Learning new languages is not a particularly easy task. While, as a child, it may have seemed almost automatic, things this time around are not so simple. It is no secret that learning new languages gets harder the older you get. That should not stop you from trying, however.
There are numerous methods that can help even older people to learn. Though it won’t be as easy as in childhood, it will help any new vocabulary or grammatical structures being memorized to stay in for memory. Here are a few examples of effective memory-aiding methods that can help you learn a new language.
1. Mnemonics
The word itself sounds foreign (actually coming from Greek origin), but it describes a range of methods that are meant to help memory recall. It is a popular method for those learning languages to remember lists of new vocabulary for their target language. Essentially, it involves taking what you want to learn (a word or the corresponding gender of the word) and creating associations for it.
For example, I want to remember the Tagalog word Salamat (meaning: thank you). I just imagine someone at a market in the Philippines selling a mat. I think Sa-La-Mat which I associate with the words “sell a mat”. Even better, I imagine after someone buys the mat they would say ‘thank you’ to the seller, building upon the scenario and association.
To create these associations, especially for longer words, you can break the word up into syllables, as I did. From that, you can find similar-sounding words to them. You will need to create a mental picture of your association to link it with the word in your mind which should eventually be stored in your memory. So next time you are having trouble memorizing some words, try to break them down and use your imagination to help you remember.
2. Flash Cards
One of the most common ways to aid language learning is with flashcards. For this, you take a card and write a word or phrase on it in your mother tongue. On the other side, you write the same word or phrase in the language you are learning. Of course, it doesn’t just have to be words – it can also be pictures. The idea is that you place one side face down and use the word or image on the other side to guess and eventually learn what the other side says.
If I were learning Tagalog, one side of the card would have a picture of an orange, while the other side would have the word ‘Kahel’. Over time, I will be able to look at the image and know that it is called a Kahel or vice versa.
Flashcards are a tried and true method for learning new words. These days, you can make a digital version on your phone, or just write it on some paper. They are something you should come back to every once in a while to test yourself and see what you remember.
3. Watching Films
Here is a method that may be a lot more engaging than the other techniques. Of course, the idea is to watch a film in your target language. There are numerous ways in which this can be helpful. Firstly, you get to hear the language being spoken. In the average film, you will likely come across different accents and different talking speeds as well as an informal and formal language. This is good to train your ear to the finer aspects of the language. Secondly, you also get a glimpse into the culture surrounding the language, such as the mannerisms of the people. This may well reignite your passion for the language too.
Watch films in the language you are learning is an effective way to surround yourself in the language. You can mix things up by choosing to use subtitles in either your language or the language you are learning. It is also a good way to ‘re-experience’ a film you love in a new way, while also learning. Otherwise, it is a nice change of pace to the books or audio recordings you are used to.
4. Apps
One of the key ways to learn a new language is dedication. You need to consistently be learning and testing yourself to ensure you are in the best position to reach your desired level of fluency. Apps can be very helpful for this as chances are, you likely have your phone nearby in most situations. That means that every once in a while, such as when you are commuting, you can take some time to test yourself.
Not only are mobile apps convenient, but they also have the benefit of offering sound, text, and visual cues. Having a multi-sensory approach can be very beneficial. It means that you can hear how a word sounds from a native speaker, and strengthen recognition using images. They usually include a range of different tests, challenges, and guides to help users learn different elements of the new language such as writing or grammar.
Finally, using gamification, makes language learning much more exciting. Whether you are the competitive type who will compare scores with friends or don’t find textbooks very exciting, mobile language learning apps are a good choice. We recommend Ling for your language learning needs, whether you are learning Thai, German or Vietnamese.
This is far from an exhaustive list. These also aren’t going to help you learn overnight. Rather, they are effective ways to help you retain what you are learning. While each technique alone can help, it shouldn’t be the only method you use. Try to mix and match to find whichever combination helps you to learn best.
Everyone learns in their own way. It is ultimately up to the individual to find what works best for them. What is most important, is setting a consistent schedule and realistic goals.
Don't know which language you should learn next? Take this short quiz and we will tell you which language is best for you to learn.
