Mistakes People Make when Learning a New Language

Learning a new language is a challenging but rewarding task. Whether you have signed up for English courses in Toronto or you are learning French online, your goal is to be able to speak and understand your new language in everyday conversation. Here are some common mistakes people make when they are learning a foreign language.

Using Only One Method

Most people tend to stick with what works for them. If they learn best through videos or by reading a book, that is what they will rely on to learn a new language. When you take this approach, you limit yourself and hamper your chances of success.

It’s far better to practice with multiple methods. Study a language by reading the words, listening to music or news and speaking to others. Download a language learning app that helps you practice what you’ve learned. Buy a book in your new language and purchase a few audio lessons for practice. When you combine multiple methods, you improve the amount of information you retain.

Not Listening

It’s often much easier to learn to speak a new language than to understand it. To correct this problem, you need to spend more time listening to others talk. Think about how people learn to speak in the first place. As babies, they listen to their parents’ and others’ voices for months before they attempt to utter a single word. They learn to recognize words before they can say them.

In the same way, if you spend time listening to people talk or playing music or movies in the language you want to learn, you’ll remember more of the words and phrases when it’s time to practice. Listen first, speak second is a good rule for any new language.

Being Afraid to Talk

Students can get so good at writing in their new language and reading the words, but they may not have the confidence to speak. It’s far more difficult to hold a conversation in a new language than to read the words on paper. You may miss out on some of the words the other person is saying, or you may mix up a verb when you speak.

Mistakes are part of learning a new language, and you can’t be afraid to try or you’ll never learn. Take the chance that someone won’t understand what you’re saying and practice anyway. If you have the opportunity, go somewhere your new language is the only one spoken, and it will force you to practice.

You’ll be surprised at how much information you have retained.

Focusing on the Facts

Too often, students want to divide up sentences and phrases into single words to ensure they get everything correct. Instead, you have to pay more attention to the overall message. In fact, you only need to understand about half the words in a conversation to get the gist. Pay attention to the body language and tone of the other person as well as the main words they’re speaking, and you’ll be able to converse enough to get by.

Avoid making these mistakes when you’re learning a new language, and you’ll discover how much easier the task is. You may even find that learning a foreign language is fun.

Berlitz provides language course and French courses Toronto with private or group lessons. English and French classes and courses allow students to learn a new language in 10 days.

Berlitz provides language classes in Toronto with private or group lessons. English and French classes and courses allow students to learn a new language in 10 days. http://www.berlitz.ca/websites/main/home