experience and techniques that I have applied. You may find many similarities with other learners or their suggestions. But I’ll be glad if you get to learn something new)))
types of learning
1. Find your style
If your objective is to learn a language on your own, you’d better start doing this! Many people (other than my students) who have reached out to me are completely unaware of their capability. When I say ‘capability’, I mean that some individuals are unaware of their level of speaking and hold high expectations for themselves. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that; however, humans tend to overestimate themselves beyond their current knowledge. Language learning periods vary from person to person. What one can achieve within 6 months might take months, years, or even less, such as a few days. But don’t compare yourself with someone else. Be real; don’t set any unrealistic expectations.
I have many people asking me, “How long did it take for you to learn English, Japanese, Spanish or whatever?” Listening to someone else’s language journey can boost your own. But don’t take it for granted. Find your touch! What works for you? How do you love to memorise? Do you prefer listening to real-life conversations and learning new vocabulary from that source? Or would you like a more traditional approach?
Many people were extremely disappointed after asking for language learning advice from me. Because all I said was “practise”, which many find unconvincing — but that’s just the truth. It can’t be helped. I’m a self-taught learner, so those who are looking to master a language within a shorter period should consider enrolling in an instructor-led course.
Start with the basics. When I say ‘basics’, I mean the alphabet (if it has a different alphabet). For example, if I’m learning Chinese, my focus will be on familiarising myself with the characters . You must learn the alphabet so that you can practise writing.
Next are basic words. Here, I prefer to follow numerous Facebook or Instagram accounts that teach basic and natural expressions and vocabulary. And trust me, I have some of the most unique words in my target language, which raised the eyebrows of the natives. It only takes a few minutes to watch that content.
What happens when you start using random words like this? It gives a sense of achievement, which is mentally relieving. You know, we humans are extremely outcome-driven. The level of our motivation depends on the roller coaster of our emotions. Starting to do it from the first day keeps you fully charged. At least that’s what I feel!
3. Listening
Auditory learners prefer listening, but trust me, listening is a passive language learning technique, yet it is incredibly effective. Not only do you get to listen to an interesting topic, but also to the way native speakers usually speak. Even if I didn’t understand a single word in Korean, I continued to listen to Korean podcasts. That way, I’ve managed to master native pronunciation and natural speaking speed and rhythm BY REPEATING AFTER WHATEVER THEY SAID!! In other words, shadowing. Traditional, but it worked perfectly fine for me.
4. Speaking
Welcome to the most challenging round of language learning for self-taught learners!!
Look for a partner, but most of the time, they do not share the same interests. Even worse, many people use these language exchange apps for dating purposes. So, what can nerdy people like us do?
Continue using these apps until you find someone who shares a similar passion and interest, just like you. There is no alternative to searching for at least one person if you want to improve your speaking because you want to save money or have a teacher but can’t afford one.
Listen, if you’re not even willing to make this much of a sacrifice for your growth, why bother learning a language?
There are thousands of free apps and websites where you can find speaking partner
I have always tried to offer something to the person who has become my language exchange partner. Most of them wanted to improve their English and, in exchange, taught their language. Some of them were genuinely curious about my country or culture, so I responded accordingly. What’s the best part of speaking online? If you’re uncomfortable talking to that person, then consider skipping or blocking them. Convenient, right?
One more friendly tip from me: don’t go for the accent the first time you start speaking. Accent is like the colour that you paint your painting with, which either makes an oil painting, a pencil sketch, a watercolour, or an acrylic painting. So, how about trying to master your brushstrokes before you move on to colours? However, working on building clear pronunciation is exceptionally crucial!!
Let me tell you, bilinguals are a few steps ahead of monolinguals. And you have already developed your skills in other languages. In that case, your brain will certainly function more effectively compared to those who are bilingual or monolingual. Why? Research has shown that learning a new language increases Brain Plasticity. It grows the density of the grey matter of our brain, which is related to cognitive function, multitasking ability and creativity.
Note that I do not recommend this method to those who are in a hurry or preparing for an exam. It is also not suitable for those who lack patience and are looking for quick results. If you want to improve quickly, either invest in a qualified teacher (avoid cheap classes—especially in Bangladesh, where many so-called language courses waste time and lack proper expertise) or stay consistent and practise every day.
That's it for today!!
Hasta Luego....
