Tips to learn a language in a fast and easy way

Nowadays you need languages for almost everything: jobs, access to studies, scholarships, etc. Not only that! Knowing languages will also be useful for you to learn to communicate in other parts of the world, have a more open mind, and be more tolerant of other cultures and customs.
For this reason, more and more people are trying to learn a new language. However, few succeed, since they do not follow the correct method, nor do they have the best advice for learning languages.

However, there are some tips you can consider to learn a language in an easier and faster way.

Let´s take a look at this piece of advice:

Be clear about why you want to learn that language

It may seem obvious, but if you do not have a good reason to learn another language, it is very likely that, in the long run, your motivation will run out. Whatever your motivation, when you decide to learn a new language, the really important thing is to commit to the maximum. (1)

Immerse yourself

No matter what tools you use to learn the language, the important thing is that you practice every day. It is recommended to think in that language, try writing it, and speak it. This is why studying a language abroad, like taking Spanish classes in Madrid, is one of the best ways to incorporate it. When studying a language in its country of origin, you will be in constant contact with it. Every minute of every day, you will have to speak in that language. you will have no other option than to communicate in that language every time you go shopping, to a restaurant, or while doing any activity in your daily routine.

You need to speak in that language as much as you can, talk to yourself, write emails and listen to music or podcasts in that language. Surround yourself with the culture of the language as much as you can.

Find a partner

The best way to learn to speak another language is to practice. It is advisable to find a teacher or friend with whom you can have regular conversations in that language. Pay attention to the way your teacher or classmate talks to you: what words he uses and what kinds of constructions. Ask questions and take notes. Technology allows you to be able to talk to someone thousands of miles away and use it to make a “pen pal” whose native tongue is the one you are learning. For example, you could write to a teacher who teaches Spanish courses in Madrid. Having a partner will push you to keep trying a little more and to stay motivated. After all, having someone you can talk to is the basic idea behind the process of learning a language.

Act like a child

The key to learning as quickly as children may lies in adopting certain childish attitudes: lack of self-awareness, the desire to play in another language, and the willingness to make mistakes. You learn from mistakes. When we are children, we are expected to make mistakes but when we are adults, mistakes become a kind of taboo. When you learn a language, admitting and accepting that you don't know everything is the key to growth and progress. In other words, let go of your adult limitations.

Get out of your comfort zone

You must be prepared to put yourself in potentially embarrassing situations. No matter how hard you study, you will never speak a language if you don't put yourself in that situation: talk to foreigners in their language, ask for directions, order food, try to make jokes. Especially if you are in another country learning a new language, like taking Spanish classes in Madrid, don´t be afraid of speaking incorrectly or speaking with bad pronunciation. Take every chance you get to speak or interact and make the most of it! The more times you do it, the faster you will get out of your comfort zone and the greater the ease with which you will face new situations. In the beginning, you will find difficulties like the pronunciation or the grammar, maybe it's the syntax or that you don't understand certain expressions, but the most important thing is to try to get past it.

Pay attention: listen and watch others talking

You have to learn to listen before you learn to speak. Any language sounds weird the first time you hear it, but the more you hear it the more familiar it becomes and the easier it will be for you to speak it. Pronunciation is very different in each language, and sometimes when we are learning a new language we tend to think we won´t be able to pronounce the words correctly, but we are! We are just not used to doing it. To master the sound, it is necessary to hear it constantly, listen to it carefully, and try to visualize it, since for each sound there is a specific part of the mouth or throat that is used to be pronounced.

Different languages ​​demand different things from your tongue, lips, and throat. The pronunciation is both physical and mental. Try to carefully observe others as they say words that use that sound, and then try to imitate it as much as possible.  

Travel if you have the chance

If you can´t live in Spain for several months to learn Spanish in Madrid, at least try to escape for a few days to visit the country and have your first real contact with its speakers and its history and culture. If you have the chance, traveling is a perfect way to learn a language, plus, it is a very enriching experience and you will have a lot of fun. In addition, it will give you a motivational kick to keep learning and will allow you to meet a lot of new people.