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Thai
Thai is the perfect choice for you! Thailand is a Southeast Asian country with amazing islands and beautiful mountains. Buddhism is the main religion in the countries. That's why you will see a lot of temples with beautiful architecture here. Thai food has a variety of flavours and tastes really good. Thai Alphabet is unique with 44 consonants and 32 vowels. As Thai is a tonal language, you will need to remember its 5 tones. Thai is not too difficult to learn if you spend some time for it. Knowing the language will help you have a better experience when traveling in this beautiful country.
You should learn Tagalog! Tagalog is one of the main languages in the Philippines. Located in Southeast Asia, the country is an archipelago that consists of over 7000 islands. You can also visit volcanos in the Philippines. Tagalog has a flexible word order, usually with a structure of VSO ( Verb-Subject-Object) and VOS (Verb-Object-Subject). The language has taken many loanwords from Spanish and English. In casual conversation, as many as 40% of words can come from Spanish origin. English has also greatly influenced the Tagalog. While English is indeed a national language of the Philippines, Tagalog has much closer cultural bond with the country and its people – a symbol of national pride that has prevailed through years of different occupations. Learning the language will enable you to speak with more people, opening up many more opportunities – especially when trekking outside the larger urban areas into the country side and of course islands.
If you like architecture and BBQ, Serbia is a nice choice for your to-travel list. And of course, learning Serbian will help you enjoy your trip even more. Serbia is well-known for wonderful structured castles along with their history. Serbian cuisine is characterized by very diverse, strong, and spicy food. It is dominated by the use of meat, pasta, vegetables, and dairy products. Standard Serbian language uses both Cyrillic and Latin script. Serbian is not a tonal language but it is a highly inflected language, with grammatical morphology for nouns, pronouns and adjectives as well as verbs.
You will not regret when you learn Japanese. Although many people say that Japanese language is a bit hard to learn with 3 different writing systems, but it's definitely worth to try. Located in Western Pacific area, Japan has amazing landscapes. Fuji is a famous volcano in this country. Japan is also famous for its special culture and delicious cuisine. Japanese food is not only food, but it is also the art of eating with sushi, sashimi and udon. Japanese grammar is very different from English grammar. Thankfully, the pronunciation of Japanese is quite easy to learn. You can read a sentence perfectly without understanding its meaning. Because not many people in Japan can speak English well, knowing some Japanese can make your trip more pleasant and easy.
If you love architecture and historical buildings, you should go to Lithuania. Lithuanian is the official language of the country. It is written in a Latin alphabet. Lithuanian is often said to be the most conservative living Indo-European language, retaining features of Proto-Indo-European now lost in other languages. Lithuanian cuisine features products suited to the cool and moist northern climate of Lithuania: barley, potatoes, rye, beets, greens, berries, and mushrooms are locally grown, and dairy products are one of its specialties.
Arabic is a centuries old language that has seen continued use up to today. It is the lingua franca of the Arab world, being the official language of 26 different countries. While these countries share a lot in their cultures, they all have their own unique customs that offer a new and interesting insight into the lives of the people. Being the native language of over 300 million people across such a wide area, it is understandable that there are some differences between the many dialects that have developed. However, written Arabic remains standard throughout the different locations. It is a Semitic language, which places it alongside the likes of Amharic, Maltese and Hebrew. Arabic uses the Arabic Alphabet which is made up of 36 characters and is written from right to left. It has three grammatical cases as well as two grammatical genders. For the most part, word order follows a VSO structure, though SVO is also not unheard of. Verbs in particular are quite complex due to the way the root of the word is changed to achieve specific grammatical functions. As you can tell, Arabic is a very useful language to know. It is the fifth most spoken language on earth and is spread across multiple countries and continents. It unlocks a whole new realm of art, literature and culture unlike any others, making it a great choice for anyone looking to explore the regions of the Arabic world.
There is no doubt. Chinese should be on your list to learn. China has the largest population of any country in the world. The country is steeped in history with a variety of different landscapes and climates spanning a significant portion of the continent. Knowing this, Mandarin Chinese is a very useful skill to possess for anyone who loves travel, history or anything cultural. Chinese is spoken by roughly 1.2 billion speakers as a first language, making it one of the most widely spoken languages worldwide. It belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family and has influenced many nearby languages. Mandarin Chinese is the most popular dialect. There are numerous smaller dialects that are spoken in China and other Chinese speaking countries such as Singapore. Chinese is written using morphemes - characters that represent single syllables. The language is tonal and uses 5 different tones. While grammatical inflections are not common, there is heavy use of particles to impart meaning. Classifiers are also used extensively for the purposes of counting nouns. It generally follows an SVO word order. Learning Chinese opens up the opportunity to communicate with over a billion people in China, as well as many others spread across the world. Not only is it great for work, it can be used to discover the history of the East Asia region, owing to its influence. In terms of languages, it is certainly one of the more practical options, which is why many people each year embark on the journey of learning Chinese.
