Whether you’re learning a new language for a class, to boost your resume, or simply for fun, the task can often feel impossible. For over 3 years now, I’ve been learning Japanese and have experienced many ups and downs in the process. Hopefully this list of tips can help anyone aspiring to add another language under their belt to learn effectively and have fun while doing so.
Vocabulary
The key to language learning is maintaining a strong vocabulary. You may be familiar with a word at one time, but if you aren’t consistently reviewing it, you may forget. Creating flashcards, whether online or physical, is the best way to practice. Just make sure you create a schedule and stick to it!
If you’re looking for a flashcard program, I highly recommend Anki. It’s free on Windows and Android devices, has tons of add-ons to personalize your experience, and has a customizable algorithm to build your long term memory as best as possible.
Apps
There are a number of apps out there that will give you a great starting point when learning a language. It’s important to note that you can’t gain fluency through them alone, but they make great resources when paired with other studying methods. Some of my recommendations are:
Duolingo – If you have no experience in a language yet, this is a good place to start!
It covers the basics and helps to build daily practicing habits. However, many of its better features require a subscription. Once you’ve reached an intermediate level, you may want to switch to another option.
Busuu – This is my personal favorite. All the lessons are created and corrected by native speakers in the community, and content covers a wide range of topics as well as building strength in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You can also ask questions and receive feedback from native speakers.
Drops – Drops works great in conjunction with flashcards. It’s largely a vocabulary app with numerous categories so you can focus on the topics you want to learn. Not only does it teach you new words, it makes sure you’re still practicing previous ones as well. While a premium version does exist, there is a vast amount of content available entirely for free.
Media
This is probably the most fun method. Pick a movie, TV show, or book you enjoy and find the version of whatever language you’d like to learn. You’ll need to start with something basic, but as you expand your familiarity, you can progress to more complex media.
A good tactic for using media effectively is to write down any words that seem significant or come up often and add them to your vocabulary stockpile. Slice of life is great for everyday words and phrases, but any genre will work. What matters most is that you’re enjoying it!
Classes
Of course, there’s always the traditional method of learning from a teacher. LHHS offers great programs for Spanish, French, and Japanese. This gives you the opportunity to inform yourself about another culture in addition to the language.
There’s still time before your classes for next year are locked in. You might want to consider adding a language course to your list. Alternatively, you could also join either the Spanish or Japanese clubs that we have here.
