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Challenge: Summer Fun

9 Unusual, But Clever Ways to Learn a Foreign Language

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Are you one of those ultra committed language learners? Can you sit for hours listening to a boring lecture and learning grammar rules? Even if you can, why would you? Languages are fun and dynamic. The last thing you want is to make the learning process boring.

How? How can you make language learning fun without wasting your effectiveness? How can you learn more by bothering less? We have few suggestions for you. Explore these 9 unusual, but super effective ways to master a foreign language.

  1. Book a Trip!

Have you noticed that plane tickets are getting cheaper than ever? You always wanted to go to Barcelona and that’s why you started learning Spanish at the first place? Well, why don’t you take action?

When you want to master a language in all its forms and layers, there’s no method more effective than travelling. The point is to get immersed among the native speakers and use that language even if you sound silly. You’ll have doubts regarding grammar and pronunciation, but you’ll have no other choice but to speak.

Go ahead; book that trip!

  1. Start Vlogging

You’ll see this tip in many language learning guides: start a blog. We suggest something more fun: start a vlog! It’s basically a video blog, and you have to post new updates as frequently as possible

Emilia Thorn, an English language tutor from SuperiorPapers, explains why vlogging is cool: “It’s weird at the start, since you have to film yourself. With time, however, vlogging makes you a way more confident speaker. You’re doing your best to speak well when you’re about to publish that material online. The YouTube community can be incredibly supportive to learners, so the feedback will make you even better.”

Vlogging is about showing your unique lifestyle and opinions. Just show how you’re spending the day or share your opinions on literature, music, or whatever topic you have in mind. Needless to say, you’ll speak in the language you’re learning.

  1. Perform Poetry

It’s not the same as writing poetry, although that’s a nice method, too. Performance poetry is related to performing. Yes, in front of an audience. And, you have to do it in a very dramatic way. You won’t have time to prepare; you just get the poem and perform it as you feel it.

This method sounds too drastic for you? It’s okay; you don’t have to do it in front of an audience. Pick a random poem and perform it in front of the mirror.

This is a great way to improve your pronunciation and become a more confident speaker. You’ll notice the words where you trip and you’ll practice them later on. Remember: you don’t read the poem before the performance. This approach reminds you that you don’t have time to prepare for situations before you speak.

  1. Read Books for Children

You started learning Russian because you really want to read Tolstoy in his native language? Well, that’s an ambitious goal. Why don’t you start with something simpler?

Reading children books or comics is one of the best things you can do when trying to learn a foreign language. You’ll find clean style of expression and simple words you can understand. Don’t worry; you’ll make progress in your reading as you progress with the learning.

  1. Watch Recipes on YouTube

Do you know when you understand a culture? When you taste its food. Seriously, the food speaks about the heritage and lifestyle of these people.

Find a coolinary YouTube channel in your target language. You’ll see a person speaking clearly and showing you the products they mention. You won’t even need a dictionary. You’ll intuitively understand most of the words, and that’s perfect for a language learner.

  1. Become an Active Member of Reddit

No, you won’t join Reddit just to waste time exploring pointless threads. You’ll focus on the subreddits that are relevant to your language learning journey. If you want to learn Spanish, for example, you’ll find lots of useful material in the Learn Spanish category.

Just explore the Language Learning section and you’ll get a chance to join lively discussions and get tips from people who know how to help.

  1. Do Some Gaming

World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Dota 2, and many other cool games encourage collaboration between the players. You can pick a target language and get into group conversations. It won’t be easy to fit in at first, but you’ll be getting better as you practice.

Can you think of a more fun way to practice a language?

  1. Listen to Podcasts

When you don't have much contact with native speakers, it’s not easy to understand the pronunciation of the language. Podcasts are the solution.

Try to find podcasts in your target language, but make sure the themes holds your interest. Then, turn the listening into a daily routine. You can listen to podcasts while you’re driving or talking a walk. You can listen to them during your afternoon rest. They won’t take much time, but they will help you get used to the language.

  1. Get a Date with Someone Who Speaks the Foreign Language

… Only if you’re single. We don’t encourage you to cheat here. Tinder is a great way to connect with people who want to date, so you won’t get embarrassed when you invite someone out. That’s what they are here for.

Include the fact that you’re trying to learn the foreign language in your bio. Set your region to a place where people speak your target language, and choose your potential dates. Start messaging!

If you don’t like Tinder, you can try Match International.

When you have so many fun ways to learn a language, it would be a shame to stay limited to grammar books and traditional lessons. Did you like some of the 9 ideas we just gave you? Try one today!

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