Chinese language tips

Why? “Unlike in English, where sound effects are only found in comic books and cartoons, Japanese sound effects are part of daily speech and your speech sounds more natural if you learn them. Peko peko is how the Japanese describe a stomach growling, and adding desu (is/am) on the end turns the phrase into “I'm hungry.” Did you know that there are at least four ways of describing the sound of rain in Japanese? They even have a sound to describe silence,” explains Jessica Aves.

If you speak English as a second or third language, that’s what you probably asked yourself a few minutes ago before going to Google for help. Speaking is fun, but only in your mind, isn’t it? There’s a huuuge difference between how well you speak English in your mind and how bad it sounds when you actually speak it. And like any normal human being you want to learn. You really do, but you also want to have fun while doing so. If your kind of fun is reading until you can no longer keep your eyes open, then reading Harry Potter is what you should do to improve your spoken English. And not just Harry Potter. You can choose any book in English that does not require an advanced vocabulary. The first Harry Potter book was written for English-speaking 11-year-olds, so it should be perfect for your speaking practice. Take your time and READ OUT LOUD. Yes, just like that. It will help you hear your own mistakes and better articulate certain words. Good luck!

If you’re living in an environment that allows you to practice your new language, congrats! Now get ready to make a lot of mistakes. It’s best to leave your ego out of the situation when doing something as difficult as learning a new language. Leave any desires for perfection and any fears of judgment at the door. You can be the smartest person in the world, but if you’re stubborn or defensive, you’ll shield yourself from endless opportunities for growth. Keep in mind that many natives will be grateful and appreciative of your attempt to learn such an important part of their culture. Congratulate yourself for even the smallest mistakes because it means you are trying. As you go about your day-to-day life and practice using your new language, resist the urge to judge each conversation as a success or failure. It’s tempting to be our own worst critic and beat ourselves up for not remembering a particular word or knowing how to clearly express a thought. Instead, approach each interaction as a new opportunity for you to learn something. Reflect on each conversation and give yourself constructive feedback. Some things you might want to think about are:

• What words/phrase would have served me in that conversation?
• What new words did I hear/see?
• How could I more effectively have a similar conversation in the future? When you start embracing the ups and downs of the learning process, you’ll better enjoy and appreciate the journey, which sets yourself up for more learning opportunities. Remember, the success comes from the simple fact that you are trying. Use these tips and you’ll be well on your way to learning a new language with grace, speed and ease. Good luck!

Sometimes, we get what we pay for and if we want something badly enough or it’s absolutely crucial that we obtain it, we need to be willing to put our purchasing power to use. We wouldn’t expect professional services for free. We shouldn’t necessarily think language learning should be gratis, either. So while it’s great that there are so many free language-learning options available, if you’re trying to learn the most in a time crunch, you may need to make an investment. Pay for a course. Subscribe to a learning service. By investing in a professional and high-quality learning resource, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance at learning effectively… and quickly.

There’s no shame in asking someone else for help. So do it! Asking for help is an action you should be proud of. It shows that you take your learning seriously and will do whatever it takes to become a master in your desired skill. With that said, having the support of another person will accelerate your learning immensely. No matter what stage you’re at in learning your new language, find someone who’s also trying to learn the language. Schedule times to meet up and share any progress and offer feedback for one another. Exchange resources or tips that have been helpful to you. This can also be a great time to practice your skills with each other. Best of all, you can set goals and hold each other accountable to completing them by the next time you meet.

Who wouldn’t love to fly off to a country to learn a language? Immersion programs sound like heaven to travelers and language lovers but for most of us, they aren’t feasible. (Jobs, families and other obligations. Remember those? The things that keep us grounded?) But if you can’t go traveling in real life, there’s no reason you can’t plan a trip. Virtual travel won’t get you a slice in a Roman pizzeria or a seat in a Munich beer garden but it’ll certainly engage you so well that you’ll want to learn as much about a culture—and language!—as possible. And quickly, too! The key to this strategy is to investigate traveling options as if you were actually going to grab your passport and head to your dream location. You need to act as if time is of the essence, which makes it imperative that you gather as much information—particularly language skills—as possible! Prepare as if you had a one-way plane ticket. Read up on local attractions in the target language. Nearly every country has a webpage and most allow visitors to choose a language for the material they showcase. Choose the target language and add some authenticity to your planning! And, don’t forget to learn some travel phrases. They’re often part of the country’s webpage! Find a virtual host in the destination country online. Start a friendly chat in the language. Ask questions about the area and its attractions and culture.

Let’s be honest: Would you rather do something because it’s an obligation or for the sheer joy of doing it? No need to answer out loud. We all agree that fun trumps “duty” any day! So an important trick to learning a language quickly is to take it out of the must-do portion of your life and drop it into the entertainment section. Even if you’re learning a language out of necessity—whether it’s for education, employment or another reason—treat it as an entertaining adventure. Don’t make language learning a duty call. It’s time to find some super fun and appealing methods to grab some skills as quickly as possible.