South Korea is located in East Asia, surrounded by China, Japan, and North Korea. The country has a unique culture and is home to several prominent companies such as Samsung or LG. With a thriving music scene and growing interest from around the world, South Korea is proving to be a hotspot for culture. From the urban Seoul landscape to the beaches of Jeju, there is a lot to experience in the country. With 77 million speakers, Korean is the national language of both South Korea and North Korea. It is also becoming a popular choice for those learning a second language. Between the borders, there are some differences in the vocabulary and grammar, but it remains mostly the same. There are also multiple dialects seen throughout the Korean peninsular. Korean uses a unique script known as Hangul, which is used solely for the country. While seemingly abstract, the modern Korean Alphabet is actually very intuitive. Letters are written in blocks that represent syllables, for example. Punctuation follows the same pattern as in the West and it is written left to right. It lacks grammatical gender for the most part too. In recent years, Korea has become a big exporter of pop culture, thanks to the likes of K-pop and K-dramas. It is near impossible to not have heard Korean music after the last few years, owing to this growing popularity. The country is an otherwise interesting and beautiful place that people will enjoy visiting and eating the local cuisine. As always, to ensure the best experience, knowing some Korean is vital.
There are many different languages that are spoken across India. The most spoken of which is Hindi. It is one of the two official languages on the country alongside English and is mainly spoken in the so called ‘Hindi Belt’. Anyone visiting the central regions of India would greatly benefit from learning the Hindi language, as it will make your stay all the more enjoyable. With 322 million native speakers and an additional 277 million second-language speakers, Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world. The ‘Hindi Belt’ encompasses areas of central, northern, eastern, and western India. The population of these areas are generally Hindi speakers, with several different dialects coming from the region. Written Hindi uses the Devanagari script which is composed of 43 different characters. Hindi is part of the Hindustani language group with Urdu and so shares many grammatical aspects. Many elements seen in the Hindi language today are derived from several different etymological roots. It uses masculine and feminine grammatical genders, with two noun types, two grammatical numbers and three cases which are used to categorize words. Verbs in Hindi are changed based on aspect and tense, with the root word being inflected. There are many reasons to study Hindi. With such a large base of speakers, you could open up so many new opportunities and develop a closer relationship with local speakers in India and across the world. Being so closely related to Urdu, you will also have to the chance to learn that too and so expand your language speaking abilities.
Spain is probably best known for its warm climate and laid back lifestyle. Things like siestas and beaches come to mind, too. However, Spain represents just a fraction of the total Spanish speakers worldwide. Around 20 countries in total have Spanish as an official language, mostly centred in the Americas, which represent many different cultures and traditions. Many more have significant Spanish speaking populations too. Wherever you will be visiting, learning Spanish is probably your best bet to getting the most joy out of your stay. With the wide spread of the language across Spanish speaking regions, there has been a split in the language. The most notable examples are probably the European Spanish and Latin American Spanish varieties, which are known to use different vocabulary at times. Even within these groups there can be significant differences.There are around 437 million native speakers of Spanish with an additional 75 million of second language speakers. Spanish is a Romance language, together with others like Italian and French. It is written using the Latin Alphabet with the addition of the eñe (ñ). It uses grammatical gender, including the neutral gender in some cases, with a mostly SVO structure. Each verb has numerous conjugated forms thanks to the inflective nature of the language. Spanish is the second most spoken native language, owing to its widespread use not only in Europe, but also in South America. It is commonly taught as a second language across Europe too. For anyone looking to visit one of the many Spanish speaking countries, learning the language is a must. There are many reasons to visit too, with beautiful beaches and plenty of sunshine to be enjoyed. Add to that the versatility of the language, and you have a very attractive language to be learning.
