LANGUAGE TIPS

The Most Important Part of Language Learning

Learning a language can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be.  Ask anyone with true language learning experience and they will tell you that the one thing that is more important than anything else is spoken practice. 

Spoken Practice Can Not be Overemphasised

Experienced language learners speak the language they are learning for at least one hour per day.  In today’s technologically advanced world there is little excuse not to do this.   You can speak through language learning apps, Skype with native speakers, and practise with classmates and English speaking friends. 

Practising for at least an hour daily will take you from conversational to fluent.  Expect to be frustrated- this is part of learning.  You want to constantly challenge yourself to participate in active and varied conversations.  There is a whole community of multi-language learners (or polyglots) who are waiting to practise with you online and in your local communities. 

Mastering Pronunciation and Sounds

Mastering pronunciation will help you to memorise words and grammar with greater ease.  Research has shown that it is significantly harder to memorise words that you have difficulty pronouncing.  New studies have revealed the importance of tackling the sound of language early on.  If you notice that you are having difficulty differentiating between certain sounds, we recommend practicing and testing yourself on those sounds for 20 minutes per day. 

If you can hear the difference in sounds but have difficulty recreating them, there are a number of tools, apps and videos dedicated to physically learning pronunciation techniques.  This includes where to place your tongue and how to move your lips so that you will make accurate sounds.  When the sound of the words you are learning are familiar to you, your progress will increase markedly.