Having lived abroad for three years now in countries that don’t speak English, I know how hard it can be to share your faith without little or no words. When I finally managed a simple testimony and gospel presentation in Russian I lept for joy (yes really).
I haven’t always followed the easiest path to learning a foreign language, but every mistake I’ve made has taught me more about the right way to go. With that in mind I want to share some great tips and tools to help you learn a foreign language, so next time you end up on a short (or long term) mission trip, you don’t have to rely on a translator and you can share the gospel yourself!
Why Most People Hate Learning a Language
The main issues people have with Language learning are
- Memorising vocabulary
- Grammar rules
- Speaking
- Reading a different script
- Finding time to practice
- Motivation
These are big challenges but there are some tricks to help you reduce these barriers. Out of all these, motivation is the biggest barrier. If you’re not motivated, then you won’t put in the effort to learn. Tim Ferris links this with three factors
- Effectiveness (does what you learn help you)
- Adherence (will you be able to keep up this pace of learning)
- Efficiency. (Will you progress and be able to see progress quicky)
Yes these are similar to learning a new skill in 20 hours like Josh Kaufman (surprise), but there are some different applications for language learning (and no I don’t think this list is complete but it’s still good).
- Effective/efficient.: By learning the more common words in a language (and the context you want to use the words in) you can quickly know the core vocab for about 95% of all communications (somewhere around 1000 words depending on the language).
- Adherence: By using topics that you are interested in and do already you can help build learning into your time table. Furthermore by using good tech tools you can get a prompt/notification to do some study.
Generally I agree with Tim’s diagnosis, but I don’t necessarily agree completely with his prescription. Here are his action points. I feel there are a couple of vital extra ingredients that you need if you want to learn a language:
- Practice: Knowing words is one thing but using them is another. The best way to be able to use words is….to use them! You need to find a way to use the language and practice (and that includes getting things wrong).
- Phrases as well as single word: Tim focuses on learning the most common words, it’s not a bad tactic but Phrases are important as well. Phrases sometimes don’t follow traditional grammar rules, or follow very complicated grammar structures but learning them as a phrase means you don’t have to bother learning that unusual grammar idea (at least for now). When you speak, you don’t generally think in single words, you have set blocks of words that you can assemble very quickly.
- Repetition: Repetition is very important for remembering things. Simple test, two Russian words for you. Chashka (cup) and Vilka (fork) repeat the second one in your head 10 times. Let’s see what you remember at the end.
- Multiple contexts: There are two aspects to this, first hearing a word in a different context will help you to remember it and understand it more, the second is that there is a pretty strong theory that there are no direct translation, words as used every so slightly differently. Maybe they’re not used in certain contexts or the are used in extra contexts (or you use different words with them). Seeing a word in multiple context helps you to learn a language.
You WILL Suck
Accept it now, you will say things that are wrong, you will make mistakes, you might accidental use a swear word in church (true story!) It happens, but if you don’t make these mistakes you won’t get it right later. Experimentation is a sign you are figuring out the language and your brain is processing what it is learning. And remember, even native speakers make mistakes when they talk.
Tomorrow, will take a look at some practical ideas for learning a new language.
[Image via taylorsloan via Compfight cc]
Rachel Blom says
Love this post! Having moved to another country twice, I know a bit about learning another language. In my experience, fear and shame are the biggest hindrances. Fear of saying something stupid or making mistakes and/or shame about fumbling and messing up the language. Once you get past that and just start talking, it goes so much faster. I’ve had a couple of really good laughs about my mistakes (swearing in church? that would be me – not kidding! I also once said you could ‘smoke’ basil instead of ‘smell’ in German…pretty funny!) and now that I’m more comfortable with making mistakes, I;m leaning German so much faster…
Chris Wilson says
I totally agree with that! If you don’t make mistakes you won’t get corrected and learn and you won’t try and step beyond your comfort zone.
Plus they make great stories later!
Becka says
I am in the midst of taking my second language to the next level and am spending several hours a day in studying. One thing I have learned is that I have to spend an equal amount of time in practice that I do in studying.
So, if I spend 2 hours a day studying (I do) then I must spend at least 2 hours a day practicing (I do). For my practice time I spend several hours immersed in language because I work in a coffee shop and I spend at least an hour watching tv or listening to the radio because I have found that my listening skills are extremely sub-par.
The other thing I have started to do that has helped FAR beyond memorizing a list of vocabulary words is to memorize poems, songs, and scripture verses. I have been amazed at how much grammar I have learned instinctively by doing this.
Chris Wilson says
I think you make a good point but I wonder what your definition of Study is? Many people view it as just learning Vocab and Grammar but learning to hear sounds and reading a text can definitely be study not just practice. Whenever I read a text I usually find a new word within it.
What language are you learning by the way?
Becka says
For the purpose of my post, I am including book work and class time as “study” even though anything that I do in my new language (Spanish) is really studying. But for my own scheduling I have study time (book work and class work) and practice time (listening and talking). I try to have equal times of both.