France is best known as the home of baguettes, champagne, and croissants. This just goes to show how much the cuisine plays a role in French culture. France is home to the world famous Eiffel Tower which has become a symbol for the country. Outside of the capital, France also is home to several beautiful beaches and idyllic countrysides. Whichever attracts you more, learning French will be a major benefit. Outside of France, French is an official language in 28 countries, including the likes of Canada, Belgium, and a significant portion of North Africa. However, due to major protection of the language by authorities, there are relatively few differences in the dialects spoken. In practice though, there are still differences to be seen thanks to its wide spread. Overall, it is thought that there is a total of around 300 million speakers of French worldwide. French is one of the Romance languages, alongside Italian, Spanish, and others. This means that it shares many linguistic traits with them, including grammatical gender, the use of inflection, and development of articles. It generally uses an SVO word order and is written using the 26 letter Latin Alphabet, with 4 diacritics that are used on some letters. French, also known as the language of love, is an official language in a number of countries, making it very versatile. It is easy to see why many people choose to learn French as a second language. English is not as widely spoken in France as in other European countries, for example, meaning knowledge of French will make a romantic getaway in Paris much easier.
English is one of the major world languages that is used for business and trade. Spoken in several notable countries including the UK, US and Australia, it has become one of the most widely spoken languages worldwide and is particularly popular as an additional language. Due to its wide spread, it is one of the most useful languages to learn, especially in a professional capacity. In terms of native speakers, English has around 400 million around the world. Adding in second language and other speakers, that number goes well above the 1 billion mark, nearing 2 billion. This makes it the most spoken language in the world. There are essentially two distinct variations of the English language: British English and American English. While these are mutually intelligible, there are still some spelling and vocabulary differences. Within each variety there are also multiple dialects. It is a West Germanic language, being closely related to german and Dutch. English makes use of the standard Latin Alphabet when written. It follows an SVO structure and does not use the inflectional case system. There are some remnants of it however, which can be seen in pronouns. Grammatical gender can also be seen when looking at pronouns, but is not a feature of the English language. English is generally learned as a second language in schools at a young age around the world, though comprehension may vary a lot. It has many usage scenarios relating to travel and business, as well as in professional contexts thanks to its role as the lingua franca. If there is one language you should choose to master and achieve fluency, English is a very good choice.
Vietnam, located in Southeast Asia, has a population of over 95 million. While many associate this country with its history, there is a lot more to see and do beyond that. With a very unique cuisine, chaotic traffic and a long coastline, Vietnam has so much for people to experience that can’t be found anywhere else. Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam, where it is spoken by around 76 million people. It shares roots with Khmer, which is spoken in neighboring Cambodia. Due to the relatively long distance and divided history between the major population centres of Vietnam, there is some significant dialectal differences that affect vocabulary and pronunciation. However, between the five largest dialects, it is mutually intelligible. Like other Southeast Asian languages, Vietnamese has a lot of vowels. The Vietnamese alphabet uses the Latin alphabet with added diacritics which help determine the tone. The tonal system is can be quite complex due to dialect differences, and differences in pronunciation can change the meaning of a word. Vietnam has a very diverse culture, essentially being split between the Northern, Middle, and Southern regions. There is so much variety in the landscape, temperature, and food that visiting each area is very rewarding. This is not to mention the history that can be explored. In all of this, English will only get you so far, especially outside of the major cities. Learning Vietnamese would be very rewarding and help improve your stay in the country.
Germany, located in Central Europe, is a key player in the EU and wider European continent. With a long history leading up to the modern day Germany we know today, the culture of Germany has been built by many different people. Its strong economy make it an attractive language to learn for business-minded people as well as those looking to travel the country. The German language is used by several countries in the centre of the continent. Between Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, among others, it is spoken by 90 million. An additional 10 million or so have German as their second language. The dialect differs between the different German speaking countries but remains mutually intelligible. It is a West Germanic language along with Dutch and English. German makes use of the Latin alphabet with a couple of additional characters added. These include 3 umlaut vowels and the ess-zett. Inflections are used to a great extent. It uses grammatical genders, as well as cases and numbers, leading to infamously confusing declension of articles and verbs. German is a particularly prolific language, owing to its use in one of the largest economies in the world. By learning German, it is possible to unlock a vast amount of literature and media. It is a very attractive language for employers, not only because it reflects the ability to learn a language, but also due to its importance in trade and politics.
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