How do I start learning a language?

You’ve been liking a language for a long time, but you do believe that learning it won’t fit your schedule? Are you afraid that you’ll start and then quit because of fatigue or lack of time? Many people think that it takes so much time and effort to master the language that a busy person will simply have no possibility to do it. But the most difficult thing here is to start. In this article, we will tell you how to start learning a language, even if you have very little free time.

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Let’s suppose that I want to learn Spanish, one of the most beautiful languages that pleased us with the works of Federico García Lorca, Gabriel García Marquez, and other classics of world literature. So, where do I start?

First, I need to:
– state a purpose of learning,
– understand whether I have any time limitations,
– choose a comfortable form of studying,
– plan my learning schedule.

Let’s go one by one in more detail.

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Purpose of learning

Why is it so important to highlight the purpose of studying? First, different textbooks are written for different purposes. Even if you study on your own, it will be much easier to choose a manual if you already know why you study the language. Depending on the goals, the textbooks will have a different set of topics and presentations of the material. If I’d like to go on holiday to Spain and understand what’s going on around me, to be able to read menus, buy groceries, and do other important things, then I need to look for courses or Spanish textbooks for tourists.

What other learning goals exist?
– language for business communication,
– general course (for living or leisure),
– academic language (for further study in the country),
– professional language (e.g. English for engineers or Russian for doctors)
– special courses created for different groups of students (Spanish through songs, Italian through films, etc.).

If you plan to study with a private tutor, you can discuss the program and create an individual learning plan.

Time

Often, time limitations are directly related to the purpose of training. If you are going to go on a trip or go study abroad, then you will have to learn the language to the desired level in a limited time before your departure. For example, I would like to get basic knowledge of Spanish in three months, as then I will go on a long-awaited vacation.

If you study for fun, then you are lucky – time is not limited, but I would advise you to outline some framework and set a goal, for example, “to achieve the next level of the language knowledge by the next year”. It will allow you not to postpone your classes and not to lose motivation.

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Study format

Thanks to modern technologies, we have a large selection of types and forms of learning. These are classes:

– online,
– offline,
– in a group,
– individually with a private teacher, or
– on your own.

Among this diversity, everyone can choose activities that meet all their criteria. When choosing, pay attention primarily to your comfort and goals. For example, I prefer to study with a teacher privately, as in this case the training will be adjusted to my speed and other individual characteristics.

Don’t forget that there are also conversation clubs, podcasts, websites, apps, YouTube channels, Instagram profiles, and other sources dedicated to learning languages. There are so many study resources that you can get lost among them. I would advise you to focus on their ratings and reviews, and not load yourself with a lot of information at once. For example, you can choose one or two applications and subscribe to a popular teacher on a social network, and it should be enough. The main purpose is to set realistic goals and not overload yourself with unnecessary information.

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Schedule

You can start learning a language for 15 minutes a day. The main rule is frequency. To develop a habit, you can set an alarm for a certain time or write in a notebook that every day, for example, at lunchtime from 14.00 to 14.15 you study Spanish. And on weekends you study for an hour with a teacher or by yourself. Group classes are suitable for those who find it difficult to force themselves to study on their own. You will have to adjust and not miss classes to keep up with fellow students.

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Few important rules

Don’t compare yourself to others!

On the Internet, you can watch people who learn a language in a month or polyglots who speak dozens of languages. Comparing yourself to others, you can lose motivation. Remember that everyone is different, and that is okay. If you need more time to learn a new topic than your friend, it does not mean that you are worse, just that you have different perceptions and maybe different types of memory, which also affects learning.

Do not demand the impossible from yourself!

Set realistic goals and praise yourself for fulfilling them. Remember that behind someone’s success there is always a huge, often invisible by others, work. Learn at your own pace and don’t put pressure on yourself.

Have fun!

A new language is a new world, plunge into it and do not forget that you are learning a new language for yourself and your pleasure. ¡Buena Suerte!

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