06
08
2020
How to Improve Your Foreign Language Skills

How to improve your foreign language skills

New languages need to be practiced regularly if students want to become in their language. Here’s how you can achieve language proficiency.

Learning a new language is exciting on top of being extremely useful. Students of new languages activate their entire brains, improving functionality, and they can use their new skills in business environment or when traveling.

A problem often arises when students only have classmates with which to practice their new language skills, as they only get together once or twice a week. New languages need to be practiced regularly if students want to become in their language. Here’s how you can achieve language proficiency.

Improve your new language with movies and TV

Watch and listen to movies and television shows that use the language you want to learn. Entertainment is an excellent way to remember new words due to cognitive associations, and students will more easily learn to pronounce the words correctly.

Listening aptitudes become better developed, and subtitles aid with improving spelling and writing abilities.

Students who use this tool will also become more familiar with how rapidly the language is spoken by natives. Another major benefit is that learning languages boosts brain function because of whole brain involvement. Brain function increases regardless of your academic status, and you enjoy greater self-confidence.

Use a language app

Technology has advanced so extensively that you can download free apps to learn any language that you want. Language apps offer a variety of different languages, all spoken by those proficient in their mother tongue.

Pronunciation is correct, so students learn to pronounce the words as they should, and learn a new skill as fast as it suits them. Simply download an app, pick your language, and practice whenever you have time between other responsibilities.

You will be able to start with a beginner’s course and increase learning with mini-tests. Once you’ve taken the tests several times, and are confident that new words are embedded in your long-term memory, progress to the next level. If your first language app download only provides for basic skills, look for another, and fill in the gaps with other learning tools.

Lack of familiarity in a language means you will not be confident about the assignments you work on. In that case, EduBirdie’s tool to check essay for plagiarism is the best option. It helps you to check accidental plagiarism, paraphrasing errors, patchwriting and much more.

Read and listen to music

If you’ve joined a language class, you will already have received some reading material. Go through this work, and then find other sources on the internet to advance your reading skills.

As you progress, more words will become familiar, increasing your ability to speak the language. Listen to music because this is another fun tool to promote your learning.

First, you get to explore the culture associated with your chosen language; listening to music is a great mood booster, your vocabulary and pronunciation are enhanced, and you learn the spoken word outside of basic learning material.

Set languages across devices and social media

Smartphones and social media platforms can quickly be set to reflect your new language. Changing your usual language on your phone and social media accounts encourage familiarity with the language, forcing you to engage differently. Visit settings on your phone and social media accounts, and follow the prompts to make valuable changes.

You will soon become accustomed to the vocabulary, associate meaning and eventually begin thinking in your new language.

Also, these are fun ways to increase the learning speed because you already know what “friend request” or “text message” means in your own language, so you quickly gain confidence and want to learn more.

Make friends with native speakers

Find a native speaker and befriend them to help practice because this is the best way to quickly grasp a language. Check local bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets in your area to hear whether anyone there speaks the language.

If you can’t make friends with someone to practice with regularly, at least local tradespeople will be happy to help you learn their language. They will quickly correct your pronunciation and aid in improving your vocabulary.

Local business owners will also be likely to teach you the kinds of words and slang not available in formal learning material.

Conclusion

Learning a new language can be challenging but more importantly, it should be fun. Use these tools to quickly pick up new vocabulary and learn better pronunciation. Soon, you’ll be on your way to becoming as good as a native speaker to the extent that they will be impressed with your command of the language.

Read Cultures Connection brochure or find out about our translation company services!

This article has been written by Fabrice

Economist, linguist and investor, Fabrice is the co-founder of Cultures Connection, where he holds the position of Operations Director.