The Best Ways To Learn A Different Language
Learning how to speak a different language can sometimes be challenging. I can read, write, understand, and carry on a conversation in Spanish, but I do need to learn more vocabulary words, and get back to speaking it more often. Currently, I am learning how to speak Swahili, Arabic, and Igbo.
There are quite a few other languages that I would love to be able to speak fluently-such as Japanese, French, and Yoruba!
The Number 1 Way To Learn a Different Language
The number one way to master a foreign language is to completely immerse yourself in another country, by dwelling within and among the culture, community, and people on a daily basis.
But if you cannot physically do this on a regular, don’t worry-Because I have found some other ways that will help you learn how to speak all of the languages your heart desires!
The Best Ways To Learn a Different Language
Network in Private Traveling Facebook Groups
(Use wise judgement)
There are many Americans who have already been to, or live in the country in which you want to learn from. They are on the ground, have done the foot work, and have already made connections with trusted local foreigners. If you have been following and observing a particular traveler, digital nomad, expat, or someone who has relocated to another county, they can always refer you to the connections that they have made.
This is actually how I found my Tanzanian guides!
Make sure that you do your own research, and have contacted the leader of the Facebook travelling group via video chat, and/or WhatsApp. Once trust has been established between you and the selected person from the country in which you desire to learn from, find out if your new foreign contact wants monetary compensation before starting your language exchange. Also, always make sure that you do all verification and language exchanges through video chats.
Above are pictures of my Tanzanian guides and language teachers-taken in Dar es, Salaam, Tanzania!
Read-10 Things American Travelers Can Do to Make Foreign Friends in the US
Read-My First International Solo Trip to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
2. Become a Private English Tutor on Cambly
Cambly is an online English teaching platform where students from all over the world come to learn English one-on-one through video chat. You do not need teaching experience, or a teaching degree to teach English on Cambly. Become a private English tutor, make money, and learn different languages through your students all at the same time!
3. Take Free Language Classes on Alison
Alison.com is my favorite online learning platform! You can go to school for free, and get a certificate and diploma from every single trade, subject, and career that you can think of. The only thing that you have to pay for is your certificates and diplomas, but it is not mandatory. Sign up for Alison and learn a new language.
4. Try Language Pod 101
This is the awesome online language learning platform that I use to learn Arabic! You can join for free and receive a new word and phrase via e-mail everyday.
(I love listening to the audios! )
If you really want to master a new language, purchase a subscription and get audio, video, flashcards, slideshows, a personalized teacher, programs, feedback, assignments, and more!
5. Watch YouTube Foreign Language Instructional Videos
You can learn a new language everyday before you watch your favorite You Tubers! This is how I am learning Igbo! Whenever you hop on You Tube, search the language that you want to learn, pick a teacher, and subscribe.
6. Listen to Languages from a Different Country While you Sleep
This can be found on You Tube as well. Watch the video above to see how it works.
7. Watch Foreign Movies and Shows
Watching foreign shows is an excellent way to pick up on different languages. When viewing, put on English caption and take notes. Pay close attention to the actors pronunciation, attitude, pitch, and tone.
I am a lover of foreign films, so I already do this almost everyday! Before there was streaming, I would watch Spanish soap operas and Nigerian movies on regular television. Now I watch foreign shows on Netflix, Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi, and of course You Tube.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been binge watching a lot of Chinese Female warrior movies. Also, ever since I moved from Houston to Arkansas, I got back into watching Spanish movies on a regular. Lately, I have been watching a ton of Colombian shows! This is one of my favorite ways to brush up on my Spanish..It's really motivating! After watching, I always just want to speak Spanish all of the time!
My great-grandfather (my mothers’s father’s father) was a Spaniard. My mom said that when he took ill, he completely stopped speaking English, and reverted back to only speaking Spanish-My mother, aunts, and uncles, only knew how to speak a little bit of Spanish, but all had to help take care of him at a very young age. I love hearing family stories of how my great grandfather would speak to them in Spanish, and get so angry if my mom and her siblings couldn’t understand him.
8. Listen to Songs and Watch Music Videos in a Different Language
It’s so much fun to listen to music from the country that you are learning a different language from. You can also learn a lot of foreign slang words! Do this on a regular basis, and you will be singing and dancing to all different kinds of songs in multiple languages in no time!
9. Host an Exchange Student
Consider hosting an exchange student from one of your favorite countries.
Become a Volunteer Host Family
10. Speak and Write a New Language Everyday
To fast track your learning process, you can set a specific time to study a new language in as little as 15 minutes to an hour a day. You don’t even have to cram everything in all at one time. Just take it kidogo kidogo…(a little at a time in Swahili.)
By utilizing all of these tools, you will not only know how to say a few foreign words, sentences, and phrases, but you will also be on the path to become fluent in many different languages.
